Japan is one of the world\"s most important societies, yet remains one of the least understood. This book is designed to fill the gap for a concise but thought-provoking introduction to all aspects of the country\"s political, economic and social life set in a clear historical context....

Japan is one of the world\"s most important societies, yet remains one of the least understood. This book is designed to fill the gap for a concise but thought-provoking introduction to all aspects of the country\"s political, economic and social life set in a clear historical context....

Now fully revised and updated, this widely-praised introductory text explores Japan through the prism of three alternative perspectives: mainstream, revisionist, and culturalist. Beginning with the noting of Japan as a \'contested territory\' the book focuses on debates about the real nature of Japan\'s successes and shortcomings....

Japan is one of the world\'s most important societies, yet one of the least understood. This book is designed to fill the gap for a concise but thought-provoking introduction to all aspects of its political, economic, and social life set in a clear historical context....

This is the first book in English to examine the tangled web of relationships linking newspaper owners, editors and reporters, with leading politicians and power-holders....