“Written in a lively, engaging, undergraduate-friendly style, Stalker’s impressive text deftly weaves elements of society, gender, religion, politics, culture, environment, and minority relations into a relatable, well-conceived narrative tapestry.” —Norman Rothschild, Professor of Asian History, University of North Florida

“Stalker has succeeded in producing a comprehensive, timely, and eminently readable account of Japanese history and culture. Her book is a most welcome addition to Japanese studies and will surely appeal to those wishing for a balance of the classical and the contemporary, the elite and the popular.”—Marvin Marcus, Professor of Japanese Language and Literature, Washington University in St. Louis

Japan: History and Culture from Classical to Cool provides a historical account of Japan’s elite and popular cultures from premodern to modern periods. Drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship across numerous disciplines, Nancy K. Stalker presents the key historical themes, cultural trends, and religious developments throughout Japanese history. Focusing on everyday life and ordinary consumption, this is the first textbook of its kind to explore both imperial and colonial culture and offer expanded content on issues pertaining to gender and sexuality. Organized into fourteen chronological and thematic chapters, this text explores some of the most notable and engaging aspects of Japanese life and is well suited for undergraduate classroom use.