Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Very Resourceful Book
Kanagy's "Living Abroad in Japan" covers just about everything you need to know to do just that and is generally geared towards those interested in staying for a longer period than just a week's vacation.

Kanagy covers a brief introduction to the country before laying out such topics as VISA explanations, taxes, finding a place to live, transportation, and what to expect in daily life.It also includes several sections devoted to specific regions and an extensive list of contact information for everything from real estate offices to healthcare providers to internet service providers.

While the book was published in 2004, much of the information is still accurate and applicable.For example, Kanagy uses 1 dollar = 110 yen to estimate costs and, as of writing this review, her estimate is not far from the present 1:120.

Must Have Guide
Ruthy Kanagy has produced a comprehensive and useful guide for those thinking of taking the plunge across the Pacific and moving to Japan. Living Abroad in Japan joins many other well-done titles put out by the publishers Living Abroad In. Kanagy, herself born and raised in Tokyo, approaches her subject as only an insider could. The book assumes the reader knows nothing but does not speak down to her-and is well written and full of detail. It is neatly broken into chapters on Japan (history, government, economy, people, culture), daily life (moving, language, health, employment, finance, communications, travel, and housing), and "prime living locations" (Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kansai, Nagano, and Hiroshima).
The back of the book too is filled with useful indices: contacts, a phrasebook, suggested reading/films, clothing sizes, and an index. Having lived in Japan-Tokyo and Kyoto-for 15 years, I thought this would be a guide for someone just off the boat (i.e., not for me). It most certainly is for those new to or thinking of coming to Japan; however, it is much more than that. Even for the long-term resident of Japan, this is an invaluable guide.

intelligent, complete and entertaining guidebook
I have lived 27 years as an American in Japan and I find Ruthy Kanagy's book to be accurate and complete.This book covers a wide breadth of important material succinctly without even one boring or pedantic line in the whole book.It contains interesting informatation ranging from Japanese history and geography to how to open a bank account or how to make conversation with a Japanese. It is written eloquently and intelligently with insight and information to benefit the experienced traveler or the first time traveler to Japan.The original photographs and descriptions are refreshingly fair and true to the experience of living in Japan today.A must read for anyone planning a trip to Japan.

Great book that covers the "Real Japan"
An interesting enough book, that it's a great read not only for to-be-visitors of Japan, but for Japanese readers as well. Unlike other travel books which cover only the sightseeing aspect of Japan putting weight on traditional Japanese culture, this book is well balanced in describing everyday life, the real Japan today, The Japanese mind (important in getting acquainted with Japan), as well as the tradition. The book is also good at pointing out the interesting mixture of the past and present (for example, kimono-clad woman talking on a cell-phone). The facts and advice are all practical, up to date and accurate based on the author's actual experience living in Japan. As a Japanese citizen, I recommend reading this book whether you plan to visit/live in Japan or not, to find out what Japan is all about now. (which is not just Geisha, samurai, Toyota and Sony. :-)) ... Read more

Book Description
When friends want to know where to go in Japan, I always ask, "What are you interested in?" One friend spent every day at the Kabuki theater in Tokyo. Another ventured north to savor the culinary traditions of Tohoku. We know people who adore Tokyo, exulting in the energy of the world's most
futuristic megapolis. Others loath it and flee to tranquil Kyoto, the former imperial city that epitomizes the refinement of traditional culture. Still others visit both cities and marvel at the extremes represented by these opposing poles of the Japanese experience. The diversity of cultural and
geographic offerings can be intimidating. The two sections of this book, History and Culture and Japan by Region, are designed to make them more manageable. History and Culture focuses on specific topics and recommends where to go. Japan by Region gives the practical information you need to make the
trip.

History and Culture
"A Brief History" introduces the major historical periods and includes a list of the most important figures in Japanese history and culture; their names appear in uppercase letters throughout the book. The chapters that follow provide both an overview and a practical reference on various subjects.
For example, "Cuisine" contains bilingual "menus" from which you can order food in restaurants. Most of the chapters conclude with a list of recommendations. Any place that is mentioned in both the main text and the list appears in uppercase.

Japan by Region
The ten regional chapters appear in geographic order, from north to south (see map on p. vi). The largest of Japan's four main islands, Honshu, and the smallest, Shikoku, together make up seven chapters. The remaining three chapters are devoted to Hokkaido, Kyushu, and the Okinawan archipelago.
Each chapter begins with a brief introduction and lists the best attractions, special interests, and seasonal events.

Transit Diagrams
The transit diagram at the beginning of each regional chapter shows the main trunk line (usually the bullet train) traversing the region, together with other train and bus lines that branch off. The main junctions on the trunk line are assigned roman numerals and treated as jumping-off points from
which to explore side routes; the stations along the side routes are assigned arabic numerals. The text describes in numerical order each main junction, followed by the side routes; their direction is denoted by the letters "N" for north, "E" for east, and so forth. For example, suppose you want to
visit Dewa Sanzan (transit key number IV:W3) in Tohoku. To see how to get there, turn to the Tohoku transit diagram (p.152); go down the trunk line to the fourth city, Sendai, then go west three notches. The text follows the same organization and is, in effect, a series of mini-itineraries.

Dining, Lodgings, and Local Maps
Dining and lodging facilities are listed at the end of each town or locale. Telephone area codes are usually listed beside the lodgings heading. Shops, restaurants, and hotels will appear on local maps according to a number-key system. (See inside front cover for a key to symbols.) Ratings are
awarded on a scale of from one to three stars based on quality, service, and atmosphere. Credit-card information is supplied for every establishment for which the information was available. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Best guide to the sights of Japan
In my opinion, this is the best guide to the sights of Japan - good information about the monuments and the objects contained in them, and the history and significance surrounding them. The maps are very well done, too. The practical information (food and lodging) is actually quite good, but the book has been out for a while and may be aging. Also, it is not targeted to very budget-conscious travelers; it may be good to carry a Lonely Planet guide to help with those aspects of the trip.

