Modern Japan

In this groundbreaking biography of the Japanese emperor Hirohito, Herbert P. Bix offers the first complete, unvarnished look at the enigmatic leader whose 63-year reign ushered Japan into the modern world. Never before has the full life of this controversial figure been revealed with such clarity and vividness. Bix describes what it was like to be trained from birth for a lone position at the apex of the nation's political hierarchy and as a revered symbol of divine status. 

This epic novel by master writer James Clavell, loosely based on the Namamugi Incident and Anglo-Satsuma War that took place in the late 1800s, is a richly researched, panoramic view of Japan’s budding relationship with the Western powers, its sweeping societal changes, and the political upheaval that followed.

With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present, and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests. 

Experience the epic political revolution that transformed a secluded samurai domain into an industrial global superpower. Perfect for your morning commute, this dramatic world history narrative drops you into nineteenth-century conflicts where tradition clashes with rapid modernization. Listen...

'This is the history we so badly needed' ANTONY BEEVOR 'Essential reading for understanding Asia's present' RICHARD OVERY A momentous new history of World War II in Asia. In the early twentieth century, from India to China, Western imperial powers dominated Asia. Then, in the 1930s, Japan began...

A FINALIST FOR THE 2024 CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE A Best Book of the Year in The Economist, Prospect, The Telegraph, TLS, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and Foreign Affairs 'Magisterial' – Max Hastings, The Sunday Times...

Bloomsbury presents Eight Million Ways to Happiness written and read by Hiroka Yoda 'A timely and moving pilgrimage through Japan's spiritual traditions' RUTH OZEKI, Women’s Prize-winning and Booker Prize-shortlisted author 'A fascinating dive through hidden layers of the Japanese worldview'...

Brought to you by Penguin. **Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize 2024** A story of staggering scope and drama, Revolusi is the masterful and definitive account of the epic revolution that sparked the decolonisation of the modern world. *SHORTLISTED FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 2024* On a...

Zen monk Santoka Taneda (1882 - 1940) is one of Japan's most beloved modern poets, famous for his "free-verse" haiku, the dominant style today. This book tells the fascinating story of his life, liberally sprinkled with more than 300 of his poems and extracts from his essays and journals - compiled by his best friend and biographer Sumita Oyama and elegantly translated by William Scott Wilson.

Witness an isolated feudal realm violently transform into a global superpower in this gripping Asian history audiobook. Perfect for an educational daily commute, this epic narrative abandons dry dates to plunge you into the turbulent lives of samurai, factory girls, and everyday citizens...

Brought to you by Penguin. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FEELGOOD JAPANESE NOVEL, BY THE AUTHOR OF THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES Over 1.5 million copies sold in Japan Famously scenic, the Hankyu commuter train trundles daily through changing landscape unaware of the heartaches of the passengers it carries...

WINNER OF THE ARTHUR ROSS BOOK AWARD FROM THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ACCLAIMED AS ONE OF THE YEAR’S 10 BEST BOOKS BY THE WASHINGTON POST 12 ESSENTIAL NONFICTION BOOKS BY THE NEW YORKER 100 NOTABLE BOOKS BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOKS BY THE ECONOMIST, FOREIGN AFFAIRS...

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Territory of Light by Yuko Tsushima, read by Rina Takasaki. Territory of Light is the radiant story of a young woman, living alone in Tokyo with her two-year-old daughter. Its twelve chapters follow the first year of the narrator's separation from her...

Uncover the rise of a modern superpower through the epic samurai battles and cultural shifts of Asian history. Whether commuting to work or planning a trip, this fascinating historical deep dive transforms a complex past into an immersive adventure. Experience the intense evolution of an...

Return to Tokyo for a royal wedding in Emiko Jean's Tokyo Dreaming, the sequel to the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Tokyo Ever After. When Japanese-American Izumi Tanaka learned her father was the Crown Prince of Japan, she became a princess overnight. Now...

Turn your daily commute into an awe-inspiring cultural history adventure through two millennia of Japanese art. Wander through tranquil Shinto shrines, disciplined Zen monasteries, and modern galleries without ever leaving your seat. Let the contemplative beauty of this visual evolution turn...

Take a trip to old Japan with William Scott Wilson as he travels the ancient Kiso Road, a legendary route that remains much the same today as it was hundreds of years ago. The Kisoji, which runs through the Kiso Valley in the Japanese Alps, has been in use since at least 701 CE. In the 17th century, it was the route that the daimyo (warlords) used for their biennial trips - along with their samurai and porters - to the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo).

Trace the resilient urban history of Japan's capital from a quiet samurai fishing inlet to a thriving neon megacity. Whether you are preparing for a dream trip or seeking an immersive commute, this evocative journey connects the ancient cobblestones of the Tokugawa era to the hyper-connected...

Trace the rise of Japan's boldest merchant empire from a muddy delta in this gritty, immersive Asian history journey. Perfect for your daily commute or preparing for an upcoming vacation, this engaging narrative tracks the evolution of a fiercely independent metropolis. Experience the warlord...

Uncover a rich cultural history where an ancient Japanese capital defies the sweep of global modernization. Wander through tranquil river valleys and vibrant merchant districts as you explore the spiritual and aesthetic backbone of a society built on enduring tradition. Perfect for an...