Japan Books

Hanshi Masayuki Kukan Hisataka wrote this book originally in 1976. It is a complete work covering the unique Shorinjiryu Kenkokan style of karatedo - an Okinawan/Chinese/Japanese hybrid martial art founded in 1945.

The book contains full description of historical aspects, physical principles, techniques, kata, kumite, and weapons. It is a detailed work, with hundreds of pictures.

I think it is one of, if not the, outstanding books on karate. It still takes pride of place in my collection.

There are so many different karate schools and texts on karate, a very popular oriental martial art, and so, it makes it difficult for the individual enthusiast to know what approach is best and which books to select. But the problem is simplified when the question is asked: "What must a karate system do?". The logical answer is that a karate system ought to offer a scientific analysis of standard techniques and clear, well-founded explanations of all the basic karate rules.

Scientific Karatedo, by Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, provides exactly this kind of treatment in detailed scientific explanations, unlike anything ever published before. Furthermore, this book is more inclusive than other works on the subject. Including warm up exercises, basic techniques demonstrated in multi-photo sequences, prearranged forms, prearranged partner training, self defence, a special section on self defence for women, and it contains little known armed techniques.

In general, karate is interpreted as a way of combat involving no weapons. However, in the early stages of it's development, karate called for the conversion of simple articles of daily use and certain agricultural tools into weapons for the peasantry to employ in protective combat.

The immense amount of material contained in this text, makes this book essential to all people who want to understand karate in it's entirety.

This is a very nice sushi guide,in Japan and out of it with great advices for places to go eating..

I have been looking for a book like this ever since my interest in sushi became deeper. Even though I've been eating sushi for many years now, my knowledge was vastly expanded by this book. I personally enjoyed seeing the nutrient content of the fish per piece and when the best season was to consume certain fish. Carl was also able to share little extras he learned in his search of sushi. For example, I didn't know that the wasabi we get is most likely not true wasabi or the proper etiquette one should have at the bar. I believe that as the name implies this is a truly gastronomic guide to the world of sushi.

This is the very best book I have read regarding the Japanese invasion of Manchuko 1931-1945. Mr. Vespa exits Harbin, China just ahead of the Japanese Police. His family are captured and treated horribly. His stories correspond with what my friend General "C" told me. They were friends in this conflict and the General had the higest regard for the man he simply called "Vespa". You will enjoy this book! If you are the relative who wrote the other review I would like to trade emails. You can contact me at netplus dot net. Thank you!

I have been listening stories on "Zio" (uncle, in Italian) Amleto since I was a kid. He was my grandfather's favourite uncle. My granpa was so proud of the man that took his own family and life by surprise, deciding to leave everything to fight for things he believed in. I used to dream of this courageous man who left a small town and a poor family in the Italian countryside to fight the Mexican civil war without blinking. I re-lived his life through my grandfather's words, his travels through Eastern Europe in an era when no one dared to do so, marrying a Polish Countess and taking her along to Asia; i went through a rollercoaster of emotions imagining trains blowing up, real james bond type action, a glamourous life and such an un-glamourous death. I read the letters Amleto Vespa wrote his family back in Italy, his fear of being killed without seeing his loved ones. My great grand uncle lived his to the fullest and travelled distances to realize whatever his dreams might have been. Secret agent of Japan is a simple and wonderful book that tells you how life was for a real spy in the Orient during early-mid century. Needless to say this book is dearest to me, and I hope that some of you will take the time and patience to read it.

If you are reader who wrote the above review, please email me at laviniapenna@juno.com - tried to email you but your email came back. thanks.

Even if we make allowance for the impressive multi-volume literary histories of Konishi Jin'ichi and Kato Shuichi (as the first reader [1997] has noted), Professor Keene's four-volume opus is surely now the standard English general survey of Japanese literature. Seeds in the Heart, the last volume to be published, covers the very earliest period -- from the Record of Ancient Matters (712) to the "Late Sixteenth Century," spanning some 9 centuries. That leaves 3 volumes for the next four centuries, an indication of the author's personal leanings.

Of course, we all have our own preferences. Since I happen to be interested in Tale Literature (setsuwa), I feel that out of the book's 1265 pages devoted to the early period, setsuwa might have been given a bit more space than the 41 pages between p. 568 and p. 609 (see below). Others will doubtless have a different take; so I think it will be useful to the potential buyer/reader to see what is offered in the table of contents, along with the pagination.

