The Japan Society Review

By Junji Banno The book assumes that the reader has a fair grasp of the history of modern Japan. It is thus intended primarily for historians as it is not an introduction to Japanese political history for the newcomer to [...] Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Yoshihiko Futamasu The sufferings of allied prisoners of war forced by the Japanese military to work on the have been recounted in many books. This book is the first publication in English of an account by a Japanese railway engineer. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Owen Matthews This well researched and well written book traces the career of Nikolai Rezanov who sought to establish and develop Russian settlements in North America from Alaska to modern day California. It covers his [...] Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

Directed by Nagisa Isogai The Lust of Angels stands out from the many other Japanese films being shown in London at the moment for the fact that it was written and directed by a woman and the short movie’s main cast are all girls. Review by Mike Sullivan

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Jiro Horikoshi was a designer of Japanese fighter planes during World War II and The Wind Rises follows him as he struggles to build his aircraft and grapples with life in pre-war Japan. There are elements [...] Review by David Knox

By John W. Dower The book is a penetrating analysis of Japan in the immediate post-war years. In this collection of essays Professor Dower concentrates on perceptions in Japan and the United States of the war and its aftermath. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By R. Taggart Murphy In the book, Professor Richard Taggart Murphy brings to bear a customarily wide-ranging and charismatic argument to the conundrum of modern Japanese History. The chronology traverses from before [...] Review by Richard Coxford

VISUALISE! work on bringing classical musicians together with visual and performance artists, creating a new medium in which the audience can enjoy both music and live art. On the 14th of August they [...] Review by Mike Sullivan

By Shawn Bender In this book, the author charts the journey of taiko out of the temples and festivals and on to the international stage. He also uses taiko as a prism through which many aspects of Japanese society can be viewed. Review by Mary Murata

By Peter O’Connor While newspapers in Japan were published from the middle of the 19th century onwards, the first major strides towards an organized industry were taken in 1891. The global press in those days was [...] Review by Ian Nish