20 Best Books On Japanese History (2023 Update)

A classic of japanese history, this book is the preeminent work on the history of japan. newly revised and updated, a history of japan is a single-volume, complete history of the nation of japan. starting in ancient japan during its early pre-history period a history of japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal japan to the post-cold war period and collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990's. recent findings shed additional light on the origins of japanese civilization and the birth of japanese culture. also included is an in-depth analysis of the japanese religion, japanese arts, japanese culture and the japanese people from the 6th century b.c.e. to the present. this contemporary classic, now updated and revised, continues to be an essential text in japanese studies. classic illustrations and unique pictures are dispersed throughout the book. a history of japan, revised edition includes: archaic japan—including yamato, the creation of a unified state, the nana period, and the heian period. medieval japan— including rule by the military houses, the failure of ashikaga rule, buddhism, and the kamakura and muroachi periods periods. ealy modern japan—including japanese feudalism, administration under the tokugawa, and society and culture in early modern japan. modern japan—including the meiji era and policies for modernization, from consensus to crisis (1912-1937), and solutions through force.this contemporary classic continues to be a central book in japanese studies and is a vital addition to the collection of any student or enthusiast of japanese history, japanese culture, or the japanese language.

If you want to discover the captivating history of ancient japan, then keep reading… japan, the country of the rising sun, is today known as one of the most prosperous and technologically advanced nations despite not having many natural resources. it is full of hardworking, ethical people that live with a mix of old-time traditions and new-age progressive lifestyles. it's the land of famed and virtuous samurai warriors, for whom loyalty is everything, and of legendary and adept ninja assassins, capable of bypassing any obstacle. – no less famed is japanese art, unique in its style and form, from short haiku songs to breathtaking watercolor paintings, both amazingly vivid and simplistic in form. it's the country of buddhist zen masters, who were wise and spiritual, symbols of moderation and morality. at the same time, it's the culture of geishas, who represented indulgence, entertainment, and corporeal desires. today, it is one of the most liberal and democratic countries, yet it still has an emperor on the throne and a long tradition of shōguns, who were more or less military dictators. all in all, japan seems to be a country of paradoxes and oppositions, of yin and yang. – yet it doesn't seem to suffer from it; instead, it is thriving, growing, and developing, and it has been doing so for a long time. from those contradictions, a sense of unity and pride arose, guiding japanese history and civilizational development through the ages, leaving an unquestionable mark on the world heritage and mankind. – but this is only the surface of an astonishing culture that deserves a deeper look. this guide will lead you into that dive, showing how those characteristics synonymous with the japanese civilization gradually appeared, formed, and transformed through time. – learning about japan's history, its past failures and successes and how they shaped their nation, will also illuminate how this civilization developed, while at the same time presenting a full array of interesting stories, persons, and events. – in ancient japan: a captivating guide to the ancient history of japan, their ancient civilization, and japanese culture, including stories of the samurai, you will discover topics such as origins of imperial japan and its people birth of imperial japan and its culture history of classical japan early medieval japan late medieval japan japanese society warriors of ancient japan religious life in japan japanese culture and much, much more so if you want to learn more about ancient japan, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

To this day, japan's modern ascendancy challenges many assumptions about world history, particularly theories regarding the rise of the west and why the modern world looks the way it does. in this engaging new history, brett l. walker tackles key themes regarding japan's relationships with its minorities, state and economic development, and the uses of science and medicine. the book begins by tracing the country's early history through archaeological remains, before proceeding to explore life in the imperial court, the rise of the samurai, civil conflict, encounters with europe, and the advent of modernity and empire. integrating the pageantry of a unique nation's history with today's environmental concerns, walker's vibrant and accessible new narrative then follows japan's ascension from the ashes of world war ii into the thriving nation of today.

