Looks at Japan's complex history. This work covers from the nation's earliest known civilization (about 30009 BCE) onwards. It traces various aspects of Japanese art, religion, the imperial court, militarism, race, geography, and agriculture, and analyzes the social, political, and economic life of Asia's wealthiest nation.



Once a star of postwar industrial production and methods,Japan has encountered serious trouble with market forces in recent years. Social changes and departures from tradition are becoming more common in this conservative country. The revised edition of the popular work, Japan: Its History and Culture, Fourth Edition, documents and explains these changes. Seamlessly blending current events, politics, and cultural elements, the authors provide a riveting account of a nation often misunderstood by the West.