Preface xiii, Introduction 1
EARLY AND HEIAN LITERATURE: 1. The Kojiki 33; 2. Writings in Chinese of the Nara Period 62; 3. The Man'yoshu 85; 4. Poetry and Prose in Chinese of the Early Heian Period 181; 5. The Transition from the Man'yoshu to the Kokinshu 218; 6. The Kokinshu 245; 7. Late Heian Collections of Waka Poetry 277; 8. Late Heian Poetry and Prose in Chinese 341; 9. Heian Diaries 358; 10. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon 412; 11. The Beginnings of Fiction 433; 12. The Tale of Genji 477; 13. Courtly Fiction After The Tale of Genji 515; 14. Mirrors of History 551; 15. Tale Literature 568.

THE MIDDLE AGES: Introduction 609; 16. Tales of Warfare 613; 17. The Age of the Shin Kokinshu 643; 18. Waka Poetry of the Kamakura and Muromachi Periods 699; 19. Buddhist Writings of the Kamakura Period 749; 20. Courtly Fiction of the Kamakura Period 789; 21. Diaries of the Kamakura Period 825; 22. Essays In Idleness 852; 23. Medieval War Tales 868; 24. Renga 921; 25. Diaries and Other Prose of the Muromachi Period 971; 26. No and Kyogen as Literature 999; 27. Literature of the Five Mountains 1062; 28. Muromachi Fiction: Otogi-Zoshi 1092; 29. The Late
Sixteenth Century; Glossary 1176; Selected List of Translations into English 1184; Index 1189.

. . . in short, a highly informative, useful resource which I recommend to anyone curious about early Japanese literature.

Keene has written a book that, though using an immense range of Japanese scholarly sources, is easily accessible to the interested reader.
His narrative style is clear and appealing.
He not only describes the Japanese classical literary canon, and quotes large chunks of it, but also evaluates the poetry and prose he treats with a careful and cultivated aesthetic sensibility.
The book is a delight to read.
Nothing like it exists on Japanese literature in the English language.

Konishi Jin'ichi's literary history is designed for specialists, and Kato Shuichi's similar 3-volume history does not have the depth and breadth of Keene's book with its characteristic attention to detail as Kato wrote his study mainly with Japanese readers in mind.
In short, 'Seeds in The Heart" is the culmination of a lifetime's scholarship, and provides an extraordinarily moving feast for readers

This book is a collection of articles from the periodical "Cryptologia" The articles included are mostly recollections of memories from the people that were there, breaking and making codes. A large portion of the book is dedicated to the German Enigma used throughout WW2. This book is unparalleled as a research source and contains the best documentation I've ever seen on cryptanalysis methods employed in the past.

Cryptologia is the definitive magazine in the area of cryptology. It's a small magazine with limited circulation, largely to professionals in the area. Often though it publishes articles dealing with areas of interest to us amateurs. These articles might include more information that has just become available on the German Enigma of World War II, or the article in this book on code breaking by the Vatican.

It now appears pretty generally accepted that the Japanese codes that had been broken did not provide any definitive information as to the attack on Pearl Harbour. There is new information however about the receipt of some messages sent in other non-broken codes that would have directly pointed to Pearl as the target. Unfortunately these codes were not broken until after the war. There is enough confusion about these messages that people are still not convinced of its truth. But there are two articles on the subject in this book, one taking each side.

Reading Cryptologia to pull out the interesting article would be a task. Artech House, the publisher of this book has managed to pull together what amounts to the editorial board of Cryptologia to put this book together. It follows the supurb book - The German Enigma Cipher Machine. These books seem expensive, but they are not printed in high volume and the contain information not available anywhere else. I recommend buying them before they go out of print.

Now I'd like to put in a request to these authors and publishers. Do a book on Russian/Soviet codes and code breaking. Success in code breaking seem to come with capabilities in music, mathematics, and chess -- skills at which the Russians seem to excell. And of course there's the Venona project.

Regardless, please keep these books coming.

My decision to publish Satow's outgoing semi-official letters back to his political masters in London from both Japan and China together was deliberate in that I feel they should be viewed as a continuum, even though it makes for quite a weighty tome. There certainly are numerous references to China in the letters from Japan, and vice versa. Indeed the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) went on while Satow was serving as Britain's envoy in China.

