Product Description

Product Description
With a rich history dating back more than six centuries, the Ainu people of Hokkaido have one of the most unique indigenous cultures in the world. This beautifully illustrated book explores the lives and ideas of the Ainu with an eye to the importance of nature and religion in their daily lives. It features breathtaking retellings of Ainu folktales and vivid descriptions of customs, clothing, food, habitats, and beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Ainu folk tales and beautiful illustrations
Two Uwepekere, or Ainu folk tales, are included in the short juvenile book The Ainu: A Story of Japan's Original People by Kayano Shigeru. Kayano, until his death in 2006, was a cultural hero who devoted himself to the preservation and use of the Ainu language. The short book he wrote included beautiful illustrations by Iijima Shunichi on every page.

Lovely
This is an adorable children's book that portrays Ainu culture through the words of notable Ainu activist, Kayano Shigeru.The stories are fascinating and the pictures add a meaningful touch.This book is a prime example of the notion that beauty exists in simplicity.Overall- a wonderful introduction to the Ainu worldview and lifestyle.

An absorbing account of Japan's indigineous people
The Ainu: A Story Of Japan's Original People by Kayano Shigeru is an absorbing account of Japan's indigineous people, whose legends and presence stretch back before the coming of the ethnic Japanese population before recorded history from what is now known as the Chinese mainland and the Korean penninsula. Presenting both the unique aspects of Ainu culture and the modern realities of how Ainu live today in a straightforward and friendly tone with soft yet realistic color illustrations, The Ainu: A Story Of Japan's Original People is very highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The third-century Chinese chronicle Wei zhi (Record of Wei) is responsible for Japan's most enduring ancient mystery. This early history tells of a group of islands off the China coast that were dominated by a female shaman named Himiko. Himiko ruled for more than half a century as head of the largest chiefdom, traditionally known as Yamatai, until her death in 248. Yet no such person appears in the old Japanese literature. Who was Himiko and where was the Yamatai she governed? These questions about a critical period in the rise of the Japanese state have puzzled scholars for more than two centuries. Although the postwar boom in archaeology has provided a more panoramic picture of Japan in the centuries following the introduction of rice, bronze, and iron, and the transformation into an agrarian society, scholarly discussion and archaeological evidence have been inconclusive.Nevertheless, the flood of new information, combined with the perennial interest in national origins, has produced a staggering amount of commentary and speculation.

In this, the most comprehensive treatment in English to date, a senior scholar of early Japan turns to three sources--historical, archaeological, and mythological--to provide a multifaceted study of ancient Japanese society. Analyzing a tremendous amount of recent archaeological material and synthesizing it with a thorough examination of the textual sources, Professor Kidder locates Yamatai in the Yamato heartland, in the southeastern part of the Nara basin. He describes the formation in the Yayoi period of pan-regional alliances that created the reserves of manpower required to build massive mounded tombs. It is this decisive period, at the end of the Yayoi and the beginning of the Kofun, that he identifies as Himiko's era. He maintains, moreover, that Himiko played a part in the emergence of Yamato as an identifiable political entity. In exploring the cultural and political conditions of this period and identifying the location of Yamatai as Himiko's area of activity, Kidder considers the role of magic in early Japanese society to better understand why an individual with her qualifications reached such a prominent position. He enhances Himiko's story with insights drawn from mythology, turning to a rich body of commentary for explanations buried deep in mythological stories and the earliest descriptions.

Himiko and Japan's Elusive Chiefdom of Yamatai is a masterful summary of Japanese archaeology, making it required reading for Japan historians as well as scholars with an interest in literature and art history during this formative stage in Japan's past. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of seven bibliographies on Japanese history and culture from ancient to modern times. It should be useful as a research list, and seeks to include many unusual, elusive and valuable sources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

various reviews for the book
"The selection and accuracy of the citations are excellent . . . includes many unusual, elusive, but valuable sources, and is the book's strongest feature."
-Choice

"A useful reading and research list, reasonable price."
-Reference Book Annual

"An imaginative and comprehensive guide to Japanese history and culture, as valuable to the expert as to the beginner; a bibliography that can be read as well as used, for it leaves almost nothing out."
-Carol Gluck, Columbia University ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Washington : G.P.O. in 1893 in 91 pages; Subjects: Mounds; Japan; Burial; History / Asia / Japan; Social Science / Archaeology; Social Science / Customs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book
This book profiles and explores the lives of four doctors who helped advance the medical practices of the Japanese during the Tokugawa shoganate's regime.It explains the the obstacles of teaching in a closed society and Japanese reverence for health and medicine.This is a wonderful resource and an interesting read. ... Read more