Good Book but hard to find specific stuffs
Good book and nice overview but it is hard to find specific stuffs for Tokyo. Rest of Japan was ok.

Lots of information, though I haven't utilized it yet
I purchased this book in anticipation of a trip to Japan (haven't gone yet, next year). I was looking for maps of places to visit and what I got was not only some detailed maps for different places to visit, but I also got descriptions of many of the places, tips on taking a trip to Japan (never would have known that many places charge you a service charge for using a credit card and most transactions should be made with cash) and plenty of cultural notes. You also get detailed train maps; essential if you plan on using Japan's most important form of mass transit.

If you are looking to take a trip to Japan and aren't planning on using a travel plan designed by a travel agent, this is definitely a very nice book to help you plan your adventure.

Just one guide book needed!
This was fantastic! If you were to see and do exactly what was suggested you would be all set!We absolutely loved this book!You would be just fine if you only had this one book.I trust it completely. A+ for sure.

Essential for traveling in Japan
This book is weighty but great!It has all kinds of information that is pertinent and useful for all travelers to Japan.The cultural and historical sections are not only informative but also pithy and interesting to read.The descriptions of all the sights are excellent and the maps are helpful. You can get more detailed maps at your destination but the maps in the book give you an overall picture of the areas.The only negative is that some of the restaurant and hotel info is outdated. ... Read more

Book Description
Describes the geography, history, culture, industry, and people of Japan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

quick interesting facts about Japan
This is a good resource for me and my elementary school students.Packed w/ quick interesting facts and great photos it holds the attention of my students w/ the variety, the presentation/layout and the content...for a reasonable price ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book on color, for kids and adults!
It is very pared down, and very basic (obviously because it is for children) but for anyone learning about the varied use of color in different cultures, these books are the best!I wish it was linked to the other books (Colors of Mexico, etc.) better, I didn't even know it was a series at first.But I came back for more!There are a lot of complicated books about color usage, so it is refreshing to have a simple format like this.If I had children I'd buy them the whole set, and write to the publisher asking for all the countries they didn't include. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1959 journalist John Roderick joined the Tokyo bureau of the Associated Press. There, he befriended a Japanese family, the Takishitas. After musing offhandedly that he would like to one day have his own house in Japan, the familyunbeknownst to Johnset out to grant his wish. They found Roderick a 250-year-old minka, or hand-built farmhouse, with a thatched roof and held together entirely by wooden pegs and joinery. It was about to be washed away by flooding and was being offered for only fourteen dollars. Roderick graciously bought the house, but was privately dismayed at the prospect of living in this enormous old relic lacking heating, bathing, plumbing, and proper kitchen facilities. So the minka was dismantled and stored, where Roderick secretly hoped it would stay, as it did for three years. Roderick and a team of experienced carpenters renovated the farmhouse adding features such as floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a modern kitchen, bath, and toilet.

Customer Reviews (2)

A delightful excursion into the

I loved this book!Rarely have I read a book that combines the richness of Japanese architecture, history and culture with the personal experiences of an American correspondent who simultaneously adopted a Japanese son and eventually gained a 18th century Japanese farmhouse in the process.It is a lively and fascinating account of John Roderick's life over a 50 year period of living in this country that remains an enigma to most foreigners.This is a refreshing look at a bit of Japanese archecture and family life accompanied by a witty, candid, and entertaining writing style. I strongly recommend it!

A different kind of book!
Describing the loving restoration of an 18th century Japanese farmhouse by a well-known AP correspondent, this book also gives intriguing glimpses into Japanese culture of today and yesterday. John Roderick is careful to point out that he could not have accomplished the restoration without the Japanese family who "adopted" him.I found the book hard to put down, so skillfully is it constructed. ... Read more

Book Description
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.

Praise for Fodor’s Exploring guides:
“Authoritatively written and superbly presented…worthy reading before, during or after a trip.”
- Philadelphia Inquirer

“Absolutely gorgeous.Fun, colorful, and sophisticated.”
- Chicago Tribune


Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. While you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Japan!

Fodor’s Exploring Japan is a concise, comprehensive and colorful guide to Japan that’s packed with practical information, including:

•Exceptional coverage of Japan’s HISTORY and CULTURE

•ITINERARIES, WALKS, and EXCURSIONS on and off the beaten path

•Savvy regional cuisine and lodging picks for EVERY BUDGET

•COLOR PHOTOS by the hundreds

•RATINGS for key sights


Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers. ... Read more

Book Description
The Rough Guide to Japan is the award-winning guidebook to this fascinating country. This new edition is published in Rough Guide''s colourful design, with 24 pages of colour photos and two-colour throughout. The introduction features the authors pick of the ''Things Not to Miss'', from skiing in Nagano to slurping noodles in the neon-dazzling nightlife of Shinjuku. The entire country is covered in detail with accounts of all the sights, from Tokyo’s uber-hip hotels to the picturesque villages of Central Honshu and the pristine beaches of Okinawa. There is practical advice on getting around the country by train, and tips on hiking, skiing and diving. The final chapter, Contexts, gives in-depth features on all things Japanese, from temple architecture to pop culture and the environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

It's descriptions are the best
When we were planning our trip to Japan, we purchased The Rough Guide to Japan, The Lonely Planet Guide to Tokyo, and The Time Out Guide to Tokyo.If I had depended on the descriptions in The Lonely Planet Guide to decide what would be fun to do or see, I would never have left home.The same items described in The Rough Guide were much more intriguing.Mostly I chose what to see and do based on The Rough Guide.Other items I picked from descriptions in The Time Out Guide.It's strength was the culture of modern Japan, specifically things relating to anime, manga, cosplay, etc.Rough Guide covers some of these things, but not in such depth.

None of these books, however, mentioned the Godzilla statue in Tokyo.Admittedly, the statue is small and there's nothing to do other than take a picture, but how can you go to Tokyo and not say hi to Godzilla?