This pathbreaking work of oral history captures for the first time ever – in either japanese or english – the remarkable story of ordinary japanese people during world war ii. in a sweeping panorama, haruko taya and theodore cook take us from the japanese attacks on china in the 1930s to the japanese homefront during the inhuman raids on tokyo, hiroshima, and nagasaki, offering the first glimpses of how this century's most violent conflict affected the lives of the japanese population.japan at war documents a huge range of experiences, from long-ago memories of being taught to play at soldiering in school to personal accounts of carrying out horrendous medical experiments and ruthless massacres. here are the soldiers and sailors caught in the jungles of new guinea and on the seas around the philippines. here, too, are proud builders of the burma railway, and unrepentant generals, as well as conscripts whose political or intellectual training made them unwilling participants in the horrors wrought by their country. japanese newspapermen, filmmakers, artists, cabaret dancers, and diplomats speak candidly about their wartime experiences, adding a whole new dimension to the now-famous symbols of kamikaze pilots and human torpedoes.as they crisscrossed japan seeking out survivors of a war that cost that country over 3 million lives, the authors encountered every form of human response: those who held to their principles and those who gave in to opportunism, those who controlled events as well as the many – including women and children – who were caught up in the horrific whirlpool.no book to date has captured the complex range of japanese experiences and emotions as does japan at war. this is a monumental work of history – one to which americans and japanese will turn for decades to come.

The entire fascinating story of japan told in one exciting manga-style volume! a history of japan in manga tells the action-packed saga of japan from its misty origins up to the present day. epic battles, noble samurai and duplicitous leaders are all portrayed in modern manga fashion! the lively stories in this book include: the dawn of japan: the birth of buddhism and the transition from hunters–gatherers to agricultural societies of ancient times the genpei wars: davage battles between the taira and minamoto clans that led to the powerful warlord minamoto no yoritomo naming himself japan's first shogun the onin wars: a decade-long struggle for domination of japan in which thousands of samurai fought and tragically lost their lives the 47 ronin: loyal samurai who vowed to avenge the death of their master, choosing honor over surrender and being forced to commit mass ritual suicide as a result the satsuma rebellion: a dramatic last stand by samurai loyal to the shogun who revolted against the new meiji government and its plans to finally modernize japan and many more! dozens of indelible portraits, manga stories, maps and info-sidebars bring the full sweep of japanese history to life in one easy-to-read book!

Japan emerging provides a comprehensive survey of japan from prehistory to the nineteenth century. incorporating the latest scholarship and methodology, leading authorities writing specifically for this volume outline and explore the main developments in japanese life through ancient, classical, medieval, and early modern periods. instead of relying solely on lists of dates and prominent names, the authors focus on why and how japanese political, social, economic, and intellectual life evolved. each part begins with a timeline and a set of guiding questions and issues to help orient readers and enhance continuity. engaging, thorough, and accessible, this is an essential text for all students and scholars of japanese history.

This is the fourth of six volumes designed to explore the history of japan from prehistoric to modern times. volume 4 covers the years from 1550 to 1800, a short but surprisingly eventful period in japanese history commonly referred to as japan's early modern age. at the start, in the sixteenth century, much of the country was being pulled apart by local military lords engaged in a struggle for land and local hegemony. these daimyo succeeded in dividing japan into nearly autonomous regional domains. before the end of the seventeenth century, however, the daimyo in turn were subjected to a powerful unification movement led by three colourful figures, nobunaga, hideyoshi, and ieyasu. it was under tokugawa ieyasu, the last of the unifiers, that japan was brought together under a single powerful command vested in the office of shogun. the tokugawa hegemony lasted until 1868 when it was brought down by the meiji restoration. this volume attempts to flesh out the historical tale with insights into the way that people lived and worked. it examines the relationship between peasant and local lord, and between the lord, as a unit of local government, and the emerging shogunate. it offers new insights into the evolution of indigenous thought and religion and it also deals with japan's foreign relations, particularly the impact of the christian missionary movement. each of these themes is examined by thirteen distinguished japanese and american scholars.

