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

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

Kind of dry and old school

Mostly the higher level facts presented without much deeper meaning. Didn’t really give me a sense of understanding of Japan. The reader butchered the Japanese words.

ONE OF THE BEST

I have read different books about the history of Japan and each one of them good by its own right.
This one, though, I consider among one of the best.
Very well written and narrated.
The books is divided into different, titled parts and each part into titled chapters, all very interesting.
So, if you keep the book downloaded on your device, you can refer to a special part and listen.
Each part and chapter are very interesting and concise.
The book starts with part 1: Archaic Japan and ends with: Modern Japan in part V.
part II: Ancient Japan
part III: Medieval Japan
part IV: Early Modern Japan
part V: Modern Japan
in this part it has a section about painting, music,dramatic entertainments, literature, ideology, politics and economy.
All in all it is an outstanding book, coming from one who loves history.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND spending a credit on this outstanding book.
My thanks to all involved, JK