Modern Japan

Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.

Without Japan, you probably wouldn't have your car...but how much do you really know about this fascinating country's rich and colorful history? For a country that’s brought us household names as diverse as Nintendo, Toyota, and Sony, shockingly little is known about Japan’s rich and complex history. Like many westerners, you may have a love of Japanese culture and cuisine.

This book is a famous thriller by Edogawa Rampo, written in 1925. A letter arrives addressed to a female author. It describes the confession of a man who lives in a chair and savors the warmth of the woman who sits in it. The description is creepy and horrifying, yet the story's punchline is excellent. It is a short story that can be finished quickly.

This work is a representative mystery novel by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1926, and fully demonstrates his tastes and preferences. The main character is morbidly obsessed with the illusory images created by lenses and mirrors. Blessed with wealth and not restrained by anyone, he heads towards a horrifyingly unhappy fate. Edogawa Rampo's talent for replacing the illusory beauty created by the light reflected by mirrors and lenses with words is artistic. His insight into human psychology is also wonderful. Readers can read in one go while enjoying his unique worldview.

Now tell us - did you ever like Japan? Do you know anything about its history, or just what you learned from television and anime, in general? That's a good starting point, anyway. If you want to delve deeper into Japanese history, in chronological order, and see the main events that transformed Japan into what it is today, you've just hit the jackpot.

This short story by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1950, is a mystery involving a conversation between a man and a woman on a cliff overlooking a mountain stream. The conversation, as the two probe each other's hearts, is rhythmical and full of tension. The woman has the insight to see through the man's lies. Readers will enjoy Edogawa Rampo's unique worldview as they read through to the end in one sitting. They will surely be captivated by the many layers of trickery.

Having spent centuries in the shadows of its neighbors China and Japan, Korea is now the object of considerable interest for radically different reasons - the South as an economic success story and for its vibrant popular culture; the North as the home to one of the world's most repressive regimes, at once both bizarre and menacing. Korea: A Very Short Introduction explores the history, culture, and society of a deeply divided region.

Modern Day Samurai continues The Consortium Series, as the action moves to Japan. It contains the ending to Somnolent Chameleon - Book 1: Sleepy, where her vengeance remains unsatisfied, as she continues to hunt for members of the U.S. Government sanctioned Wet Work team that killed a child of the Old Ones in the Amazon jungles. The Comfort Women story still remains unresolved today, as sexual atrocities common decades ago are filtered through history as one of the most demeaning and destructive uses of women's bodies during wartime. New information thought buried has emerged through time, ...

The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life - the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan.

"[The] story speaks directly to young readers of the tragedy of Sadako's death and, in its simplicity, makes a universal statement for 'peace in the world.” (The Horn Book)

Uncover Japan's hidden gems with this comprehensive guide to unforgettable adventures that delivers travel tips for authentic, pocket-friendly experiences. Discover the Japan that exists beneath the surface, the Japan that only locals know. This guide is your passport to that world, taking you beyond the surface-level experiences and into the heart of Japan. It's a treasure trove of authentic, unforgettable, and budget-friendly adventures that are waiting for you to uncover.

This is a classic detective short story by Edogawa Rampo, first published in 1925. It marks the debut of the iconic detective Kogoro Akechi, who would appear in many of Rampo's later works. The story is narrated by an unnamed man who spends his time at a café on the main street of D-Slope, watching a secondhand bookstore across the road. The bookstore owner's wife, known for her striking beauty, mysteriously fails to appear despite the open store. The narrator is soon joined by Akechi, a fellow regular at the café and a fan of detective fiction. Curious about the strange situation, the ...

This book is a crime novel, a bizarre mystery, by Edogawa Rampo, published in 1925. A bizarre club is held in "The Red Chamber," which has a fantastic atmosphere. They are tasteless people who are bored with their lives and seek stimulation. One day, a new member of the club tells the story of the murder he committed. What is the method of the man who says he killed 99 people? What happens after he finishes telling the story? Edogawa Rampo's skillful description leads the reader into a mysterious world. It is both fun and frightening. The reader will read it all in one go to the end and be ...

Zen monk Santoka Taneda (1882 - 1940) is one of Japan's most beloved modern poets, famous for his "free-verse" haiku, the dominant style today. This book tells the fascinating story of his life, liberally sprinkled with more than 300 of his poems and extracts from his essays and journals - compiled by his best friend and biographer Sumita Oyama and elegantly translated by William Scott Wilson.

This book, published in 1943 by Japanese fairy tale writer Nankichi Niimi, tells the story of a little fox who goes to a human town to buy gloves. On a snowy morning, as the little fox returns home after running around outside, the mother fox holds his cold hands and gets the idea to buy him some gloves. The mother fox uses magic to turn one of the little fox's hands into a human child's. She then teaches the little fox to hold his human hand in the shop and ask for gloves. In Japanese folktales, foxes often use magic to trick people. This heartwarming story is short, so you can read it ...

This essay-style short story, published in 1943, is a sequel to the earlier work Going Home (1943). The protagonist, who his family has disowned, receives news that his mother is dying and heads back to his family home with his wife and child. He is the sixth son of a wealthy family from Aomori. He went to Tokyo Imperial University with the hopes of his family, but became involved in left-wing movements, was arrested by the police, became addicted to drugs, and repeatedly attempted suicide. Dazai is aware that he has been a bad son to his mother and that her death is imminent. He also has ...

Who is the Japanese man in the 21st century? From stoic salarymen and distant fathers to gentle rebels and reimagined roles, The Quiet Strength explores the complex, evolving identity of Japanese masculinity. Through cultural reflection, real voices, and poetic insight, Mira K paints a portrait of a country in quiet transformation. This book is not a critique. It is a meditation. An invitation. A journey into the lives behind the silence. For readers of cultural nonfiction, gender studies, and anyone curious about modern Japan, The Quiet Strength offers something rare: a moment of stillness...

In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.

In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.

Discover the Cradle of Intellectual Thought: From the mystical valleys of the Indus to the imperial courts of Japan, "Eastern Civilization" unravels the vibrant histories of India, China, and Japan. This captivating guide is your window into the ancient worlds that shaped modern thought.

Prince Saionji Kinmochi was the last genro of Japan who played a leading role in Japanese politics during the Meiji Restoration. Having served as prime minister of Japan twice, his insights into the matter of Manchuria were crucial in understanding the invasion of China during World War 2. The introduction contextualizes Japan's relationship with Manchuria and China along with the politicized military to set the socio-political backdrop for the memoir. In addition, the genro's cultural and political significance is described to demonstrate Saionji's own cultural status. A detailed ...