If you want to discover the captivating history of japan, then keep reading… japan is one of the most adaptable countries in the world. it is capable of very rapid change, even after crises that would halt the progress of other nations. when the shogunates collapsed in the 17th century, the feudal system disintegrated. within a year's time, though, railroads replaced ox carts. during world war i, a first-rate economy sprung up on deserted farmlands. after the devastation of that world war, japan emerged as one of the most modern countries in the world. the japanese have survived frequent earthquakes and tsunamis and rebuilt their cities using enviable technologies. the japanese progressed throughout the eras because of the emperor, but they also progressed despite him. these are people who never let go of their sacred history, and their story is told and retold in art, film, literature, and even graphic novels across the entire world. terms such as shoguns, samurai, haiku, anime, and manga are familiar to many in the western world today. westerners also learn flower arranging, martial arts, meditation, and enjoy a variety of visual and digital art forms because of the unique culture of japan. in history of japan: a captivating guide to japanese history, including events such as the genpei war, mongol invasions, battle of tsushima, and atomic bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki, you will discover topics such as children of the sun warring clans the two imperial courts edo japan: part one-1603 to 1638 edo period: part two-1638 to 1868 the meiji restoration foreign relations the taisho era the showa era japan in world war ii and its aftermath heisei era and much, much more so if you want to learn more about the history of japan, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

A fascinating period in japanese history explored by a master of manga showa 1926-1939. a history of japan is the first volume of shigeru mizukis meticulously researched historical portrait of twentiethcentury japan. this volume deals with the period leading up to world war ii a time of high unemployment and other economic hardships caused by the great depression. mizukis photorealist style effortlessly brings to life the japan of the 1920s and 1930s depicting bustling city streets.

The inspiration for the jedi knights of star wars and the films of akira kurosawa, the legendary japanese samurai have captured modern imaginations. yet with these elite warriors who were bound by a code of honor called bushido—the way of the warrior—the reality behind the myth proves more fascinating than any fiction. in samurai, celebrated author john man provides a unique and captivating look at their true history, told through the life of one man: saigo takamori, known to many as "the last samurai." in 1877 takamori led a rebel army of samurai in a heroic "last stand" against the imperial japanese army, who sought to end the "way of the sword" in favor of firearms and modern warfare. man's thrilling narrative brings to life the hidden world of the samurai as never before.

A history of the samurai tells the complete story of japan's legendary warrior class from beginning to end–an epic tale of intrigue, bloodshed and bravery that is central to an understanding of the japanese character and of japanese history. it describes in detail the core samurai philosophy of bushido–"the way of the warrior"–a complex code of conduct embracing ideals of honor and loyalty that continues to govern the japanese way of life today. historian jonathan lopez-vera offers a compelling look at these enigmatic warriors including: the lives of famous samurai–miyamoto musashi, japan's greatest swordsman; tomoe gozen, the woman who became a samurai; tokugawa ieyasu, the last shogun; and many more the tragic tale of the 47 ronin who chose honor over their own lives and were forced to commit ritual suicide after avenging their fallen master the philosophy of bushido, "the way of the warrior," the code of conduct that embraced the ideals of honor and loyalty and governed the samurai way of living the decline of the samurai and their transformation from rough, battle-hardened warriors to highly educated philosopher-poets illustrated with 125 archival prints and photos, the nobility and grandeur of the samurai is brilliantly showcased in this book. readers will enjoy immersing themselves in the samurai's world, as historian jonathan lopez-vera traces the fascinating story of the rise and fall of these enigmatic warriors throughout japanese history.

This is a straightforward narrative of the development of japanese civilization to 1334 by the author of "japan: a short cultural history." while complete in itself, it is also the first volume of a three-volume work which will be the first large-scale, comprehensive history of japan. taken as a whole, the projected history represents the culmination of the life work of perhaps the most distinguished historian now writing on japan. unlike the renowned "short cultural history," it is concerned mainly with political and social phenomena and only incidentally touches on religion, literature, and the arts. the treatment is primarily descriptive and factual, but the author offers some pragmatic interpretations and suggests comparisons with the history of other peoples. "a history of japan to 1334" describes the growth from tribal origins of an organized state on a chinese model, gives a picture of the life of the royal court, and examines the conflict between a polished urban nobility and a warlike rural gentry. it traces the evolution of an efficient system of feudal government which deprived the sovereign of all but his ritual functions and the prestige of his ancestry. the structure of japanese feudal society is depicted in some detail and explained in terms of its internal stresses and its behavior in peace and war, especially during the period of the mongol attacks in the last decades of the thirteenth century. the volume ends with the collapse of the feudal government at kamakura under the attack of ambitious rivals.