The importance of these letters is that they included private observations which Satow himself deemed inappropriate for the official despatches. For example: "Okuma [Shigenobu]'s resignation is a misfortune. All his ideas were Engl. [English] & he was very well disposed. I was on the point of settling with him several outstanding questions, & now I shall have to begin all over again." (Satow to Lord Salisbury, 3 November 1898) The frustration is clear enough!

Ian Ruxton, editor of The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, British Envoy in Peking (1900-06), Vol. 1, The Correspondence of Sir Ernest Satow, British Minister in Japan, 1895-1900 - Volume One and several other books related to Sir Ernest Satow. (For the full list click on my name under the title at the top of this page.)

Diplomats are rather like policemen, they are never truly off-duty, as their private lives are so entwined in their official public duties. An invite to tea was and is often only ostensibly to do with seed cake and Earl Gray, and was and is in reality, a chance to talk business, but informally. On occasions, one of the parties may hope to glean and gain and win leverage through catching their opposite number unawares, much the way an off duty detective will play pool and darts with the local most wanted. This latest installment of the written letters, memos, notes, diary entries and even minor musings, show that ( as the title suggests ) diplomats do have a life away from officialdom; but not that far - and so decorum in the main, has to be maintained, even in the written word. This collection of letters lets us in on the private thoughts of Satow, on his colleagues, on opposite numbers, whether friendly or hostile, and even his surprisingly less than flattering opinions on the wives of some colleagues. This volume, together with Ian Ruxton's other works on this great man, show the man in both suit and plus fours, in pinstripe and flannel, and does so here via the comparatively freer, less shackled semi-official writings therein. Another great installment from a foremost expert ( perhaps the foremost expert ) on Anglo-Asian diplomacy in the late Victorian / Edwardian eras in general, and Sir Ernest Satow in particular. Very well done yet again. John Haines

This work completely eclipses every other source one might seek if interested in the flag raisings on Suribachi. Though it is unfortunately "as scarce as hens' teeth" these days, Shadow of Suribachi is worth its weight in gold. Solid, deep, and layered historical research are complemented by well-written prose that really sets the record straight on one of the Marine Corps' most famous moments.

If you are a serious historian of the Marine Corps, or want the straight gouge on the flag raisings of Iwo, seek out this book!

(The numerical rating above is required by the new Amazon format. It is offensive to this reviewer and explicitly disavowed.)

Joe Rosenthal's famous photo of the (second) flag-raising on Suribachi was such a singularly powerful allegorical image that it became a sort of Rorschach Test of attitudes, with viewers assigning values to it that have had more to do with their own prejudices that the event itself.

Albee and Freeman carefully reexamine the history and controversy to show that while the "Sands of Iwo Jima" movie version of history is not accurate, accusations of staging the famous photo are baseless and a slander on Rosenthal, a modest and honest man.

With maps, bibliography, index, and a remarkable series of photos with analysis, which when carefully examined unmistakably support the author's narrative of the events, and in no way disparage the courage of the men on that bleak and windswept mountaintop.

This is a very good book, but as the previous reviewer pointed out, you will need to pick up the English translation etc. as it is entirely in Japanese (full-on Hiragana, Kanji, Katakana, the works).

If you are serious about learning the language, this is probably the best place to start - but similar texts such as 'Japanese for Busy People' are a little less daunting. Since you could probably learn 3 European languages in the same time that it would take you to acheive a respectable level of Japanese, I would only recommend this if you are serious about learning to really read and write the language.

If you are happy to focus more on speaking etc., then you would be better off with another text, cause this is a bit of a slog. Happy studies.

Having studied Japanese both at university and in Japan, I have come across a myriad of beginner's titles but none of them are comparable to Shin Nihongo No Kiso I & II. These texts give a thorough grounding in the language and prepare the students for further study. This is also the text used by many Japanese language schools in Japan as it quickly yet succinctly gives students a grasp of the spoken language which can be used immediately. The texts must also be praised for its methodical approach to grammar which is where many other texts fail.

Please note that the main text must be bought in conjunction with two additional supplementary books, grammar notes and the English translation...

Galouchko's original story is so inspired that it could easily be mistaken as a myth. In her paintings, even the rocks breathe and the ocean senses. It pulses with life, and honours our humanity. I have seldom come across a book which expresses compassion and restores dignity so simply and playfully.

