Looking for a good book about Japanese history in general

[Drago]

Hi,

 

(I hope this is the right place.) As the title says, I'm looking for a good book that will give me an overview of Japanese history from ancient times to today, language English or German.

 

In German I found "Kleine Geschichte Japans" by Reclam (516 pages at 15x10cm) but no reviews on amazon.

 

A register for searching is a must. Maps and perhaps other illustrations would be good. It would also be nice if there was an appendix that listed names and places in their Japanese writing. But that might be asking too much.

 

What books can you recommend?

 

[Lance]

The Samurai: A Military History by Stephen Turnbull is a good start, excellent overview of the many important leaders and warfare campaigns that took place over the centuries.

Link to Amazon has a brief preview, you might be able to find it elsewhere as well.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Military- ... y+turnbull

 

Regards,

Lance

[Ken-Hawaii]

Hi, Tobias:

 

This will at least get you oriented (no pun intended!):

http://http://jssh.org/chronology.html

 

Ken

[Baka Gaijin]

Mornin Drago

 

You may find this helpful:

 

http://www.samurai-archives.com/

 

Cheers

[Ford Hallam]

Tobais,

 

are you looking for a general history or something more specifically centred on the warrior class? I only ask becasue that's what the previous posters seem to imagine

[Drago]

General history. (of course, that includes the Samurai, but not exclusively)

[Ford Hallam]

In my opinion the best single concise volume would then be The Japanese Experience by W G Beasly

 

And for a bit more 'in depth' detail on certain cultural aspects Mason and Caiger's classic (now updated and revised) A History of Japan

[Toryu2020]

I always recommend Sansom's History of Japan in 3 vol.s

 

and Papinot's Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan is a must...

-t

[IanB]

Tobias, Although it is rather simplistic and rather old, 'Everyday Life in Traditional Japan' by C. J. Dunn, Batsford London and Putnam's New York, is an easy to read account about all levels of society in mainly Edo period Japan. Superficially it looks a bit elemetary but it is well illustrated and contains some real nuggets of info.

Ian Bottomley

[Brian Ayres]

I'm glad this question came up. Thank you gentlemen for the suggestions. I purchased a couple books and added some to my wish list!

 

Brian Ayres

[Drago]

Thank you very much. I'll check those books out.