{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-japan-9784805313893","title":"A Brief History of Japan","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign.  It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of popular culture, and a harbinger of post-industrial decline. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eAmong the chapters in this Japanese history book are:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e The Way of the Gods: Prehistoric and Mythical Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e A Game of Thrones: Minamoto vs. Taira\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Time Warp: 200 Years of Isolation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e The Stench of Butter: Restoration and Modernization\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e The New Breed: The Japanese Miracle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Jonathan Clements","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42960552951926,"sku":"9784805313893","price":15.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/1374\/6550\/files\/CoreSourceHub_a41330fc-b3a3-4972-92e0-3e113ea4fde4.jpg?v=1775338025","url":"https:\/\/ingramacademic.com\/products\/a-brief-history-of-japan-9784805313893","provider":"Ingram Academic \u0026 Professional","version":"1.0","type":"link"}