When we were in Tokyo, the maps in The Lonely Planet Guide were much more detailed and helpful than those in the other two books.But keep in mind that Tokyo is only a small part of The Rough Guide to Japan.I don't know how The Rough Guide to Tokyo would compare.In Matsumoto, the only place we managed to get to outside of the Greater Tokyo/Yokohama area, The Rough Guide's map got us from the train station to the wonderful castle, Matsumoto-jo, without any trouble.

To sum up, faced with only six days in Japan (plus a day each way for travel), the Rough Guide was invaluable for deciding what we wanted to see, what we could manage to see, and which things would be worth hours on the train to get to.

Frustrating and disappointing book, especially for independent travelers
I cannot recommend this as a good travel guide to Japan, especially for independent travelers, as the book is not helpful with daily planning and navigation. I used it for a 25-day independent tour of Japan and found it so frustrating that I tossed it in the trash before I came home instead of keeping it to proudly display on my bookshelf with my other travel books. The maps are a complete waste of space: many streets are not labeled and the maps often do not appear near the narrative discussing the area, so you have to page back and forth. Maps for specific sightseeing areas such as Arashiyama in Kyoto are not included (where I really could have used a map and I noticed that Lonely Planet provided one), and the maps that are provided contain various errors. One of the main maps of the entire country has the locations of Osaka and Nara switched - an inaccusable error and one that leads me to believe that the book was not well edited. There are also various errors of omission. Fushimi Inari is not discussed in the Kyoto section, which I found strange, as it's one of Kyoto's most photographed and fascinating sites, it's easy to get to, and it's free. I rarely used the recommendations for places to eat as I found they were often not applicable for budget travelers and unrepresentative of local tastes and habits. For example, usually for every city one curry or Indian food place and an Anglo-style pub is recommended. I would rather the author's individual preferences not be so obvious and more precious space be spent on recommendations for what locals typically eat and enjoy. Similarly, the nightlife and cafe recommendations really miss the mark and are out of touch with Japan's more modern, hip, and youthful scenes. Too many run-of-the-mill gaijin haunts are suggested. I found the best places on my own. Honestly, overall the whole book seems geared towards travelers over 40. I did enjoy one of the sections in the back that summarizes Japan's religious life and history and explains well what you see at shrines and temples, but incidentally, this section was not written by one of the book's main authors or contributors. This book might be OK if you are traveling with a group tour or staying with friends for most of the time and just want some supplemental information, but if you are traveling independently and relying on a guide book to get you around and show you the modern as well traditional heart of a place, I believe you are much better off with Lonely Planet.

Pretty Good
This was a good book for my trip to Japan.It provided excellent commentary on history and sites, which I read before visiting temples and shrines.I stayed at two of the accomodation selections in Kyoto and found them to be right on target with the write up.It also is helpful for traveling within the country as it has accurate prices and routes. The maps were a good overview of the area, though they could be better organized with the text.I can't give it 5 stars because of the map organization and because I only used it for three places in Japan. A good resource!

One of the best English guides to Japan
We have lived in Japan for 14 of the last 20 years and have spent the last 11 years living in Tokyo.Over that period of time, we have bought and used Lonely Planet, Fodors, National Geographic, and several less well known guides to Japan and specific cities.Of course the best guides to Japan are written in Japanese, and there are many of them.However, if you are like us, looking for an English guide, we have consistently found the Rough Guide to Japan (third edition) to be one of the best books available, particularly if you are hoping to visit smaller cities in outlying regions.It covers many more cities than will a Fodors or National Geographic, although you will not have the glossy photos of some of the other books.In a guide of this size, complete coverage of Japan's geography, history, culture, and attractions is simply impossible.And there will always be a few errors and omissions.Nonetheless, this is simply one of the best guides you can find for trips that include visits to more remote regions of Japan.

We have used this guide book for trips to Okinawa and outlying islands; Hiroshima, Himeji, Okayama, Matsue, and elsewhere in the San'in / San'yo region, and to Matsumoto and the Kiso Valley.The regional maps are good; the city maps are just ok.We have found the material on transport informative and useful.The information on hotels and restaurants is incomplete, but is more comprehensive than just about any other guide out there, and the recommendations and reviews for hotels are accurate and useful.It lists the major sights, and picks up many notable sights in the smaller cities that are completely forgotten by most other guides.One thing we like about this book is that it tells you where to find more information once you arrive at each city or station.


Conclusions:
*If you are looking for a solid general reference that offers as much coverage as possible in one English language book, it is hard to go wrong with the Rough Guide to Japan.
*However, if you want to be comprehensive, you'll need to use this book in conjunction with other references and material.The internet is often a good source of recommendations and up to the minute information.Maps published in Japan, some available in both Japanese and English, others only in Japanese, are also very helpful.If you have the time and money to consider other books, the following would complement the Rough Guide to Japan:
-Gateway to Japan (Kodansha).It's old (1998), but still very useful for remote cities and attractions.There will be a fair amount of overlap, and the Rough Guide will be more up to date, but this book is one of the best for trips to outlying areas.
-National Geographic Traveler Japan.Good photos and walking routes, but the coverage is nowhere near the level of the Rough Guide.Together, they make a good set.

Hope this helps!

Not useful
Filled with inaccurate information, lack of good, accurate maps. It was almost completely useless. Never again I will buy another Rough Guide. Long live Lonely Planet. ... Read more

Book Description
An invaluable resource for travelers to Japan, this bilingual map has been revised to show the most current names and configurations of cities, towns and villages throughout Japan. It features one complete map of Japan plus detailed maps of Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya and
Fuji-Hakone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Japan Bilingual Map
Sorry it was not as detailed as I would have liked- only shows major roads and rails in the major cities----contained no detailed call out of Okinawa

Japan Bilingual Map
Recently updated - old version was great, but new version just as good, if not better. One of the most comprehensive maps of Japan that is available at a good price. ... Read more

Book Description
Insight Guide Japan includes a section detailing Japan`s history, 9 features covering aspects of the types of life styles and culture, ranging from Performing Arts to Cuisine, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus many high quality photographs and 17 maps. ... Read more

Book Description

Drawing on the author's personal experiences of life in Japan over a period of 30 years, Lost Japan takes the reader on a backstage tour of the country's cultural icons. The book explores different facets of Alex Kerr's cultural involvement: friendships with Kabuki actors, buying and selling art, studying calligraphy, exploring rarely visited temples and shrines. The author's experiences underscore the fact that Japan is heading towards environmental and cultural ruin.

