Organized by theme, this comprehensive encyclopedia examines all aspects of life in Japan, from geography and government to food and etiquette and much more.
Japan, or the “Land of the Rising Sun,” is home to more than 126 million people, nearly 10 million of whom live in Tokyo alone. How did this tiny island nation become such a powerhouse in the 21st century, and where will it go from here? Modern Japan examines history and contemporary life through thematic entries organized into chapters covering such topics as geography; history; government and politics; economy; religion and thought; social classes and ethnicity; gender, marriage, and sexuality; education; language; etiquette; literature and drama; art and architecture; music and dance; food; leisure and sports; and media and popular culture.
Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme.
A chronology covers from prehistoric times to the present, and special appendices offer profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of Japanese society, a glossary, key facts and figures about Japan, and a holiday chart. This volume is ideal for students researching Japan, as well as general readers interested in learning more about the country.
Features
- Includes "Day in the Life" features that portray the specific daily activities of various people in Japan, from teenagers to working adults in different fields, providing readers insight into daily life in the country
- Features key terms related to the reading as defined in a glossary appendix
- Presents a chart of national holidays for at-a-glance information about Japan's important religious and secular holidays
- Provides photos to help illuminate the text, illustrating key topics and allowing students to dive more deeply into ideas
- Offers sidebars for fun facts and anecdotal information that help to engage the reader
Louis G. Perez is professor of history at Illinois State University. He earned his PhD from the University of Michigan in 1986 and his MA from California State University at Long Beach in 1975. Among his publications are such works as Japan Comes of Age: Mutsu Munemitsu and the Revision of the Unequal Treaties (1999), Daily Life in Premodern Japan (2002), and Mutsu Munemitsu and Identity Formation of the Individual and the State in Modern Japan (2001). He also served as editor of ABC-CLIO's Japan at War: An Encyclopedia (2013).
Roger W. Purdy, PhD, is an associate professor of history at John Carroll University in Ohio. He teaches courses on Japanese history and popular culture, and his research focuses on the Japanese news media during wartime. Purdy has served as a visiting scholar at Nanzan University in Japan and published several articles on the Domei News Agency. He received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MLS and BA from Brigham Young University
Understanding Modern Nations
The Understanding Modern Nations series profiles individual nations that are of interest to high school students and undergraduates, focusing on countries that are often studied in school as well as countries that have made major headlines in recent years.
With coverage of topics such as geography, history, politics and government, economy, society, culture, social media, pop culture, and personal accounts of daily life, these volumes serve as ideal resources for students of geography, social studies, anthropology, political science, and more. Additional topics examine religion, social classes and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, education, language, etiquette, literature and drama, art and architecture, music and dance, food, and leisure and sport.
General overviews of each topic provide students with a basic foundation on the subject, and entries pertaining to the topic—such as biographies of significant people in the field, iconic events, and key ideas—follow each overview. Sidebars and photos, facts and figures that are integral to better understanding the countries, a glossary of key terms, and a holidays chart round out the coverage in each of these accessible, engaging volumes.
