Japan Books

There have been several prominent books and journal articles on Japan's postwar economic success (my personal favorite is The Misunderstood Miracle: Industrial Development and Political Change in Japan (Cornell Studies in Political Economy)). However, understanding the true nature of this flourishing is a somewhat different matter. While Friedman addresses the ECONOMIC aspects, Fosberg ably addresses the political and diplomatic aspects.

Prior to the War, Japan had been a major industrial power, and while a stupendous amount of plant and materiel had been physically destroyed by Allied bombing, it was clear that Japan possessed the trained personnel and deepened industrial institutions to recover. What was not clear, however, was if the US political establishment had the will or vision to help out.

Political establishments are heterogenous things, with complicated networks of competing and colluding interests; and while this is something so obvious it ought to be vapid, it's a point usually overlooked by ideologically zealous historians. For those interested in a serious, well-documented treatment of how the network of myriad US interests coalesced towards a strategy of helping Japan develop, and then integrate into the US economic sphere, this is a good beginning.

Students of economics will possibly be perturbed because Forsberg does not strictly adhere to neoliberal economic orthodoxy. This book tends towards neutrality on controversial issues in development economics, and rather, deals with what actors expected to happen as a result of the policies they pursued. So, for example, for much of the period covered the US Congress wavered between accommodating Japanese home markets protection (for the purpose of defeating Communism in the region) and demanding that the Japanese authorities open their market to US goods. An orthodox economist might object that protecting domestic markets was a stupid "payout" for either Japanese or US constituencies generally, but the point is that in 1950 very few political actors anywhere thought such things.

In general, the account tends to be fairly favorable to the US polity in terms of "generosity" (in this case, willingness to sacrifice short-term regional preferences for long-term success in the project of Japanese development), and emphasizes the success of Japanese industry interests in protecting specific markets. At the same time, the difficulty of getting the US polity to support Japanese economic recovery is not ignored. The terms of the bilateral agreements with Japan were sometimes one-sided, allowing the USA bases without commitments to actually defend Japan. Partly this was an ugly byproduct of the fact that Japan had become a US client by virtue of defeat in a war; but it also reflected internal divsions in the Japanese polity over the relationship with the USA.

In any respects, the book is an outstanding companion to the above-mentioned Friedman book on the economics of Japan's development. While Friedman emphasizes the overlooked entreprenuerial aspect, Forsberg explains the institutional and diplomatic aspect that actually prevailed. Readers of varing ideological or economic dogmas may draw their own conclusions based on what actually followed.

in my world history class i was doing a project on the japanese economic miracle after world war ii. this was the main source of information i used. i thought that this book was full of information involving the japanese and their sturggle to gain economic success. this book also taught me a lot about how the americans felt about the japanese. although in war they were enemies, after the war, since the US occupied Japan, due to their help, the japanese were able to get the success they wanted. if you are working on a project or just want to know about the japanese economic miracle, then i strongly suggest this book.

"And Then a Rainbow" is an intimate journey with a Japanese family as they made new trails from Japan through California, and then back to Japan and back to California.
The recollections of Ms. Shimonishi-Lamb are like the kitchen conversations that many third and fourth generation Japanese Americans yearn for with their own grandparents or parents. Personal family stories about internment and other wartime events are few and far between, which makes this book a treasure in Japanese American history.
The Kubota family came from Yamanashi Prefecture to San Francisco. They first settled in the Sacramento area building a successful rice company. Later, they traveled south to the hills of Palos Verdes and farmed near the Pacific Ocean. The children attended school in San Pedro, the Los Angeles Harbor District.
Mili married Toshio Shimonishi, from Hiroshima, and they lived in the Los Angeles area for a short time until the war broke out. They were interned in Cody, Wyoming, at Heart Mountain Relocation Camp. There, they grappled with issues of citizenship, loyalty, and family values. They were repatriated to Japan after the war and the author gives a unique account of an American rebuilding her family life in post-war Hiroshima.
Many years passed and her desire to return to America became a reality. And once again, she was rebuilding her life but this time, it was in Long Beach, California. Mili finally got her rainbow.
Of all the books I've read on Japanese American history, this is one of the most interesting and is one of my favorites.

It is a true story of my life during that time. It is a history that cannot be repeated. I wanted my children and friends to hear about it from me. Readers have commented that they laughed and cried while reading my book.

