The Japan Society Review

By Emmanuel Cooper Widely recognized as the father of studio pottery, Bernard Leach (1887-1979) played a pioneering role in creating an identity for artist potters in Britain and around the world. Born in the East (Hong Kong) and educated in the West (England), throughout his life Leach perceived himself as a courier between the disparate cultures. This outstanding biography provides for the first time a vivid and detailed account of Leach's life and its relation to his art. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

Edited by Takashi Inogushi Crafting policy toward Asia is a difficult balancing act for Japan. Saddled by ill will in Asia left over from its militarist legacy of the first half of the twentieth century on the one hand and restrained by a United States eager to maintain its own position of power in Asia on the other, Japan has had to pick a narrow path. Its strong economic links to Asia have necessitated continuous and cordial relations with its Asian neighbors, and, as the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s revealed, those links keep Asia and Japan's fortunes tied closely together. This book gives a comprehensive account of Japan's Asian policy, its historical background and its current bilateral and regional interactions, as well as explores how those have changed or remained the same in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Review by Takahiro Miyao

By Richard Katz After seven long years of economic malaise, it is clear that something has gone awry in Japan. Unless Japan undertakes sweeping reform, official forecasts now warn, growth will steadily dwindle. How could the world's most acclaimed economic miracle have stumbled so badly? As this important book explains, the root of the problem is that Japan is still mired in the structures, policies, and mental habits of the 1950s-1960s. Review by Takahiro Miyao

Edited by Gordon de Brouwer While the financial crisis in East Asia could be said to be on the wane in some countries, the reconstruction process in the aftermath and the debate about the financial policies best suited to the region still rages on. This book examines both of these processes in authoritative detail. Review by Takahiro Miyao

By Jeff Kingston The 1990s have been termed as 'Japan's lost decade' to describe how the phenomenal growth in the Japanese economy ground to a halt and the country was crippled by enormous and ongoing political, economic and social problems. In responding to these unprecedented difficulties, wide-ranging reforms have been adopted including NPO, information disclosure and judicial reform legislation. Controversially, this book argues that such reforms are creating a more robust civil society and demonstrate that Japan is far more dynamic than is generally recognized. Review by Sean Curtin

Edited by Robert M. Stern This book deals with the potential for improvements as part of formal government-to-government negotiations in the multilateral context in the World Trade Organization (WTO), regionally in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and bilaterally with the administration of national trade laws and the negotiation of free trade agreements. Review by Takahiro Miyao

By Michael Breen Kim Jong-il has been the subject of intense interest and fear in recent months. He has been demonised as 'Dr Evil' for his nuclear programme which puts Korea on a collision course with the US. For this reason, the world has a stake in understanding this man and his little-known country. This account aims to tell the compelling story of Kim Jong-il and the country he leads. Review by Tomohiko Taniguchi

By Louis Frederic, translated by Kathe Roth This richly detailed yet concise encyclopedia is a guide to the full range of Japanese history and civilization, from the dawn of its prehistory to today, providing clear and accessible information on society and institutions, commerce and industry, sciences, sports, and politics, with particular emphasis on religion, material culture, and the arts. Review by Susan House Wade

Edited by Greg Irvine This publication is a comprehensive guide dealing specifically with important collections of publicly available Japanese art in the UK. It identifies the wide range of Japanese art collections nationwide, making them known and accessible to all those interested in Japan's unique art and culture. The guide contains cross-references in the index to town, county, type of holding, etc., and regional maps. Review by Marie Therese Barrett

Edited by Steven K. Vogel This new book evaluates the changing relationship between the two great powers, providing in-depth analysis on a variety of topics. It scrutinizes the historical context, providing the reader with predictive tools for understanding events as they unfold. Instead of looking at the U.S.-Japan relationship one issue at a time, this book examines specific trends and then analyzes how these trends affect the relationship as a whole. Review by Takahiro Miyao