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Discover the aesthetic traditions, political resilience, and modern economic might of this singular island nation.
Zen, haiku, martial arts, sushi, anime, manga, film, video games . . . Japanese culture has long enriched our Western way of life. Yet from a Western perspective, Japan remains a remote island country that has long had a complicated relationship with the outside world.
Japan—an archipelago strung like a necklace around the Asian mainland—is considerably farther from Asia than Britain is from Europe. The sea has provided an effective barrier against invasion and enabled the culture to develop in unique ways. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shoguns successfully closed the country to the West. Then, Japan swung in the opposite direction, adopting Western culture wholesale. Both strategies enabled it to avoid colonization—and to retain its traditions and way of life.
A skilled storyteller and accurate historian, Lesley Downer presents the dramatic sweep of Japanese history and the larger-than-life individuals—from emperors descended from the Sun Goddess to warlords, samurai, merchants, court ladies, women warriors, geisha, and businessmen—who shaped this extraordinary modern society.
The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.
“A delightful and illuminating read about Japan’s long history. Downer’s book covers prehistoric times through the present-day. This work has the rare quality of being both scholarly and approachable for the non-expert. . . . Essential reading for both general audiences and scholars who are interested in an engaging overview of Japan’s complex history.”—Library Journal, starred review
“A terrific overview of Japan’s long and rich history that covers an astonishing amount of ground. A gem of a book that is as engaging as it is readable.”—Peter Frankopan, bestselling author of The Silk Roads and The New Silk Roads
“Brisk, brilliant, and compulsively readable, Downer’s new history takes us from the ancient archipelago down to the vexed present day, via shamans, shoguns, ‘modern girls,’ and Super Mario. Highly recommended.”—Christopher Harding, author of A History of Modern Japan and The Light of Asia
“Brilliant! This is much more than an expert, easy-to-read distillation of Japan’s history. Lesley Downer has a novelist’s flair for bringing the past to life in all its variety, evoking fashion, art, religions, vivid incidents, and astonishing personalities, with a welcome emphasis on the importance of women.”—John Man, author of Samurai and Ninja
“A lively and stylish introduction to Japanese history.”—Amy Stanley, author of Stranger in the Shogun’s City
“Brilliantly accessible and uplifting. Lesley Downer writes with flair and passion to bring to life the history and culture of this ‘small country at the very edge of the world.’ The Shortest History of Japan is an enlightening and pacy primer for anyone interested in Asia. In minutes, a reader can learn about the invention of pottery thousands of years before Europe, the origins of the Pearl Harbor attack, and the strands that weave together the fascination that is Japan today. A stunning piece of writing.”—Humphrey Hawksley, author of Asian Waters and former BBC Asia Correspondent
“Downer’s crisp history is a delicious delight, sweeping us through this wonderful country’s long and complex history with a deft touch and a wonderful eye for vivid and revealing human detail.”—Bill Emmott, chair of The Japan Society (UK) and former editor in chief of The Economist
“A marvelously accessible distillation of thousands of years of Japanese history . . . . It captures, too, the uncertainty of the present day, as Japan grapples with the challenges of a shrinking population, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. And it marks the contribution that women have made to the story of Japan—a country that has only recently begun to move away from patriarchal traditions. Strongly recommended.”—David Warren, former British Ambassador to Japan
“This vigorous and fast-paced narrative will open up the fascinating history of Japan to many people, making them eager to read more and go further.”—Timon Screech, International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), Kyoto