About the Author
Alex Kerr is an American who lives in Japan. He holds degrees in Japanese Studies from Yale University and Chinese Studies from Oxford University, and is a passionate and knowledgeable collector of East Asian art. He writes and lectures in Japanese, and is associated with the Oomoto Foundation, a Shinto organisation devoted to the practice and teaching of traditional Japanese arts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

A lovely read
Most of the reviews of this book either support or criticize Kerr's point of view regarding the topics he covers. It seems to me Kerr does an admirable job of conveying what are obviously his own experiences living for a very long time in Japan. It seems neither reactionary, elitist, nor condemning. As a writer, I loved the book for its writing.

Kerr has a talent for phrasing, metaphor, and humor that makes the reading a delightful breeze. Clearly his Japanese publisher felt it was a subject that would appeal to Nihonjin. I have recommended it to a couple of Japanese friends myself.

Even if you're not especially interested in Japanese culture, many of the essays in this little book are great fun to read.

Great Reading
If you have any interest at all in Japan, this is a must read book.This is very well written, interesting to the point that I could not put it down, and a great book to read about this man and his explotis throughout his adult life living in Japan.I always loan this book to my friends with an interest in Japan, and give it as a gift to others.

A must read for those interested in Japan
Three years ago, Alex Kerr finally left the Japan he had called home for some 30 years prior to that. For a look at why, there is no better place to start than his seminal work on the willful and casual destruction of Japanese culture.

Originally written in Japanese, Kerr's work documents the loss of what drew him to Japan in the first place: its spectacular traditional arts. Divided into chapters on Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, legendary American businessman Trammell Crow, Kabuki, Kerr's own art collecting and calligraphy. Lost Japan is a must-read for anyone interested in modern and pre-modern Japan.

Another Lonely Planet Journeys gem
I've had really good luck with several Lonely Planets Journeys published books--their editors have done a great job of finding stories by exceptional writers that would not find a voice elsewhere.Lost Japan is really the perfect title for this book as although I've never been there, I became nostalgic at the centuries old culture that Japan began losing so exponentially after WWII.He happened to be there at the right time to capture a cultural crisis and found himself in the odd position of valuing things that the "modern" Japanese were discarding.It's a brilliant observation about a foreign culture and the added interest is his own lifestyle of a bohemian sort.He would often just move into abandoned houses in villages where he did not know a soul.His story of both the remaining rural culture and a modern culture (in the 80s) that did not understand basic real estate business rules having never seen their own real estate ever devalue is fascinating.

For good & bad, read this book
Embarking on a life in Japan, I picked up this book for the rich cover art if anything else. On turning the pages I found myself being taken by Alex Kerr on a very personal journey through a world lived by him yet rarely seen by foreigners to Japan; From Kabuki, to Calligraphy, to tea ceremony, Mr. Kerr's idealism in aesthetics is evenly balanced by a sharp cynicism for the greed & corruption of modern Japan that is slowly eating away at this once colourfully overflowing world. However it wasn't the cynicism but the beauty that I found my self retracing. Alex has a wonderful way of transporting the readers mind into the same sense of appreciation he himself obviously has for the culture that makes Japan so unique. Without turning his experiences into religious epiphanies, he describes with great earthiness the true ideals of tea ceremony & ikebana & how stifling ritual itself may be destroying such `rituals'. Reading this book has given me more cultural insight into this country, both good & bad, than a whole year living in this socially impenetrable society. For good & bad, it's a must read for anyone who loves the beauty of Japan, or simply beauty alone. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Inspirational!
I picked up this book a couple of months before moving to Japan for a year of study and was completely captivated. The various writers are effective in giving the reader a brief glimpse into some of the most unique and enchanting qualities of Japanese society. Four years later, I still pull out this book occasionally to rekindle the feelings of wonder I experienced when I first opened it. The book also provides the titles of many of books from which the passages are taken, which is a great resource for sprouting Japanophiles. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, along with the entire series of Traveler's Tales books.

Fantastic!Highly recommend this book!
This is a great book.It's lots of short "stories" - some are excerpts from other books (that I've actually read), but some also seem to be short "stories."I really like it because I can pick the book up, look in the table of contents for a title that sounds interesting, and find one with a length that fits the amount of time I have available right then.I particularly enjoy reading it out loud to my travel companions - share the fun!I admit that some of the excerpts are a little dry - but still informative - but some are simply hysterical.It really gives a nice and varied insight into the Japanese culture.Take it with you on your trip for varied reading pleasure, or read it in parts when you return to extend the enjoyment of your trip!

I've also given others from this series as gifts to friends who are traveling - India, Paris, Tuscony... ... Read more

Book Description
Japan: A Modern History provides a comprehensive narrative that integrates the political, social, cultural, and economic history of modern Japan from the investiture of Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 to the present. Japan: A Modern History integrates the everyday experiences of farmers, artisans, families, soldiers, and laborers into the general narrative. Throughout, the point of view is based in Japan, emphasizing the Japanese as makers of their own history. Professor McClain provides in-depth coverage of the early modern period and the subsequent emergence of new dimensions in all areas of Japanese life. Numerous maps, illustrations, chronologies, and a helpful glossary reinforce central themes and events. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Superb recount of Japan
McClain offers a holistic approach to Japanese history. In this book he explains how Japan got to where it is today by going through the various historical periods. For recent Japanese history, he concentrates on the social aspects as well as the political and economic ones. Readers gain a thorough understanding of Japan with this book.

