Japan Encyclopedia

I read it and i liked it:

"Japan Encyclopedia"
by Louis Frédéric
Translated by Käthe Roth

"Knowing Japan and the Japanese better," Louis
Frédéric states in the introduction to this
encyclopedia, "is one of the necessities of modern
life." The Japanese have a profound knowledge of every
aspect and detail of Western societies. Unfortunately,
we in the West cannot say the same about our knowledge
of Japan. We tend to see Japan through a veil of
exoticism, as a land of ancient customs and exquisite
arts; or we view it as a powerful contributor to the
global economy, the source of cutting-edge electronics
and innovative management techniques. To go beyond
these clichés, we must begin to see how apparently
contradictory aspects of modern Japanese culture
spring from the country's evolution through more than
two millennia of history.

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.
The volume is enhanced by maps and illustrations,
along with a detailed chronology of more than 2,000
years of Japanese history and a comprehensive
bibliography. Cross-references and an index help the
reader trace themes from one article to the next.

Japan Encyclopedia will be an indispensable one-volume
reference for students, scholars, travelers,
journalists, and anyone who wishes to learn more about
the past and present of this great world civilization.

Harvard University Press Reference Library 14 maps; 48
illustrations 1108 pages.