The japanese experience is an authoritative history of japan from the sixth century to the present day. only a writer of w.g. beasley's stature could render japan's complicated past so concisely and elegantly. this is the history of a society and a culture with a distinct sense of itself, one of the few nations never conquered by a foreign power in historic times (until the twentieth century) and the home of the longest-reigning imperial dynasty that still survives. the japanese have always occupied part or all of the same territory, its borders defined by the sea. they have spoken and written a common language, (once it had taken firm shape in about the tenth century) and their population has been largely homogeneous, little touched by immigration except in very early periods. yet japanese society and culture have changed more through time than these statements seem to imply. developments within japan have been greatly influenced by ideas and institutions, art and literature, imported from elsewhere. in this work beasley, a leading authority on japan and the author of a number of acclaimed works on japanese history, examines the changing society and culture of japan and considers what, apart from the land and the people, is specifically japanese about the history of japan.the arrival of buddhism in the sixth century brought a substantially chinese-style society to japan, not only in religion but in political institutions, writing system, and the lifestyle of the ruling class. by the eleventh century the chinese element was waning and the country was entering a long and essentially "japanese" feudal period—with two rulers, an emperor and a shogun—which was to last until the nineteenth century. under the togukawa shogunate (1600-1868), chinese culture enjoyed something of a renaissance, though popular culture owed more to japanese urban taste and urban wealth.in 1868 the meiji restoration brought to power rulers dedicated to the pursuit of national wealth and strength, and japan became a world power. although a bid for empire ended in disaster, the years after 1945 saw an economic miracle that brought spectacular wealth to japan and the japanese people, as well as the westernization of much of japanese life.

The japanese experience is an authoritative history of japan from the sixth century to the present day. only a writer of w.g. beasley's stature could render japan's complicated past so concisely and elegantly. this is the history of a society and a culture with a distinct sense of itself, one of the few nations never conquered by a foreign power in historic times (until the twentieth century) and the home of the longest-reigning imperial dynasty that still survives. the japanese have always occupied part or all of the same territory, its borders defined by the sea. they have spoken and written a common language, (once it had taken firm shape in about the tenth century) and their population has been largely homogeneous, little touched by immigration except in very early periods. yet japanese society and culture have changed more through time than these statements seem to imply. developments within japan have been greatly influenced by ideas and institutions, art and literature, imported from elsewhere. in this work beasley, a leading authority on japan and the author of a number of acclaimed works on japanese history, examines the changing society and culture of japan and considers what, apart from the land and the people, is specifically japanese about the history of japan.the arrival of buddhism in the sixth century brought a substantially chinese-style society to japan, not only in religion but in political institutions, writing system, and the lifestyle of the ruling class. by the eleventh century the chinese element was waning and the country was entering a long and essentially "japanese" feudal period—with two rulers, an emperor and a shogun—which was to last until the nineteenth century. under the togukawa shogunate (1600-1868), chinese culture enjoyed something of a renaissance, though popular culture owed more to japanese urban taste and urban wealth.in 1868 the meiji restoration brought to power rulers dedicated to the pursuit of national wealth and strength, and japan became a world power. although a bid for empire ended in disaster, the years after 1945 saw an economic miracle that brought spectacular wealth to japan and the japanese people, as well as the westernization of much of japanese life.

“[the rising sun] is quite possibly the most readable, yet informative account of the pacific war.”—chicago sun-timesthis pulitzer prize–winning history of world war ii chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the japanese empire, from the invasion of manchuria and china to the atomic bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki. told from the japanese perspective, the rising sun is, in the author’s words, “a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened—muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox.” in weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the pacific, toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history. unbelievably rich . . . readable and exciting . . . the best parts of [toland’s] book are not the battle scenes but the intimate view he gives of the highest reaches of tokyo politics.”—newsweek