Concise but a bit boring (sorry)
This is a good summary of the history of Japan. It spans all topics and is quite balanced in social, political and economic issues. McClain's book takes quite an academic approach to Japan's history, (without exessive notes of course). It is well founded, he is precise, concise and avoids controversal or journalistic subjects and speculation (such as whether Roosevelt knew about the attac on pearl harbor). In this sense this book can be highly recommended for those readers who look for a no-nonsense textbook. However, this style makes the read a bit boring. Compared to other historical books I have read I found it hard to read and - as a non-english native speaker - it took me a long time. Because the writer never goes deep into one subject, the reader gets only a kind of the summary of an issue. The book is never really gripping and as a more casual reader it is probably not my the first choice. John Dower and David Nathan have left me more inspired.

The best history of modern Japan (1603 forward)...
McClain has fashioned a highly detailed, sophisticated, and complex history of Japan from 1603 to the present.The historiography is superb (he obviously is totally bilingual and is fluent in Japanese sources).The history is both descriptive (chronological, social, political, economic, family/personal) as well as analytic (how social structure affected the rise of industrial society, for example).The overall effect is to make Japanese history clear and comprehensible.The people of Japan stand out in distinct relief.

I was puzzled that the Boston Globe reviewer was much cooler toward this book than I think most readers are or will be.McClain's history will stand the test of time.

question
I am not writing a review in fact. But I can't find anywhere else here to ask my question: What is the difference between the college edition and hardcover ed.? There is no info on this.

Comprehensive history since the 17th century.
If you are looking for an excellent resource on the history of Japan in the past 4 centuries, I recommend this book highly. It does an excellent job in tracing the tortuous path that wove from Japan's feudal fiefdom society to the current modern parliamentary democracy. In addition to the governmental and military matters that are generally covered, there is notable space dedicated to the arts and the contributions of women, peasants and others not normally found in history books. The maps and illustrations are adequate, and do help to support the text. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Magisterial in vision, sweeping in scope, this monumental work presents a seamless account of Japanese society during the modern era, from 1600 to the present. A distillation of more than fifty years' engagement with Japan and its history, it is the crowning work of our leading interpreter of the modern Japanese experience.

Since 1600 Japan has undergone three periods of wrenching social and institutional change, following the imposition of hegemonic order on feudal society by the Tokugawa shogun; the opening of Japan's ports by Commodore Perry; and defeat in World War II. The Making of Modern Japan charts these changes: the social engineering begun with the founding of the shogunate in 1600, the emergence of village and castle towns with consumer populations, and the diffusion of samurai values in the culture.

Jansen covers the making of the modern state, the adaptation of Western models, growing international trade, the broadening opportunity in Japanese society with industrialization, and the postwar occupation reforms imposed by General MacArthur. Throughout, the book gives voice to the individuals and views that have shaped the actions and beliefs of the Japanese, with writers, artists, and thinkers, as well as political leaders given their due.

The story this book tells, though marked by profound changes, is also one of remarkable consistency, in which continuities outweigh upheavals in the development of society, and successive waves of outside influence have only served to strengthen a sense of what is unique and native to Japanese experience. The Making of Modern Japan takes us to the core of this experience as it illuminates one of the contemporary world's most compelling transformations.

Customer Reviews (9)

Exasperating -- but worth the slog
What an exasperating book. At times, The Making of Modern Japan is a joy to read, filled with wonderful translations of primary sources and with Jansen's own wry asides. At others, the prose is painfully academic. It's almost like it was written by different authors. I found the first quarter of the book, a detailed description of the Tokugawa status quo on the eve of revolutionary change, to be deadly dull - 200 pages of sentences, none of which seemed to contain verbs. As the action increases - and Japan begins to reform in the face of foreign pressure - the book gets better. But even here the prose can be deadly. Readers approaching Jansen's otherwise interesting survey of Meiji culture must first get past this sentence, standing like a sentinel at the start of Chapter 14 waiting to bludgeon them senseless: "Histories of Meiji Japan usually follow a periodization derived from the construction of the modern nation-state.'' I found myself crying: "Stop this man before he writes `periodization' again!" But Jansen's immense knowledge, judicious analysis and well-chosen excerpts redeem the book. I loved the Japanese scholar who, upon encountering Western learning, describes the joy of discovery as "sweet as sugar cane.'' I was thunderstruck by the 19th century writer who sounds like Saruman ranting in Isengard as he extols the glories of environmental destruction: "The smoke coiling up from thousands of chimneys will obscure the sun. Ship masts will be as numerous as trees in a forest. The sound of drills, levers and hammers will be orchestrated with the echoes of steam engines...How delightful it will be!" The book also concludes with a lengthy and useful list of recommended reading. For readers who want a comprehensive, balanced and at times delightful introduction to the events that made modern Japan, this book is worth the slog. But a slog it sometimes is.

Thorough and informative
I bought this book for reference while taking a Modern History of Asia class - I ended up reading the whole thing! Informative, interesting and a great resource for the 3 papers on Japan I wrote.

Absolutely facinating to students of Japanese History
I could not put this book down once I started reading it. Anyone looking for details from the end of the Edo era through the Allied Occupation follwing WWII will not be able to find a better book than this.

The work of a liftetime. . .
And for most, reading it may take a lifetime. But that might not be a bad thing.

This book has two strong points: first, it is remarkably all-inclusive - the work of a master historian; second, it is inexpensive for such a massive tome.

Jansen crafts a decent narrative, but the writing itself is sometimes plodding and only the most tenacious reader will be able to navigate all 765 pages.

Which means that this is an excellent book for researchers and budding Japan specialists. It is probably the best condensed history that covers this massive a timeframe.