Product Description
1913. Found in this work are some of the most popular myths and legends of the Japanese culture. There are myths of gods and heroes; legends of the goddess Benten, the god Daikoku and of Buddha. There are stories of Mount Fuji, the sea, the supernatural, as well as descriptions of the spiritual properties found in flowers, fans, dolls, butterflies and many other objects. Wonderfully illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Japanese folktales: a treasure from the past
F. Hadland Davis's "Myths of Legends of Japan" was first published in 1913, and therein lies a tale.Its written style and the breadth of territory that it covers are all typical of the turn-of-the-century studies produced by Westerners newly fascinated by Japan. So too are the lack of an intellectual framework for putting the contents into context and a manner of romanizing Japanese that has long been left behind.These shortcomings notwithstanding, Davis's work is a most readable compendiumthat contains the texts of many traditional Japanese folktales, some but a paragraph long and others that run to a few pages. If your interest in Japanese folktales is to read to children, seek out other books specifically designed and illustrated for that purpose.On the other hand, if your interest relates to a study of Japanese art, religion, folk customs, literature, anthropology, or early history, do acquire this book but pair it with the more rigorously structured "Japanese Tales" from Royall Tyler. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Offering an insight into early Japanese history (AD 100-800), this text examines: Yamatai, the lost realm of the third-century Queen Himiko; Japan-Korea relations 350-700; the creation of capital cities 645-800; and the appropriation of Chinese-style governing arrangements during the same era. ... Read more

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The intimate relationship between Japan's traditional crafts and traditional lifestyles has been well documented. What has not received as much attention is the present movement by artists to keep their crafts viable and compatible with modern lifestyles and contemporary aesthetics.

For this book, author and interior décor specialist Ori Koyama searched the width and breadth of the country to find the artists and works most representative of this trend. What she found was truly inspiring; An increasing number of craftsmen, young and old, male and female, were taking on this challenge to bring new ideas and ways of thinking into a harmonious relationship with their traditional labors—and they are having startling results. Some are well known; others have worked in relative obscurity. Their mediums range from bamboo to glass, wood to paper, lacquer to metal and textiles and stone. Their only commonality is their commitment to their work.

Over fifty of the best examples were then transported to a Tokyo studio where they were carefully photographed in exquisite detail. Through her interviews with the artiest, Koyama identified the most pertinent design points for close-ups as seen through the lens of renowned photographer Mizuho Kuwata. We learn much about their work and techniques, and how their relationship with their artistic medium is a product of their attitude toward their culture—at once both ancient and contemporary. ... Read more

Product Description
A wise and witty thriller of ancient Japan by the award-winning I. J. Parker Government official turned sleuth Akitada Sugawara, on his way home to attend the sickbed of his bitter, aging mother, is spending the night in a monastery when he finds himself drawn to a brilliantly illustrated screen depicting the horrors of hell. His brief stay is complicated by the murder of a beau-tiful young woman. Personal and professional interests begin to merge as Akitada becomes ensnared in a tangled web of deceit and malevolence that will, in the end, strike very close to home. Rich, textured, and historically researched, this com-plex mystery is the second in an acclaimed series featuring Akitada Sugawara. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Kind of slow...
On one hand you want to get all the details, all the clues to help the reader, maybe, get to solve the mystery before Akitada.On the other hand being trapped in Akitada's mind for most of the novel can drive me crazy.Mostly because I don't like his character.Maybe because he is TOO realistic.Unlike Sherlock Holmes, he is kind of slow and gets too emotional at times.Yes, I understand duty and honor is important to the Japanese but it sometimes feels like I am watching a five year old acting like a detective.I DO like both Tora and Genba but we don't get to even see them till about a third of the way into the story.
Like the first novel, a lot of the strands of the story end up weaving together.But be warned, like in the first there are many mysteries and it can get very confusing.Sadly, following Akitada around does not clear things up.In fact it seems to toss even more mud into the water.
Get it used if you must.The book just didn't hook me and the ending seemed tacked on.

Mystery Solved!
I stumble on the Sugawara Akitada Mystery by accident, and they are one of the best who do it novels around. If you like Sherlock Holmes, Judge Dee you are not going to be dissapointed.

The Hell Screen
IJ Parker is an amazing author. I find her books to be wonderful reads and The Hell Screen did not disappoint. I stayed up until I had finished it!

The Hell Screen
Brilliant book.Ideally you need to have read the previous books in the series for some of it to make sense chronologically but the plot can easily stand alone as a superb example of historical mystery/murder/thriller writing. There is enough of the supernatural in the story to satisfy without going over the top and becoming a fantasy novel.There is also enough doubt on the part of the hero as to whether he did or didn't see/hear anything to make the reader wonder as well.And the book gives an interesting side light into Buddism, which until this book I had always thought of as a peaceful, philosophical belief that didn't go in for violence whereas the Buddism shown in this book is more akin to the Taoism of the Judge Dee novels with it's firery furnaces and devils/demons.Read it, it will give you a whole new insight into early Japan and their religious practices/beliefs, painlessly including the knowledge as an integral part of a plot line, and a plot intriguing enough that once I had started the book I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.A rare occurance and one that ensures that this series will feature prominently on my bookcase.

