This is a concise, reliable guide to the people, places, events, and ideas of significance from the Meiji Restoration to the present.

This is a concise, reliable guide to the people, places, events, and ideas of significance from the Meiji Restoration to the present.

The Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945 spans the entire period from the earliest evidence of human habitation in Japan through to the end of the Pacific War. It includes substantial topics such as cultural and literary history, with entries ranging from aesthetics to various genres of writing. Other branches of history also feature, such as economic history, industrial history, political history, and so forth. And of course there are the makers of Japanese history, ranging from emperors and shoguns to politicians and extremists – as well as foreign arrivals. The early history of Japan is told through a detailed chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, an extensive bibliography, and over 800 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, organizations, activities, and events. The Historical Dictionary of Japan to 1945 will appeal to both academics and the general public who have an interest in Japan, particularly those who want reliable information quickly and easily.

Historical Dictionary of Modern Japanese Literature and Theater presents a broad perspective on the development and history of literature--narrative, poetry, and drama--in modern Japan. It focuses specifically on the years since 1868, when Japan opened its doors to the West and underwent remarkable and swift changes as it sought to become a modern nation. It offers both a historical overview through its chronology, introduction, bibliography, and over 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries.

The first all-inclusive, single-volume guide to the history of modern Japan--conveniently divided into easy-to-use sections that provide a narrative, topical compendium, resource guide, and selected documents

Spanning the 130-year period between the end of the Tokugawa Era and the end of the Cold War, this book introduces students to the formation, collapse, and rebirth of the modern Japanese state. It demonstrates how, faced with foreign threats, Japan developed a new governing structure to deal with these challenges and in turn gradually shaped its international environment. Had Japan been a self-sufficient power, like the United States, it is unlikely that external relations would have exercised such great control over the nation. And, if it were a smaller country, it may have been completely pressured from the outside and could not have influenced the global stage on its own. For better or worse therefore, this book argues, Japan was neither too large nor too small. Covering the major events, actors, and institutions of Japan’s modern history, the key themes discussed include: Building the Meiji state and Constitution. The establishment of Parliament. The First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars. Party Politics and International Cooperation. The Pacific War. Development of LDP politics. Changes in the international order and the end of the Cold War. This book, written by one of Japan's leading experts on Japan's political history, will be an essential resource for students of Japanese modern history and politics.