As a former internee in Los Banos Camp when we were rescued by the "Angels," I highly recommend this book. It told me a lot that I never knew at the time - the background of the raid. It is well-written and comprehensive, told from the point of view of the paratroopers. We were only with them a few hours after the raid, so didn't have much chance to hear their stories. My family and I are alive because of the paratroops, the guerrillas and the Army Recon platoon.

This well-written book is a "must-read" for anyone who is interested in U.S. military actions in the Pacific during WWII. Angels at Dawn tells the little-known story of the February 1945 rescue by 11th Airborne Division paratroopers and Filipino guerillas of American civilians and other nationalities who were being held by the Japanese in a prison camp at Los Banos on the Philippine Island of Luzon. This book does a better job than many dealing with the Pacific war in explainining why prisoners of the Japanese were at much risk. In part this was due to the threat of starvation and disease, but also because during the latter stages of the war in 1945, Japanese murders of prisoners increased as Allied troops advanced. Against this backdrop the author, who was a member of the 11th Airborne Division during the 1945 fighting in the Philippines, recounts how General MacArthur called on the "Angels" as the division was nicknamed, to mount a hazardous parachute and ground assault behind enemy lines to rescue the prisoners at Los Banos before starvation or Japanese violence could take their lives. As a former soldier who served in Korea, this book reminded me once again of how important the actions of U.S. military forces were during the 20th Century. We live in a better world because of what they did. Angels at Dawn tells the story of one of those actions, which resulted not so much in the destruction of the enemy, but in the preservation of the lives of American civilians, and other foreign nationals.

This is a collection of one-page stories without text and unrelated to each other. The drawings are deceptively cute and more or less traditional. But the scripts are completely refreshing and read like something written in another planet. I don't know how to compare it to anything else, it is THAT original. The closest parallel I can find is to very old stuff like the Rarebit Fiend series by Winsor McKay or his Little Nemo, surreal and dream-like. But here there are no words, ever.

Some of the stories are laugh out loud funny. Some are surreal. Some are just very cute. A few I just don't get and read to me more like a zen mantra. This is no Garfield, it is unlike any other type of humor you've ever encountered.

Entertainment Weekly chose it #1 on their "Must List" in their April 8, 2005 issue and had this to say:
"Sublime and silly: Nothing's lost in translation in these wordless Japanese strips and their bone-dry Zen humor."

Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review in their May 9th issue:
"The strips always begin with a simple premise: the man walking, fishing, talking or looking, and then, around panel six or seven, a surreal twist takes shape, revealing itself in the very last panel for maximum effect. Each development is wonderfully hallucinatory and inventive--­never monotonous or predictable."

Volume 2 is already in production and readers can expect more of the same twisted humor. Give it a try!

Book was in the condition it stated. Prompt delivery. I will use this seller again.

I purchased this book in my never ending pursuit of sholarly discourse on Japanese Buddhist sculpture. It is one thing to study sculpture and painting. It is quite another to understand it in the context of history and the architecture that housed it. Enlightening, to say the least, and meaningful reading. Its coverage of Buddhism and Buddhist art in Japan is noteworthy.

After an extensive search, I found the above description of THE ART OF JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE in a Library Journal listing. While there is nothing in book itself or on Amazon to indicate that it is but a revision of Introduction to Japanese Architecture, as a result of comparing the two books in their entirety, line by line and illustration by illustration, I can assure you that this is indeed the case.

In general, both books give one who is not knowledgeable about it an excellent overview of Japanese architecture from its beginnings through modern times via a well-written, easy-to-grasp text. What will also appeal to those just beginning to study Japan is that the architecture is discussed in context--i.e., in a narrative that includes details about locations, gardens, statuary, historical events/people, and religion.

Both books also abound in illustrations, all in color. Of ART's 370, 216 are photographs, 39 of which are 1-to-2-pg. spreads, 80 of which range from 3 x 5 to 3/4ths of a page. Included, too, are the following, which, with 9 exceptions, also appear in INTRO:
-24 watercolors of sites showing their structures and landscaping, often at least 1/2 a page in size;
-20 layouts/floor plans;
-88 drawings/watercolors of individual structures, construction and architectural details;
-19 paintings and woodblock prints.

