A History of Japan

Revised Edition

By: R. H. P. Mason, J. G. Caiger

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

A classic of Japanese history, this audiobook is the preeminent work on the history of Japan. Newly revised and updated, A History of Japan is a single-volume complete history of the nation of Japan. Starting in ancient Japan during its early pre-history period, A History of Japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal Japan to the post-Cold War period and collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. Recent findings shed additional light on the origins of Japanese civilization and the birth of Japanese culture.   

Also included is an in-depth analysis of the Japanese religion, Japanese arts, Japanese culture, and the Japanese people from the sixth century BC to the present. This contemporary classic, now updated and revised, continues to be an essential work in Japanese studies.  

A History of Japan, Revised Edition includes:  

• Archaic Japan - including Yamato, the creation of a unified state, the Nana Period, and the Heian period.  
• Medieval Japan - including rule by the military houses, the failure of Ashikaga rule, Buddhism, and the Kamakura and Muroachi periods.  
• Early modern Japan - including Japanese feudalism, administration under the Tokugawa, and society and culture in early modern Japan.  
• Modern Japan - including the Meiji era and policies for modernization, from consensus to crisis (1912-1937), and solutions through force.  

This contemporary classic continues to be a central work in Japanese studies and is a vital addition to the collection of any student or enthusiast of Japanese history, Japanese culture, or the Japanese language.

©1997 R. H. P. Mason and J. G. Caiger (P)2018 Tantor

An interesting listen.

This is an interesting listen that allows us a survey history of Japan. The narration is easy and allows us a listen to understand the pronunciation. While the book itself is rather short, the information contained within allows us a basic understanding of the broad history of Japan.

Good Over of Japanese History

This book provides a good overview of the history of Japan, from wars and economic developments to cultural shifts in the arts (paintings, theatre, woodwork and attitudes toward living a good life and the definition of what makes life worth living, religious developments and changes). The problem is that such a sweeping all inclusive goal requires just listing highlights without details of why it happened. The book provides an excellent outline of Japanese history, which can be followed up with books that provide more content on areas that the reader wants to investigate.

Terrible Pronunciation

I am tired of listening to mangled pronunciation of Japanese names. If you're going to do an audio book, at least get a narrator who can get the names right. As a Japanese linguist it is galling to have to listen to Japanese names mangled so badly. The story was fine but I couldn't get past at bad the narrator was with Japanese names. Make an effort to practice the pronunciations!

Good Synopsis on Japan’s History.

I have been studying the history and culture of Japan quite extensively for about two years now, and this book is a great start for anyone curious about the history of Japan. This audiobook hits all of the key points in Japanese history from the Jomon era, to the modern era. Anyone interested in garnering a greater understanding of the history of this unique and wonderful nation should add this audiobook to their library.

More a reference volume than an audio book.

The book is useful as a broad introductory overview of Japanese history, and would help newcomers identify specific topics for further study. Despite my interest in the subject, I struggled through this book. Originally published in 1979, the language is unnecessarily wordy and awkward. The book comes to an abrupt close after the post war reconstruction. I think this book would make a very handy reference volume for would-be students of Japanese history and culture. As an audio book, it can be challenging to follow.

Definitely reads like a college history book

Very good facts but terribly dry for casual reading. I sped up my audible and starting skipping some parts.

Toe-koo-guh-wuh

I like how it’s constructed but it took me multiple repeated rewinds to understand he was mispronouncing Tokugawa so painfully it made my teeth ache

Underwhelming?

A trove of interesting facts, but it feels incomplete. The narrator has a good cadence, but his Japanese seems severely lacking. I listened to the Great Courses series of lectures on Japan before this, and I feel I was much better able to pay attention to that.

great book

Derek Perkins is an awesome reader. The story stays interesting. This is a great book.

Kind of dry and old school

Mostly the higher level facts presented without much deeper meaning. Didn’t really give me a sense of understanding of Japan. The reader butchered the Japanese words.