This fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from
ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation
that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two
centuries in self-imposed seclusion.
First revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was
a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled
by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the
furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for
European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In
recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of
popular culture, and a harbinger of post-industrial decline.
With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary
and storytelling styles to connect the past, present and future of
Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes:
a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an
emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes
resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban
and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly
of mountains and forests.
Among the chapters in this Japanese history book are:
- The Way of the Gods: Prehistoric and Mythical Japan
- A Game of Thrones: Minamoto vs. Taira
- Time Warp: 200 Years of Isolation
- The Stench of Butter: Restoration and Modernization
- The New Breed: The Japanese Miracle
