
A Brief History of Japan
Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
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Narrated by:
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Julian Elfer
About this listen
This fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.
First revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of popular culture, and a harbinger of post-industrial decline.
With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present, and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.
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- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.
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Loved the historical context but ..
- By Kathy on 01-06-20
By: Michael J. Seth
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The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
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Not Engaging or Very Interesting
- By Tommy D'Angelo on 03-05-17
By: Thomas F. X. Noble, and others
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Japan Travel Guide
- Things I Wish I'D Known Before Going to Japan
- By: Yuki Fukuyama Ken Fukuyama
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In this Japan Travel Guide 2024 edition, Yuki Fukuyama and Ken Fukuyama will share with you: The ultimate Japan itineraries that are improvised for more than 40+ times. All the essential information like operating hours, prices, transit tips etc. Everything you need to know about Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hokkaido. The best winter destinations. Detailed and updated maps of Japan. The latest super cheap budgeting tips. The best accommodation tips. Japan’s best kept secrets. All the best local cuisines. Events and festivals in Japan. And much, much more!About Yuki Fukuyama and Ken Fukuyama ...
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The Rise of Modern Japan
- By: Mark J. Ravina, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Mark J. Ravina
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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Noted Japan expert Professor Mark J. Ravina of the University of Texas at Austin covers the politics, economics, and culture of the island nation since World War II - a conflict that saw the end of Japan’s dream of regional conquest, which Professor Ravina calls Empire 1.0. The country’s postwar leaders radically changed course, renouncing a strong military to pursue Empire 2.0 - Japan as an economic colossus.
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A great introduction to modern Japan
- By nonrachitect on 12-22-21
By: Mark J. Ravina, and others
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Effortless Japan Travel
- How Anyone Can Unlock Authentic Experiences with Expert Planning, Cultural Wisdom, and a Smart Budget
- By: Robbin Allen
- Narrated by: Corvina Grumorne
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Uncover Japan's hidden gems with this comprehensive guide to unforgettable adventures that delivers travel tips for authentic, pocket-friendly experiences. Discover the Japan that exists beneath the surface, the Japan that only locals know. This guide is your passport to that world, taking you beyond the surface-level experiences and into the heart of Japan. It's a treasure trove of authentic, unforgettable, and budget-friendly adventures that are waiting for you to uncover.
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Useful information, but seemed like an AI creation
- By A. Miller on 10-08-24
By: Robbin Allen
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China and Japan
- Facing History
- By: Ezra F. Vogel
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 22 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back 1,500 years. But today, their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years, less than 10 percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve. Ezra Vogel's China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history.
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China & Japan is first rate by a top scholar
- By Louise Stone on 06-17-20
By: Ezra F. Vogel
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History of Japan
- A Captivating Guide to Japanese History, Including Events Such as the Genpei War, Mongol Invasions, Battle of Tsushima, and Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: James Peters
- Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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The Japanese progressed throughout the eras because of the emperor, but they also progressed despite him. These are people who never let go of their sacred history, and their story is told and retold in art, film, literature, and even graphic novels across the entire world. Terms such as shoguns, samurai, haiku, anime, and manga are familiar to many in the Western world today. Westerners also learn flower arranging, martial arts, meditation, and enjoy a variety of visual and digital art forms because of the unique culture of Japan.
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Pronunciation problems
- By Derek on 06-22-21
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Rice, Noodle, Fish
- Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture (Roads & Kingdoms Presents, Book 1)
- By: Matt Goulding
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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An innovative new take on the travel guide, Rice, Noodle, Fish decodes Japan's extraordinary food culture through a mix of in-depth narrative and insider advice. In this 5,000-mile journey through the noodle shops, tempura temples, and teahouses of Japan, Matt Goulding, cocreator of the enormously popular Eat This, Not That! book series, navigates the intersection between food, history, and culture, creating one of the most ambitious and complete books ever written about Japanese culinary culture from the Western perspective.
