Unlikely premise, but very well executed

When I chose this book, I was surprised to find it a story of Japan, largely through the lens of psychoanalysis, but actually it works very well. It was an extremely effective device to getting you inside the heads of a distant people that many of us know little about. Read by the author, very clearly and easy to listen to. Well worth the time.

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2 people found this helpful

Informative and refreshing

This is a highly enjoyable survey of post-Meiji Japan, which deftly combines political, cultural and social threads. There may be too much emphasis on "pop" issues for some, yet the result is far from glib and I learned a great deal of useful background.

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Superb!

Well written modern history of Japan, with emphasis on the pop culture. Brought alive by the many relevant side stories.

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Good read

A good listen but author doesn't convey the full horror of what the Japanese imperial Army inflicted on the nation's it conquered, that's my only critisism of the book, although this in itself is very Japanese. That aside I enjoyed this audiobook.

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Thankfully more engaging than most books on Japan in this period

I've read a few books on Japanese history, and have tended to find those focused on modern Japan among the least interesting. Yes, the rapid national realignments of the Meiji Restoration and following WWII were impressive, but TBH I've never found the books I've encountered about these periods that engaging - whether nonfiction or fiction. They tend towards rather obvious clashes between tradition and modernity that I've always found predictable and dull.

This being more of a psycho-cultural history than a pure history, I was expecting more of the same. Broken into a chronological yet primarily thematic series of chapters, usually brought to life through the experiences of a number of individuals - both famous and obscure - it won't give you much of a sense of what happened when, but it's very good on the *impact* of what happened on the Japanese mindset, and is all told very well.

The conclusions are familiar, but this is nonetheless excellent on the nuances, contradictions and complexities of different perspectives, something that can often be lost in the high level samurai to salaryman clichés that have become all too familiar from other books on this period.

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Enjoyable and informing friendly history

I lived in Japan for a year, and found his boundless enthusiasm familiar and entertaining.
Historical situations were explained through characters and people's experiences, which suited me, and jumped forward and back in time, which I also thought was fine, though it annoyed other reviewers who presumably preferred a more ordered textbook.
I can't say how balanced a 'historical document' it was, but I was comfortable with it and enjoyed it very much.
Will listen again.
Hope he gets to play in the garden now.

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3 people found this helpful

Fornation of modern Japan

fascinating insight into the formation of modern Japan. interesting how pressure form America and China formulated the problems.

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A well researched plod fest

Firstly I need to say that I would like to write a book but I haven't got round to it yet. Chris Harding has done and so I give him endless praise and respect for doing so.

The book is split into chapters e.g. "Such and such era 1800 - 1850" but the book wanders all round the time periods. You can be in the 1980 era when an interesting anecdote is dropped only for the author to say that happened 50 years before the chapter you are in. This happens continually through the book to the extent that the chapters are almost irrelevant.

My end feeling was that the book is basically a discussion or talk about everything the author knows about Japan. A lot of that was of interest to be otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book. 16 hours in I didn't feel any more immersed than I was in the first minute. The highlight for me came early on it was the American's first encounter with Japan. An unbelievable story and hard to believe that it really happened. The author has a nice voice and sounds like a great guy, his Japanese sounds amazing and I praise him endlessly for sounding so fluent.

If you have any interest in Japan either present day or historically you will get something from this book. But it isn't as truly incredible as some other non fiction books which I didn't want to end.

e.g. Absolute Pandemonium by Brian Blessed
Canoeing the Congo
The Cyclist who Went Out into the Cold
No Shortcuts To The Top by Ed Viesturs

all of those books are gripping and thrilling and at times hilarious.

Congratulations again to Chris Harding and all the best to him in the future. I hope people buy his book and make him lots of Yen

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8 people found this helpful