This story is one of strong significance for it addresses fear and liberation... A true testament to art as therapy! As an elementary art teacher, I use this book in the classroom in connection with none other than a kite-making project. It is amazing to watch the children grow from this singular story! Annouchka Gravel Galouchko's (and how is that said?) colorfully detailed illustrations do great justice to this inspirational Asian myth. The way she uses clusters of pattern, shape and color to direct the flow of the viewer's attention throughout an image is musical and captivating. With what seem to be thousands of eyes peering at the reader at each turn of a page, Galouchko undoubtedly reminds us that there is heart and soul in all of nature.

Of all the Satow-related books which I have published so far, this one is probably the most revealing of the man in a personal sense. Ernest Satow's diaries ("journals") are indeed very full and detailed records of daily events which have their own value for historians, and his best-known classic history A Diplomat in Japan is based chiefly on them.

However, in his diaries we rarely get to know Satow's intimate thoughts on such matters as religion, culture, scholarship, politics and so on. On the other hand, when writing lengthy letters to trusted friends of long standing, his private opinions inevitably tend to be laid bare.

Here is one example: "Then when a little over eighteen I left England and went to the East. A worse school for a half-educated boy could not be found..." (Satow to Mrs. Dickins, Montevideo, 8 November 1889, p. 168 in this book). This book abounds in such striking phrases. Again to Aston he writes, in connection with a guide book under preparation: "We are very much indebted to you for the capital account of Kobe and its environs which you have been so good as to do for us." (Yedo, October 12, 1880, p. 34). And to Dickins just after the end of the Russo-Japanese War he comments: "All of us here and [George Ernest] Morrison of the 'Times' included said from the first that Japan would be unable to exact an indemnity from Russia, as she was not in possession of territory of sufficient importance." (British Legation, Peking, 6 November 1905, p. 240).

The topics covered are many and varied: from language training for student interpreters, to consular trade returns, to Anglicanism, pioneering botany, the collection of rare Japanese books and many more. (In 1906 Satow retired to England, but he maintained correspondence with Aston and Dickins till their deaths in 1911 and 1915 respectively.) The inner workings of an educated, penetrating and subtle Victorian mind are presented here. This book belongs on the shelves of similar minds in our century as a point of reference and stimulus to understanding our world better.

Ian Ruxton, editor of The Correspondence of Sir Ernest Satow, British Minister in Japan, 1895-1900 - Volume One, The Diaries of Sir Ernest Satow, British Envoy in Peking (1900-06), Vol. 1 etc. (For a full list of my publications click on my name under the book title at the top of this page.)

The first thing I liked about Ian Ruxton's latest offering, "Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins," was the physical character of the book. It is a large paperback, not quite A4 size, with a pleasant blue cover and general welcoming appearance, nice to hold and the kind of book that would have served well with a deckchair on one of the various steamers mentioned in its 330 pages. The age in which those steamers offered the usual way of carrying words from friend to distant friend, has long gone, but such is the thoughtfulness and detail in Satow's letters to Aston and Dickins that they allow us not only to observe those far-off times with great immediacy, but also, if we are sufficiently sympathetic and imaginative, to live a moment with prevailing mentalities of the time. This is the world before Hiroshima, before Einstein and (but for sixteen pages) before the First World War, thus a time when Europe still had entire confidence in the superiority of its own civilization. Satow despises ignorant Europeans who look down on the Japanese and Chinese. Yet he himself, despite being hugely sympathetic to East Asian interests and culture, never fundamentally doubts European superiority, and indeed terms the Japanese "semi-barbarians." Such was the persuasive power of the 19th century paradigm in which Christianity and modernism had the right and duty to transform the rest of the world. The main interest, for me, in these letters lies in this conjunction of an immensely learned, thoughtful, and to all accounts decent man on the one hand and conceptions on the other that, in our postmodern age, have retreated to be the beliefs of a relative few. Apart from that, as with previous books in Mr. Ruxton's series, there is the invaluable light Satow's observations and recollections shed on historical events (as an example among many, the fascinating report of an account he heard of the notorious Richardson murder, according to which Richardson's horse may have come into contact with the daimyo's palanquin, occasioning the latter's wrath). All in all, another excellent volume in this Satow series. Quibblers may alight on small details here and there (e.g. misspelling of "Fuji" as "Fiji" in one instance, or the querying of "customhouse" as one word), but the paucity of pretexts for complaint only serves to emphasize how creditably this work has been produced. I suspect Satow himself, who was appalled by sloppy scholarship, would have been extremely pleased to have Ruxton taking such fine care of his intellectual legacy.