A History of Japan

Revised Edition

By: R. H. P. Mason, J. G. Caiger

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

A classic of Japanese history, this audiobook 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 1990s. 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 sixth century BC to the present. This contemporary classic, now updated and revised, continues to be an essential work in Japanese studies.

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.
• Early 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 work 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.

©1997 R. H. P. Mason and J. G. Caiger (P)2018 Tantor

An interesting listen.

This is an interesting listen that allows us a survey history of Japan. The narration is easy and allows us a listen to understand the pronunciation. While the book itself is rather short, the information contained within allows us a basic understanding of the broad history of Japan.

A History of Japan

"A History of Japan" (1972, revised 1995) by R.H.P. Mason and J.G. Caiger provides a comprehensive, though somewhat sanitized, overview of Japanese history. The authors strive to maintain an unbiased perspective, perhaps to a fault, by overlooking the actions of Japanese forces during World War II while taking a small dig at the United States for its use of nuclear weapons. The narrative can be dry and filled with statistics, yet it offers valuable sections on the arts and social structures throughout the centuries.

I was particularly struck by how Japan developed relatively free from colonialism and how effectively it evolved its society compared to some other nations in history. After accepting defeat in World War II, Japan was able to quickly reconstruct its society and emerge as a successful global economic power. I recommend this book to history enthusiasts who prioritize factual information over entertainment.
The reader, Derek Perkins, is competent, but his performance is as dry as his text.

Good Over of Japanese History

This book provides a good overview of the history of Japan, from wars and economic developments to cultural shifts in the arts (paintings, theatre, woodwork and attitudes toward living a good life and the definition of what makes life worth living, religious developments and changes). The problem is that such a sweeping all inclusive goal requires just listing highlights without details of why it happened. The book provides an excellent outline of Japanese history, which can be followed up with books that provide more content on areas that the reader wants to investigate.

Terrible Pronunciation

I am tired of listening to mangled pronunciation of Japanese names. If you're going to do an audio book, at least get a narrator who can get the names right. As a Japanese linguist it is galling to have to listen to Japanese names mangled so badly. The story was fine but I couldn't get past at bad the narrator was with Japanese names. Make an effort to practice the pronunciations!

semi accurate

its good, but the parr over buddhism is inaccurate. we do not believe Existence is inherently evil