*finalist for the pulitzer prize in biography* *winner of the 2020 national book critics circle award* *winner of the pen/jacqueline bograd weld award for biography* a “captivating” (the washington post) work of history that explores the life of an unconventional woman during the first half of the 19th century in edo—the city that would become tokyo—and a portrait of a city on the brink of a momentous encounter with the west.the daughter of a buddhist priest, tsuneno was born in a rural japanese village and was expected to live a traditional life much like her mother’s. but after three divorces—and a temperament much too strong-willed for her family’s approval—she ran away to make a life for herself in one of the largest cities in the world: edo, a bustling metropolis at its peak. during this pivotal moment in japanese history, tsuneno bounces from tenement to tenement, marries a masterless samurai, and eventually enters the service of a famous city magistrate. tsuneno’s life provides a window into 19th-century japanese culture—and a rare view of an extraordinary woman who sacrificed her family and her reputation to make a new life for herself, in defiance of social conventions. “a compelling story, traced with meticulous detail and told with exquisite sympathy” (the wall street journal), stranger in the shogun’s city is “a vivid, polyphonic portrait of life in 19th-century japan [that] evokes the shogun era with panache and insight” (national review of books).

Japanese history has intriguing and interesting aspects right from its legendary and mythical beginnings to the advanced modern-day period. the intrigues of royalty, the conflicts between gods and kami, the political strife and battles for power are the mainstays in the history of japan.why did the us bomb nagasaki and hiroshima? how did japan achieve such greatness in such a short time? who were the samurais? did such magical heroes really exist? what about the ninjas? what was the meiji restoration all about? all the above and many, many more questions about japanese history, emperors, and people are answered in this book. the book follows a seamless flow as it covers each period through discussions of important events, personalities, and the corresponding impacts. read on and find out more about the intriguing history of japan.

Mention japanese history to a non-japanese, and the first thing that will likely come to mind is the samurai, the legendary warrior elite who ruled the country for over one thousand years. but how did they meet their end? with their two swords, top-knot haircut, and legendary code of honor, the samurai were the absolute, unquestioned rulers of the country. since 1600, the japanese had been closed off from the world. this began during the era of the tokugawa shoguns, the family of generals who ruled japan in the name of the emperor. their reign ended in the early 1860s when the people of japan realized that living in the past (under the samurai) had put them at a great disadvantage to the western nations. between 1868 and 1912, japan rose from a country stuck in the 17th century to a world power that defeated both china and russia at war. in the 1920s and 1930s, japan went from an evolving democracy to a resurgent military government, which attempted to dominate much of asia and the pacific. that effort ended with the two atomic bombs at hiroshima and nagasaki. japan yet again “rose from the ashes” and rebuilt itself as a modern western-style democratic government and economic powerhouse. today, the japanese economy is the third-largest in the world, and japanese culture is celebrated worldwide for its ancient wisdom, food, culture, and much more. grab your copy today! scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin learning more about japan.

The routledge handbook of modern japanese history is a concise overview of modern japanese history from the middle of the nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth century. written by a group of international historians, each an authority in his or her field, the book covers modern japanese history in an accessible yet comprehensive manner. the subjects featured in the book range from the development of the political system and matters of international relations, to social and economic history and gender issues, to post-war discussions about modern japan's historical trajectory and its wartime past. divided into thematic parts, the sections include: nation, empire and borders ideologies and the political system economy and society historical legacies and memory each chapter outlines important historiographical debates and controversies, summarizes the latest developments in the field, and identifies research topics that have not yet received sufficient scholarly attention. as such, the book will be useful to students and scholars of japanese history, asian history and asian studies.

This third volume of the cambridge history of japan is devoted to the three and a half centuries spanning the final decades of the twelfth century when the kamakura bakufu was founded to the mid-sixteenth century when civil wars raged following the demise of the muromachi bakufu. volume 3 contains 13 specially commissioned essays written by leading japanese and american scholars that survey the historical events and developments in medieval japan's polity, economy, society and culture, as well as its relations with its asian neighbours. the essays reflect the most recent scholarly research on the history of this period. the volume creates a rich tapestry of the events that took place during these colourful centuries, when the warrior class ruled japan, institutions underwent fundamental transformations, the economy grew steadily, and japanese culture and society evolved with surprising vitality to leave legacies that still characterize and affect contemporary japan. a meticulously prepared glossary of terms and a chronological table of major historical events and developments are included. as with other volumes in the cambridge history of japan, volume 3 was carefully prepared so as to be accessible to specialists and students as well as to general readers wishing to increase their understanding of the period. this is the most extensive treatment available on medieval japan, and it will serve as an indispensible tool and authoritative guide for all interested in japan's medieval age.