modern japan a very short introduction
japan is arguably todays most successful industrial economy combining almost unprecedented affluence with social stability and apparent harmony . japanese goods and cultural products from animated movies and computer games to cars semiconductors and management techniques are consumed around the world . in many ways japan is an icon of the modern world and yet it remains something of an enigma to many who see it as a confusing montage of the alien and the familiar the ancient and modern . this very short introduction explodes the myths and explores the reality of modern japan offering a concise engaging and accessible look at the history economy politics and culture of this fascinating nation . it examines what the term modern means to the japanese debunks the notion that japan went through a period of total isolation from the world and explores the continuity between pre and post war japan . anyone curious about this intriguing country will find a wealth of insight and information in these pages . br about the series combining authority with wit accessibility and style very short introductions offer an introduction to some of lifes most interesting topics . written by experts for the newcomer they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics from philosophy to freud quantum theory to islam