This history by Edwin Reischauer, is an immensely readable book. Reischauer not only presents the history of the island nation with clear ideas and language, he also presents it with a certain panache and an incredible understanding.
The author was born in Japan to missionaries and grew up in the language and customs of Japan. Throughout his life he wasdevoted to studies of the East and especially Japan, teaching at Harvard and eventually becoming U.S. Ambassador to Japan in the Kennedy/Johnson administration.
He takes us on a journey from the beginning of Japan, to the mid-seventies, explaining the prevalent historical and cultural forces that shaped the country. And he does not over-explain. In one chapter, talking about Japan going into a depression he explains one of the causes (and I paraphrase) "...and the country decided to try to get back on the gold standard at exactly the wrong time."
Now a lot of authors would have tried to explain that in economic terms, but Reischauer wisely does not do this. He is writing a popular history of Japan, not an economic thesis. He leaves that to his suggested reading list, to point the way for anyone wanting more information.
His explanations of Japan include economic, political and social, and he intermixes these to create a whole portrait of the land and its people. The book is especially good in examining why they became so militarized prior to WW II, really looking at the causes of their colonization of China and entry into the war.
He has a tremendous understanding of this nation of the people, and yet he does not let that cloud his disdain for their brutality during that time. He is clearheaded about this subject, but does look at how it came to be.
This book is a great introduction to Japan, for those wanting to understand this sometimes difficult to understand nation.
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