As for the differences between the two books-- While ART is 48 pages longer than INTRO, what accounts for most of these pages is the addition of 51 photographs, 32 of which are full- or 2-page spreads, 10 of which are 1/2- to 3/4th-page ones.

In regards to the text, ART adds only approximately 368 lines, the equivalent of 3.5 pages (two 56-line, 2.5-inch-wide columns per page). Though most do add information about the architecture, the additions are scattered throughout the 173-page book and typically amount to but a phrase here or a sentence or two there of descriptive detail. In only 21 instances is a paragraph or two added. And only occasionally is the information a result of findings made since INTRO was published. ART also omits the equivalent of a page of text because it excludes INTRO's section on Tomb Mounds. (Excerpts from it, however, comprise the first "comment" on this review.)

So which book do I recommend? Currently, it really depends on which is more important to you: price or photographs. Be aware, however, that both books paint Japanese architecture in broad strokes--i.e., the details about the architecture of specific structures rarely exceed a paragraph. If you are looking for a book that goes into technical detail, What is Japanese Architecture?: A Survey of Traditional Japanese Architecture will probably be more to your liking even though its illustrations are limited to line drawings. --B. Evans, 1/19/08

Note: If you are trying to compare ART/INTRO with other books, a printable copy of the Table of Contents is in the commentary following my review of Introduction to Japanese Architecture. Unfortunately, neither book has an index.

I know little about Japanese architecture but found this book very instructive and easily readable for the novice. I shared it with freinds who have lived in Japan for over 20 years. They were quite impressed at the authenic quality of the research and the wonderful illustrations. Another friend, a landscape architect, was delighted that so many of the fine photos showed how important landscaping is the Japanese architecture. The photos and illustrations are supurb. The book doesn't just dwell inhistoricism but brings you up to date with modern Japanese works as well. I feel it is one of the best purchases I've made in a long time.

There are good many photographies, description of different techniques, styles. This book is very helpful for any carvers!

This book captures both the beauty of ivory and the art form of Netsuke carving. The artist Masatoshi is a superb carver and the photgraphs of his works and others in this collection epitomize the "best of the best" in the field of this unique Japanese art form. If you like oriental art, this book is a must for the true collector. The book itself is highly collectible, although the First Edition is impossible to find.

I ordered this book somewhat "blind" without having seen it in a bookstore, etc. When it arrived, I must say that I was thrilled with the quality of the text, photos and other illustrations. The book thoroughly covers the basic history, principles and aesthetics of Japanese Gardens. Then it takes an in-depth look at some of the finest gardens of each type found in Japan. Highly recommended.

Great book, lots of pictures and ideas for creating amazingly beautiful oriental gardens.

If you are a Japanophile or remotely interested in kites, then this book needs to be ordered!
I bought it for a relative as a gift and when I received it to wrap and send, I couldn't put it down and had to order my own copy. It is out of print but many copies are available used and in good condition.
Also of interest to anyone involved in handmade crafts and the Living National Treasures of Japan.

Tal Streeter based this book on extensive interviews in Japan, and time spent there making and flying kites. This is not a how-to book, but it does provide tremendous inspiration for kite makers and gives essential background information on materials and design. It is also a very entertaining read, with acute observations on Japanese history and culture. Tal Streeter's respect for traditional kite makers and their craft shines through this book. And although it has many serious points to make about the decay of tradition, it also captures and describes the joy and passion that the Japanese invest in kite flying - a joy very evidently shared by the author.

The photographs in this book are simply magnificent. For serious collectors of literature on kites, and of Japanese culture, this is a must have book.

Wow...I have to agree with the last reviewer! These cards are simply lovely! I'm a postcard collector/swapper who regularly sends and receives postcards from all over the world. I bought this set to add to my "to send" collection, but I'm afraid most of these are going to wind up in MY collection instead! Very beautiful cards...you will not be disappointed.

These elegant postcards have a cloth binding (like a journal). The paper stock is thick and matte. I feel so grown up having this in my stationary collection :) Just looking at them makes me feel giddy. They're too pretty to tear out. I am very satisfied.

UPDATE: I tore some out to use for my upcoming trip to Japan and was disappointed to discover that the binding leaves a pink residue on the postcard's edge that is very hard to peel off. Ive had to use a paper cutter to trim it. Not a huge deal but a nuisance nonetheless.