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Starts strong tapers off
- By Craig Bryan on 01-02-21
By: Matt Goulding
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Shogun
- The Life and Times of Tokugawa Ieyasu: Japan's Greatest Ruler
- By: A.L. Sadler, Stephen Turnbull - foreword, Alexander Bennett - foreword
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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For 700 years, Japan was ruled by military commanders who waged war against one another incessantly. Shogun tells the fascinating story of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who finally unified and brought lasting peace to the nation. He established a new central government which enabled his descendants to rule Japan for the next 260 years—a period in which Japanese culture as we know it today flourished.
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This is a boring reference book
- By Antone Ferreira on 05-25-24
By: A.L. Sadler, and others
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The Story of China
- The Epic History of a World Power from the Middle Kingdom to Mao and the China Dream
- By: Michael Wood
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 20 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Michael Wood has travelled the length and breadth of China, the world's oldest civilization and longest lasting state, to tell a thrilling story of intense drama, fabulous creativity, and deep humanity that stretches back thousands of years.
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Well researched, balanced, and informative
- By Chinmay Aladangady on 04-25-23
By: Michael Wood
What listeners say about A Brief History of Japan
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- mirocal
- 10-16-24
Excellent condensed piece
Understanding the Japanese culture from a westerner's perspective requires starting from scratch and delving through a large amount of information. This book manages to deliver the essential through an alert narrative and subtle changes of pace allowing for easy ingestion of even dry data. I've been listening on Tokyo subways and Kyoto walks making for a complete immersive experience.
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- A. J. Christian
- 04-24-23
Engaging, informative, humorous overview
This provided an excellent overview of Japanese history with a narrator striking the perfect tone to match. It strikes an even balance between detail and coverage of events. Each chapter's content leads well into the next, sketching out the general trends of the different periods of Japanese history without getting too bogged down in the details of any one period.
You will of course need to look to other books to go further in-depth on specific periods, but after this you will be able to jump in anywhere in the history of Japan without being lost.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Marcelo Higasi
- 05-16-24
Learned a lot
Good book. Given it was a brief version it glossed over many historical events. Suggest complementing with other reads. Overall I enjoyed it even though it portrayed historical figures and events under what felt like a rather cynical light.
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- maverick
- 01-19-25
Just the right balance of detail and connected overview
Just the right balance of detail and connected overview. Mentions several cultural concepts we hear about, showing how they link into Japanese history and culture, without getting bogged down at all.
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- Oliver
- 07-31-20
An excellent introduction to the subject.
Well written, and well read, this book serves as an excellent introduction to the subject of Japanese history and culture. I recommend it if you are in a hurry to get some knowledge under your belt, and then begin to dig deeper.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Salman Syed
- 07-25-24
Succinct history of Japan
I wish the medieval and modern history had received more elaborate coverage than the ancient mythology.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Bryan
- 03-05-24
An enjoyable historical overview
A very well put together brief history that does a great job of what the author intended to do. I like how the author started with the Mongol invasion but then went back in time to the very beginning until we arrived back at that point before segwaying into the medieval and modern times. This had a very theatrical draw to it that effectively pulls the reader in before laying out boatloads of historical data dumping that would likely bore most. I'm very much interested in learning more about Japan in the late 19th and early 20th century, as a result of this book.
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- N. Weems
- 12-19-23
A good introduction
The book has great narration and a narrative. The author does a good job of quickly summarizing an huge topic into a quickly consumable intro.
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- G. Raney
- 05-08-24
Concise History of Japan
I only knew of bits and pieces of Japanese history. This book filled in a lot of holes in the historical timeline and cultural aspects that I didn’t know or understand. Very interesting and informative.
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- Demoyung
- 06-26-24
Informative
Interesting that Japanese culture drove domestic and foreign policy over so many centuries. I thought the most recent decades reflected some of the authors own experience.
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