{"product_id":"9784805313893-brief-history-of-japan","title":"A Brief History of Japan","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSamurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun\u003cbr\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.\u003cbr\u003e\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\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31913249898593,"sku":"9784805313893","price":11.14,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_37505839_0b05f880-8233-47bd-b1e5-42cfa6dfbf7d.jpg?v=1762101581","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9784805313893-brief-history-of-japan","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}