Add Ancient Japan and Murder to get great reading!
IJ Parker's Akitada series didn't sound like anything I would be interested in - murder mysteries set in 11th-century Japan?However, I found both the historical details and the murder mystery of The Hell Screen to be fascinating.Parker manages to place you solidly in ancient Japan without distracting you from the complex weave of plots and sub-plots.The characters are complex and realistic, the pace is quick, and the writing is crisp.Don't start this one late at night - you'll be up until morning because you won't want to put it down! ... Read more

Product Description
This colorful, informative book explains the amazing civilizations of ancient China and Japan--cultures that existed for thousands of years before Europe developed or America was discovered. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book
This is a great book.It has fun, colorful pages full of information and some craft projects, too.My daughter is currently building a Chinese pagoda out of cardboard.

Fusion of Two Great Books
Apparently the publisher joined two out of print titles, Step Into... Ancient Japan (The Step Into Series) by Fiona Macdonald with Step into the Chinese Empire Chinese Empire (Step Into Series) by Philip Steele to forge this book.I've ordered it and hopefully my information is accurate!The remainder of this review is actually my review for "Step into Ancient Japan" and hence would only apply to the Japan half of the book.I have other books from the Step Into series and they are organized in the same manner.

This book is part of an excellent series of non-fiction books for children on cultures from the past. While the title of this edition states "ancient", the focus seems to be on the period of the bushido and samurai (it does briefly cover the Jomon period). Fiona Macdonald did a great job, as usual.

There is an abundance of beautiful, full-color pictures (mostly photographs, but a few illustrations) of famous art, buildings, and maps on every page. Each two page spread covers a specific topic and is organized with a paragraph or so of text surrounded by the photographs with interesting facts or expanations. It does not appear too cluttered and again, these pictures are almost entirely real examples of the culture, not just illustrations. A descriptive timeline is also included on the preliminary pages. The glossary and index are useful too.

Fifteen do-able activities/crafts/recipes are found throughout the book: samurai helmet, shell game, rice balls, carp streamer, screen painting, homemade paper, Noh mask, votive dolls, ikebana flower arrangement, fan, fox netsuke, origami box, calligraphy, kite, and clay tea bowl.

I also highly recommend Exploration into Japan (Exploration Into) for a more in-depth, yet still interesting history of Japan for kids.If you're looking for more crafts and some info, tryJapan (Make it Work! History).Also, The Japanese (Ancient World) has some good information about the culture of Japan as well.
... Read more

Product Description
In 1467 the Onin War ushered in a period of unrivalled conflict and rivalry in Japan that came to be called the Age of Warring States or Sengoku Jidai. In this book Stephen Turnbull offers a masterly exposition of the Sengoku Jidai, detailing the factors that led to Japan's disintegration into warring states after more than a century of peace; the years of fighting that followed; and the period of gradual fusion when the daimyo (great names) strove to reunite Japan under a new Shogun. Peace returned to Japan with the end of the Osaka War in 1615, but only at the end of the most violent, turbulent and cruel period in Japanese history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Civil Wars of Japan
I found this book some what informative. I liked the illustrations, with the armies in period dress.

A Wonderful Book
Turnbull does an excellent job of introducing the Sengoku Period (Warring States Period) of Japanese history.During this period, Japan was shattered into dozens of minor statelets.This period see the destruction of the shogunate, a long period of civil wars between the statelets, and the eventual reunification of Japan and the return of the shogunate under the Tokugawa.This period is of particular interest to fans of the samurai.This period is the last time in history in which samurai were the fierce warriors they are depicted to be.After this period, the samurai become glorified bureaucrats during the 250 years of peace during the Tokugawa shogunate.They only take up arms for a brief period during the fall of the shogunate, but it doesn't match anything that happened during the Sengoku Period.

This book is a fairly thin volume at only 96 pages.However, it is filled with lots of details and colorful illustrations.For samurai fans, this can serve as a great introduciton to the history of the greatest period of the samurai. ... Read more

Product Description
Born from the earliest dated tradition of pottery manufacture in the world, dog abstract clay figurines with recognisably human features are a link back to the lost worlds of the remarkable Jomon period (century 10,000-500 BC). They have been excavated in large quantities from sites throughout the country. Many were deliberately broken before burial which has raised intriguing questions about their possible uses. This catalogue will illustrate 70 dog, the most important of which have been designated as either National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. In addition to the descriptions of the pieces themselves, the book will include chapters written by experts in the field exploring the wider East Asian setting and the significance of this context in understanding Japanese prehistory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Power of Dogu; Ceramic Figures from Ancient Japan
An excellent book giving up to date information on these wonderful ancient ceramic figures.The photographs are first class and give a good indication of the figurine's qualities. Other than actually being able to handle these pieces this is the next best thing. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Written for children but interesting for adults.Describes ancient Japan and how it contributed to the world then and now.Larger font and color photos enhance reading and understanding. ... Read more