Japan: A Documentary History

The history of mankind is full of joy and vicissitude, and the history of Japan is no exception. "Man," to paraphrase Leopold von Ranke, "is a creature so good and at the same time so evil, so noble and at the same time so animal-like, so polished and at the same time so uncouth who, while seeking eternity, is bound by the fleeting moment." This book is a narrative of Japanese history as rendered by the Japanese people themselves at the time they lived. It shows their foibles and triumphs with their tears and laughter. There is a thread of common experience that they share with the rest of the world. As such, a documentary history has the power of immediacy not enjoyed by an interpretive history. It speaks directly to its readers beyond the constraints of time and space…