What are some good informative books on the history and culture of Japan?

Question

I want something that really graps the culture and gives a detailed history. Please answer only if you have actually read the book you are reccommending.

Answer 1

Haruki Murakami is one of Japan's great contemporary novelists, and he also writes non-fiction on subjects such as the sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway system in 1995. I've only read his novels, but Murakami's books paint a vivid, and often magic-realist, picture of modern-day Japan, and some of the cultural influences that shaped it. Two of my favorites are The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Dance, Dance, Dance.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Japan and China, from a Western attitude, have been 'closed societies' for many centuries. The West had little to no touch with those societies. it truly is the reason, while Marco Polo decrease back domicile from Cathay with memories approximately diverse wildlife, human beings theory he had an extremely great mind's eye and questioned his sanity. we are truly in simple terms commencing to income a powerful wisdom of jap historic past. worldwide warfare II did not help the West discover out approximately Japan's authentic historic past as the two aspects have been engaged interior the propagandist interest of demonizing the enemy. a lot has remained the comparable related to China. on a similar time as parts of China and areas around China have been colonized by means of Western countries, in simple terms slightly of the historic past of the individuals got here to the fore yet not adequate. Then got here worldwide warfare II (definitely preceded by means of the jap invasion of China - worldwide warfare II surely started previously in Asia than in Europe) and after that the chinese language Communist Revolution. you will opt to the two stay faraway from the works on China by means of Gavin Menzies and acquaintances or no less than comprehend them as area delusion and area social historic past.

Answer 3

For Japanese history Yoshikawa Eiji is a good read. He's simple and a good exciting read.

His three most popular works translated into English deal with some of Japan's greatest historical figures: Taira-no-Kiyomori, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Miyamoto Musashi.

http://www.amazon.com/Musashi-Epic-Novel-Samurai-Era/dp/4770019572/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6755239-4736810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174617674&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Taiko-Novel-Glory-Feudal-Japan/dp/4770026099/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-6755239-4736810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174617674&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Heike-Story-Modern-Translation-Classic/dp/0804833184/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-6755239-4736810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174617674&sr=8-3

For history, Sir George Sansom has a three volume set that covers Japanese history from prehistoric times to 1867. He also wrote a book on Japanese culture that spans this time.
http://www.amazon.com/History-Japan-1334-George-Sansom/dp/0804705232/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-6755239-4736810?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174618034&sr=1-2

I've read his volumes several times over. They're informative and good reads.