But for the casual reader this book can at best be read over the years, chunk by chunk only as inspiration strikes.

very good
this was a very good imformative book that was still easy to read, and was well organized ... Read more

Book Description
Japan is the shopping capital of the world—unequalled in the number, variety and convenience of its shops, malls and street arcades!
The Shopping Guide to Japan clearly illustrates how the Japanese genius for organization, efficiency and customer service has put them at the forefront in the world of shopping. Japan is a shoppers' paradise, and this book succinctly explains all the ins and outs to making the most of your Japanese shopping experience.
... Read more

Book Description
Japan Style, written by one of the world's most respected scholars of Japanese art and culture, is an authoritative and wide-ranging visual essay on the aesthetics of Japan.It serves as a unique handbook that aids an understanding of Japanese culture through its architecture, arts, crafts, cinema, and literature. It gives an insight into the essence of Japanese culture, identifying its specific qualities and characteristics from ukiyo-e to Tadao Ando. The author draws connections between art, religion, history, philosophy, and mythology, using the links to frame specific examples of Japanese cultural memes. The book features over 150 illustrations ranging from the traditional to thecontemporary. Japan Style is a perfect introduction to Japanese style and culture. ... Read more

Book Description
Every year, thousands of families visit or relocate to Japan. Fourteen years ago, Jeanne Huey and Diane Wiltshire made the crossing. Five children and six years later they wrote the first complete guide to entertaining and raising children in this fascinating but often baffling land. Now, eight years on they offer a fully updated version, with hundreds of new additions on: AMUSEMENTS festivals, theme parks, cultural centers, zoos, aquariumsOUTINGS museums, beaches, parks, playgrounds, gardensTRAVEL TIPS moving, coping with jet lag, getting around town, day tripsSHOPPING where to buy anything, from food to fashions to futonsHEALTH CARE dentists and doctors, pregnancy and childbirth, medical emergencies EDUCATION daycare, international schools, the Japanese system, bilingualismACTIVITIES talent agencies, sports, Japanese traditions, and extracurricular classesMAIL ORDER listings, catalogs, and the Internet ... and much, much moreCompact yet bulging with priceless information and hundreds of tips, the new Japan for Kids is essential reading for families heading for or living in this part of the Far East. From planetariums to petting zoos, educational materials to interactive museums, this handy reference book remains indispensable-a guide that no parent can go without. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Japan For Kids - best available!
OK. The book was written by an American primarily from an American point of view, and is heavily weighted towards life in Tokyo.Some basic demographics: Japan - total population about 127 million. The English speaking population in Tokyo is maybe 40,000 (if you assume that most of the West Europeans speak English on top of their mother tongues).The number of registered foreigners living in all of Japan is about 1,686,444 (as of Dec 2000) of which 2.7% are US citizens representing the fifth largest ethnic group after Koreans, Chinese, Brazilians and Philippinos.This is to give you an idea of how small the total number of English speaking foreign residents is.Naturally they are spread out very unequally all over this country with the greatest numbers concentrated in the Tokyo/Yokohama corridor and in the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe region.

Diane writes very positively. In spite of lack in total coverage of the whole country, this book makes Japan more attractive to people who would be overwhelmed otherwise by the exotic nature of Japan, a country where very few people are capable of communicating on even the simplest level in English (unlike Singapore, Hong Kong, Sweden, Holland, India, etc.)The book is too short to address every nook and cranny of an endless topic, but it is a darn good start in the right direction and the only book of it's kind.Supplemented by the Japan Health Handbook, long term visitors have a good set of tools for tackling the job of living here with limited or no Japanese language ability.There are several chapters dealing with general information applicable to living in most urban areas of Japan. She has also included a lot of web site URLs in this second edition which make more detailed information on a local basis available.This book is not the definitive resource, nor was it meant to be at only 320 pages, but it is an excellant place to get started in the exploration of a potential lifetime experience.

For a family travelling as tourists to Japan this book is also immensely useful coupled with the Lonely Planet Guide and universally helpful hotel concierges (even when their English is sometimes lacking).Even if this book only manages to impart to the reader the "flavor" of this country, the multitude of things that appear similar on the surface but are actually quite different, then the reader has acquired that much more data with which to navigate.It may be best to see this book as a good reference book which will lead to other places for more detailed information once arrived in Japan.

Tokyo for American Kids
A more apt title for this book is perhaps "Tokyo for American Kids", because that is what it is mostly about.I am located in Yokohama, which is not far from Tokyo, so fortunately it is still useful for me, as it contains some references to Yokohama.However, if you are living in other parts of Japan, the book's usefulness is limited.The book makes many references to getting access to things that you are used to "back home", where home is America, so if you aren't American that's not much help either. Having said all that, the book has many good features if you are living in or near Tokyo, including lists of English-speaking doctors, parks/playgrounds and things to see and do, however don't rely too heavily on the directions to the attractions given in the book, as some of them are pretty ordinary.There is enough general type of information to make the book worth buying regardless of your location, if only to give you an idea of what to expect if you are moving to Japan with children, just don't be disappointed when you discover that most of the specific details provided are aimed at people living in Tokyo.If you are moving to Tokyo, this book is excellent.If you are an American moving to Tokyo, then it's even better!

Too Much Tokyo
Yes, there is a lot of great information here, and if you are in Japan with your kids I'm sure this book will be helpful.However, despite the "Japan" in the title, most of the specific places mentioned in the book (museums, hospitals, parks, etc.) are in Tokyo, followed by the Osaka-Kobe area.It can make you very envious if you don't live there!

