The Japan Society Review

This issue of the Japan Society Review centres on Japanese modern history, politics, national security and international relations. On a lighter note, we also include two book reviews dealing with friendship and poetry.

In this issue we engage with various Japanese forms of art, including music, paintings, objects and dance.

In this issue of The Japan Society Review we cross genres, reviewing a film, two books, a performance and conducting an interview with a violinist.

In issue 53, we again provide a wide range of reviews across many aspects of Japanese culture. We consider an overview of Japan from a broad range of perspectives.

In this issue of the Japan Society Review, we focus on five books and a film.

In this third issue of 2014, we are pleased to bring a broad range of reviews on a diverse selection of topics and genres to the fore.

In this issue we are in a self-reflective mood with our main theme actually being our regular reviewers and the Japan Society Review itself. To mark the occasion, we have an article by each of our current key contributors with pieces mainly focusing on contemporary issues.

In this first issue of 2014, we focus on Japan’s wartime Thai- Burma Railway which has recently been in the spotlight following the release of the internationally acclaimed movie The Railway Man.

While preparing our final issue of 2013, it was with deep sadness that we learnt of the passing of Sir John Whitehead, distinguished former British Ambassador to Japan (1986 to 1992) and much respected former chairman of the Japan Society (2000 to 2006). We dedicate this issue to his memory.

October’s issue is themed around family and our reviewers explore recent books and films that deal with familial relationships; their joys, troubles and complications.