Modern Japan: Aspects of History, Literature and Society

This volume of essays by European and Israeli experts focuses on the challenges of modernization in Japan, including its political, international, literary, religious, and economic aspects. The papers present unpublished research on important topics for students of modern Japan.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 292 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Rewritten text:

Since its initial publication in 1975, a significant portion of Western scholarly discourse on Japan has focused on examining the process of modernisation. However, the papers compiled in this volume, authored by esteemed experts from Europe and Israel, take a different approach by delving into the challenges posed by this transformative process. Instead of solely analysing the mechanics of modernisation, these papers centre on the complexities that arise from it. The historical papers in this collection explore various facets of the political and international tensions that connect modernisation to Japanese expansion and the Second World War. These include the civil war of 1868, the emergence of early newspapers and nationalist sentiment, the Washington Conference, the political climate of the 1930s, the bombing of Japan in 1945, and more. Meanwhile, the literary studies examine related themes concerning national attitudes, as manifested in drama and the novel, particularly in the context of the interplay between modern ideas and institutions and traditional culture and society. Similar inquiries are raised in the discussions of new post-war religions, as well as in papers examining the use of leisure and industrial relations in contemporary Japan. Furthermore, this volume includes two contributions that examine the economic consequences of the industrial miracle that has marked the latest phase of modernisation. One paper focuses on balance of payments difficulties, while the other explores current plans to address the challenges of urban growth. Many of these papers present the results of hitherto unpublished research, which holds immense significance for students of modern Japan.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032152929