This book should have been titled " Tokyo for Kids"
This book should have been titled, "Tokyo for Kids".I was extremely excited to get this book but my excitement faded to disappointment when I opened it's cover to only find mostly things that realated to the Tokyo area.I am currently living in Japan with my husband and daughter and was hoping for more of an insiders view of things to do in Japan.However, I live quite a distance from the Tokyo area and had hoped to find out about things more locally, or even within a more resonable distance then Tokyo.It would have been nice to see more comprensive coverage of Japan.Not everyone who lives here, flocks to the Tokyo area.Although I do plan to visit there at least once while living here, it is not close enough to be the focus of weekend or even monthly outings. There were a few other areas mentioned, but it seemed to me that the authors of this book did not take enough time to throughly reasearch all areas of Japan. There is some useful information in here as far as contacts and ordering, but if you live anywhere outside Tokyo, I can not reccomend this book to you. It is a well written and informative book for what it is, but it should not have been titled, "Japan for Kids", nor claimed to be the ultimate guide...

A Lifesaver
This book never left the coffee table in the 2 years we lived in Japan.Although some of the info was outdated (phone numbers, etc.) it gave me so much information on wear to take my 3 year old to play, go to preschool,get a haircut, etc.It even gave me great advice on giving birth in Japanwhen I became pregnant with baby #2!It is written in a very easy way - Ifound myself picking it up and reading a few pages whenever I had a freemoment.This book is a must for anyone heading over to Japan with kids -DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!If you can wait until July an updated versionwill be published (thank you amazon.com for that information!)Since we willprobably be heading there again for a few years (this time with 3 kids) Ialready have it on order. ... Read more

Book Description
Nippon nests: Today's most exceptional Japanese homes So rich and unique is traditional Japanese architecture that it's hard to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects keep finding new ways to refurbish and take inspiration from the ways of old. Whether it's a pristinely preserved traditional house or a cutting-edge apartment, the best Japanese homes share a love of cleverly designed spaces and warm materials such as wood, bricks, and bamboo. From a thatched roof farmhouse occupied by a Zen priest to Tadao Ando's experimental 4x4 House, Shigeru Ban's conceptual Shutter House, and a beautiful homage to bamboo in the form of a home, this book traverses the multifaceted landscape of Japanese living today. Also included is a list of addresses and a glossary of terms, such as tatami. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beautiful photos of modern houses
Saw this book in Tokyo and loved the photos of modern Japanese living. Great shots of modern architecture and interior design in Japan. Went back to the hotel and found the book on Amazon for half the price... it was waiting for me when I got back to the states. You can't beat that!

A good buy
Great photos, a well picked and varied number of interiors and still... I can't rate it at five. It's so slick and gorgeous but I miss some smaller and perhaps more lived-in dwellings. And a little more gardens. But it is definetely worth getting and browsing. A small defect is the habit of re-using objects and motifs in some of the pictures, always annoys me when they do that. Top marks I can only give to the twenty-some-years old Japanese Style, but then you won't get the recent modern interiors.

Inspirational
I bought this 'coffee-table' book as a gift for a friend, but when it arrived, we were so impressed with the extensive collection of photographs that I had to purchase a copy to display, re-visit, and share with future house guests.The authors have managed to capture the rare and simple beauty of Japanese architecture and design through history.An impressive tour!

Great Book, Everything I expected from Kerr
I am a big fan of Alex Kerr and this book did not let me down.It contains a many images that aren't normally seen in most traditional print, and thankfully none of the babbeling of authors that only spend a week in Japan and white about the "true Japan".The last thing I am looking for is another tatami mat or Japanese screen.

I have already begun a home re-modeling plan with some of the ideas in this book.I also got the idea from another one of Kerr's books, and began to collect old Japanese lumber to re-use in my own home.

Thanks Alex!

Elegant + photographically splendid
This large format book intertwines a narrative about the architectural and aesthetic merits of selected living spaces in Japan, ranging from beach-side dwellings to compact apartments to spacious and serene courtyards. The title could be misconstrued as living/lifestyle in Japan but really it refers to 'living spaces' or modes of housing and integration with architecture. The scope ranges from well renowned architecturally meritorious buildings to precious traditional Kyoto dwellings. The elegant photography captures the serenity, angles, glimpses and innovation of the structures with sensitivity and initial impressions are challenged and augmented by the thoroughly researched commentary. The author's long-time residence in Japan and understanding of its culture underlies the text. I think this book would appeal to the architect, appreciator of spaces and aesthetics. It seems quite reasonable for such a large, hardcover book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Visitors Only
After reading all of the praise this book heaps on the Japan Rail Pass, I was very excited about purchasing one and doing some sightseeing before I begin my teaching job in Japan... Until I got to page 12 and read, "This pass cannot be used by anybody arriving in Japan for employment". The cost of rail travel without it is much too expensive. I'll probably leave this book at home. ... Read more

Book Description

On July 14, 1853, the four warships of America's East Asia Squadron made for Kurihama, 30 miles south of the Japanese capital, then called Edo. It had come to pry open Japan after her two and a half centuries of isolation and nearly a decade of intense planning by Matthew Perry, the squadron commander. The spoils of the recent Mexican Spanish–American War had whetted a powerful American appetite for using her soaring wealth and power for commercial and political advantage.

Perry's cloaking of imperial impulse in humanitarian purpose was fully matched by Japanese self–deception. High among the country's articles of faith was certainty of its protection by heavenly power. A distinguished Japanese scholar argued in 1811 that "Japanese differ completely from and are superior to the peoples of...all other countries of the world."

So began one of history's greatest political and cultural clashes.

In BREAKING OPEN JAPAN, George Feifer makes this drama new and relevant for today. At its heart were two formidable men: Perry and Lord Masahiro Abe, the political mastermind and real authority behind the Emperor and the Shogun. Feifer gives us a fascinating account of "sealed off" Japan and shows that Perry's aggressive handling of his mission had far reaching consequences for Japan – and the United States – well into the twentieth if not twenty–first century.

Customer Reviews (9)

Good Story.Difficult Prose.

This is a fascinating story and the author presents substantive research.There is some good prose in parts, such as the character development of Commodore Perry and descriptions of Okinawa, but on the whole it is not a smooth read.The 4 stars I'm giving it are for its importance as a contribution to our understanding of this period, the author's discussion on the impact of the attitude with which Perry'smission was accomplished, and the research that has been brought together.

