The Japan Society Review

By Justin Kerr-Smiley Reportage Press, 2007, 243 Pages, ISBN13: 9780955572937 (Hardback), £16.99p Preview by J. Sean Curtin

By Ikuhiko Hata, edited by Marius B.Jansen ISBN 978-1-905246-35-9, pages 272 including notes and index, Global Oriental, 2007. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Takashi Uesugi Soshisha, November 2006, 286 pages, 1500 yen Review by Fumiko Halloran

By Miki Fujita BookSurge Publishing, 2006, 268 pages, ISBN: 1419614274 Review by J. Sean Curtin

This book “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman” is a collection of twenty-six short stories from the surreal to the mundane, some of which he wrote while staying at a U.S. university after the publication of “Norwegian Wood”.

By Yumi Yamaguchi and Arthur Tanaka Kodansha International, 2007, 176 pages, over 200 colour plates from 40 artists, ISBN 10: 4770030312, ISBN 13: 9784770030313, price £20. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi

By Michael Cooper An absorbing account of the first Japanese visitors to Europe. Three Christian daimyo (of Bungo, Arima and Omura) sent young men as representatives, who toured Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Reviews by Sir Hugh Cortazzi - Stephen Turnbull has made quite a corner for himself in writing about the samurai, their life and weapons. Altogether this is a collection of booklets which will be valuable to the student of Japanese military history.

Review by Sean Curtin - After over a decade of struggle, Japan has recorded rapid uptake of broadband, and Japanese advanced mobile services have become increasingly successful on a global scale. Japan has also undergone regulatory reform, and competition policy is now given top priority by government. Taplin and Wakui examine the most recent developments and provide signposts for the future.

Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi The assertion that Commodore Perry of the US Navy and his 'Black Ships' opened Japan in the middle of the nineteenth century is widely accepted as the historical truth but 'belongs more to the realm of historical myth'(p.xi). Professor McOmie notes that although 'Perry was the first to actually sign a treaty with the Japanese government' 'What Perry did was not so much to open the door, as to unlock the door, and force in a thin wedge to prevent it being bolted again'(page 462). The author reminds us that Japan was never quite as 'closed' as popularly believed and that the 'opening' of Japan continues to this day.