Understanding Japan

A Cultural History

By: Mark J. Ravina, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Mark J. Ravina

Length: 12 hrs

Publisher's summary

Japan's extraordinary culture is like no other in the world, and it remains mysterious to many of us. And that's unfortunate, because to truly understand Japan's influence on the world stage, one needs to understand Japan's culture - on its own terms.

In an exciting partnership with the Smithsonian, The Great Courses presents these 24 lectures that offer an unforgettable tour of Japanese life and culture. Professor Ravina, with the expert collaboration of the Smithsonian's historians, brings you a grand portrait of Japan.

From the dawn of Confucianism and the Meiji Restoration to World War II and the economic miracle years of 1955 to 1975, you'll explore landmark periods of Japanese history and learn how broad events and movements introduced, innovated, and revised everything from spirituality to popular entertainment. Along the way you'll get revealing insights into Shinto (Japan's indigenous religion), the art of Katsushika Hokusai, literary works like The Tale of Genji and the haiku of Basho, the everyday lives of samurai, the universal appeal of filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa, foods like yakitori and tempura, and so much more.

You'll come away from Professor Ravina's final lecture with a stronger sense of the very soul of this one-of-a-kind nation.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLC

Very interesting and informative

What made the experience of listening to Understanding Japan the most enjoyable?

This course is a delight to listen to with a lot of information and a great narrator. My only complaint is that there is no PDF booklet to accompany the course like the other Great Courses. Hope it shows up soon!!!

Insightful and Engaging

Not only does this course provide insights into Japanese culture, it engages the listeners with enchanting stories and a sense of love for Japan. Even people knowledgeable of Japan will learn something new. The course is not a dry lecture but a engaging story that makes it hard not binge listen the whole course in a couple of days.

A riveting book.

A great listen that follows the general path of Japanese History and how its history, from religion to wartime issues, can still be seen in the Japan of today.

Fantastic lecture!

Fantastic Lecture! You can hear the professor's passion he has for the subject matter when he speaks!

Entertaining yet profoundly informative

I thought I knew Japan really well already before I listened to this book. But the author takes it to another level where things can be entertaining while they are also very informative. It was great, both the tone of the narrator and the story of Japan in this lecture.

Respect. and Thxxxxxx so much.

wonderfully informative!

this course is incredibly in depth and covers far more than I expected from the distant past to the contemporary.

Great course for both the beginner and the advanced.

I have an undergraduate degree in Japanese Studies and I am an advanced speaker of the language with over a decade of experience working and living in Japan. While much of this was review for me, Professor Ravina presented it in such a way that is was still extremely enjoyable. And honestly I learned quite a few things that I did not know as well, which got me excited every time one of those gems was brought up.

Thanks for a great program.

Worth Listening

I learned a number of interesting facts and historical tidbits that I had not heard of before now. Hesitant in getting it but glad I did. Worth a second listen later on. Author had a good voice and easy to listen to and he kept the story moving.

Wow what an eye opener

I love history especially history from the Asian world. I actually though I knew about Japan but boy I was wrong.
If you love history that isn't taught in schools then this books is for you.

best of about AsiA

I loved from the very beginning. It was full wiew of a great culture and economy.