Had there not been such good material and insight, the text was so choppy that I would have not finished the book.The dangling ideas, that is, concepts introduced but not previously explained or later followed up on, were frustrating.Then there are a lot of tortured sentences and then some grammar that had to be ignored to get the meaning.

One example of a dangling idea was the paragraph that ended by saying that Abe Mashihiro had won an important victory in the appointment of his recommended defense advisor followed by a paragraph saying that the appointee was "his (Abe's) the most vocal critic."What did I miss? By this time in the book, I no longer flipped back.The concept of a victory for Abe getting a critic an influential position isn't ever clear. It could be that the author meant it in the wider context that through this appointment there was no war, but that isn't clear either.

An example of the tortured prose, on p. 190 regarding Perry's son in law and grandson:

"New York's high society made him "King of Fifth Avenue". (New York Belmont Race Track and the Belmont Stakes are named after him, while in Newport, Rhode Island one of the sumptuous "cottages" was built by Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, the son of "King" and Perry's daughter, together with Alva Vanderbilt previously married to William K. Vanderbilt)".

A grammar example (while you know it's Abe, there are two antecedents for him, not one) is on p. 243 "More than ever, Abe and the roju made the important decisions; with the senior counselors increasinly deferring to him about those concerning Perry..."

While the text was a real drawback (for me), there is a lot of food for thought in the analysis of what it Perry's actions meant for US-Japanese relations for the next 100 years, the unequal treaties, the symbolism of the USS Missouri receiving the Japanese surrender in Uraga Bay and the comparison of China's attitude and policies toward western trade and intervention.

For general readers interested in the seclusion period I recommend Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan and Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald Macdonald and the Opening of Japan.

a radically different view of American history
If you think you knew and understood American history this brilliant book will make you think again.The author sets out to show that America arrogantly decided to force Japan to open its doors to foreigners and trade, a decision that turned out to be the first step along the path that was to lead to Pearl Harbor. He succeeds admirably. This is readable, controversial history with a lesson for what is going on in Iraq today. A must book for serious thinkers.

Essential Reading
On one level this remarkable book will provide invaluable background for anyone interested in understanding why Japan's love-hate relationship with the United States continues to this day. It should also serve to underline the dangers of imposing one nation's views on another.
But the book will also appeal to readers simply interested in a rich historical tour of Japan at the dawn of its modern era. The skillful weaving of the descriptions of the personalities, prejudices and political backgrounds of Commodore Perry and his Japanese counterpart Lord Abe brings to life and keeps in focus a story that might otherwise have drifted into an academic dissertation.
Breaking Open Japan will now be added to my list of must-reads for friends and acquaintances interested in peeling away the layers of a society that remains the most complex and conflicted of the modern era.

EERIE ECHOES TODAY
This marvelous book is a model study of the unintended consequences of American self-righteousness and imperial arrogance -- with eerie echoes today in the Bush/Cheney invasion of Iraq.It is a work of superb scholarship, and in spots it requires keen concentration, but the total effect is most rewarding, and the concluding sections -- with their lessons for the present and,one hopes,for the future -- are brilliant.

Amidst the present disasters of our militarized foreign policy, Mr Feifer's observation (in Chapter 17) that American "fervor and ignorance, especially of other cultures, sometimes caused grave damage" rings with bitter irony today in Iraq."The Japan that [Commodore Perry] left was boiling in despairing confusion ... bloody plots and counterplots ... full of episodes that seem not to belong to waking life, but have ... the unearthly logic of events in a dream."

And yet, even in his harsh conclusions, Mr Feifer is scholarly, moderate, nuanced, and scrupulous, never overstating his case as the ironies for today abound.This is an incisive and most admirable book.

A revelation about our use of power
This challenging and deeply researched book on Perry's "opening up" of Japan
has the most painful relevance possible to our current government's colossal
misadventure in allegedly trying to bring "Freedom and Democracy" to a land
of darker-skinned people about whose history we are -- not willfully mis-
informed, which would be bad enough, but wildly, tragically ignorant.And
what kind of reverberations can we expect, decades and even a century down
the road of history?What Pearl Harbors, what Okinawas, what Hiroshimas are
there to come? ... Read more

Book Description
Let the bullet train whisk you from futuristic Tokyo toKyoto's most exquisite temples. Join a sake-filled cherry blossom party orthe drum beat of a local matsuri. Pick your own way through sophisticatedmega-cities packed with world-class museums. Then meet the wild snowmonkeys of Chûbu. How could one country offer so much? This bestsellingguidebook explains it all.

o GET MORE FOR YOUR YEN - insider's budget tips and smart accommodationoptions mean you can do what you want, whatever your budget
o KNOW THE ROUTE - packed with over 150 maps, more than any other guideto Japan
o FEAST LIKE AN EMPEROR - our Food & Drink chapter and mouth-wateringrestaurant listings dish up the best sushi and sashimi on the archipelago
o ESCAPE THE CROWDS - comprehensive coverage of Mt Fuji, Okinawa andthe Southwest Islands, Kyûshû and Hokkaidô, written by the experts
o POINT IT OUT - Japanese script throughout means you'll always findwhat you want ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Lifesaver
My boyfriend and I used this book exclusively while we traveled from Okinawa to Hokkaido for five weeks this past summer. It really was a lifesaver- the only guidebook you need for Japan. We had JR passes and it gives lots of tips specifically for those using JRs. Highly recommended!

As usual Lonely Plant has tons of useful information
Lonely Planet provides 90% of all the information 1 needs to plan a successful trip. It also gives all the relevant Internet resources to complete the picture

Good book
Good guidebook to have with you. Lots of hints and good places to eat.

Extensive Help Guide
This is extremely beneficial for what I will be doing around Japan. Thank you for the fast and great service.

Content
I used this book religiously while traveling in Japan for three weeks.It helped me plan the trip before I got there and assisted me daily while in Japan.Highly recommended. ... Read more