ASIA PERSPECTIVES: NEW HORIZONS IN ASIAN HISTORY, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Harry Harootunian Uneven Moments: Reflections on Japan's Modern History (2019) "A leading voice in Japanese intellectual history, it is no exaggeration to say that Harry Harootunian’s work has shaped the field for the past forty years. These essays collectively provide an extended reflection on the … [Read more...]
Sōseki: Modern Japan’s Greatest Novelist
ASIA PERSPECTIVES: NEW HORIZONS IN ASIAN HISTORY, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE John Nathan Sōseki: Modern Japan's Greatest Novelist (2018) "Sōseki captures the soul of Japan’s greatest modern writer in the best tradition of biography. Here the venerated figure comes fully alive with his infuriating failings and astounding intelligence, his maddening ambitions and biting … [Read more...]
The Merchant’s Tale: Yokohama and the Transformation of Japan
ASIA PERSPECTIVES: NEW HORIZONS IN ASIAN HISTORY, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Simon Partner The Merchant's Tale: Yokohama and the Transformation of Japan (2017) "To an already lively cast of Restoration characters—rascals and rebels, poets and fighters—The Merchant’s Tale adds a new voice: that of the rural entrepreneur. Long on dreams but short on capital, Chūemon decamped … [Read more...]
The Japanese and the War: Expectation, Perception, and the Shaping of Memory
ASIA PERSPECTIVES: NEW HORIZONS IN ASIAN HISTORY, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Michael Lucken. Translated by Karen Grimwade. The Japanese and the War: Expectation, Perception, and the Shaping of Memory (2017) "In this highly readable book, Michael Lucken combines an encyclopedic overview of Japan's diverse conflicts over the memory of WWII with a razor-sharp dissection of … [Read more...]
The First Modern Japanese: The Life of Ishikawa Takuboku
ASIA PERSPECTIVES: NEW HORIZONS IN ASIAN HISTORY, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE Donald Keene The First Modern Japanese: The Life of Ishikawa Takuboku (2016) "The First Modern Japanese is a poignant though familiar tale of the genius and premature death of a promising artist. As Donald Keene notes, Ishikawa Takuboku was a pivotal figure and someone to consider when thinking … [Read more...]
