Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits, Vol. V [Paperback]

Edited by Hugh Cortazzi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1901903486 | ISBN-13: 978-1901903485 | Publication Date: December 9, 2004

The fifth volume in this highly acclaimed series features pen-portraits by distinguished scholars and researchers of the leading names in the history of Anglo-Japanese relations since the reopening of Japan in the mid-nineteenth century. It contains over forty entries, making it the largest volume to date. The portraits include Prince and Princess Chichibu, the statesman Suematsu Kencho, Lord Curzon, Ambassador to London Hayashi Gonsuke, Admiral Sir John Fisher, the poet G. S. Fraser, and the scholar Louis Allen. Themes treated include the early history of Mitsui in London and Japanese translators of Shakespeare.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hugh Cortazzi was British Ambassador to Japan 1980-84 and Chairman of the Japan Society 1984-94. He has written extensively on Japan. His many books include Isle of Gold: Antique Maps of Japan, The Japanese Achievement and his memoir Japan and Back and Places Elsewhere. This is the second volume of Britain and Japan: Biographical Portraits he has edited for the Japan Society, together with British Envoys in Japan, 1859-1972. Most recently, he published his translation of Crown Prince Naruhito's account of his years in Oxford (The Thames and I, Global Oriental, 2006). He remains highly active in the field of Anglo-Japanese relations and continues with his monthly column for the Japan Times, as well as being a regular reviewer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Global Oriental (December 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1901903486
• ISBN-13: 978-1901903485
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,295,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent work of scholarship, January 27, 2005

By 

Ian C. Ruxton (Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Britain & Japan: Biographical Portraits, Vol. V (Paperback)

It is now 60 years since World War Two ended, and it is clear from this book that the relationship between Britain and Japan is much longer, deeper and stronger than the unhappy four years of war, 1941-45. This book is skilfully edited and divided into six main subject areas: Imperial personalities, diplomats, naval officers, businessmen, poets, long-term residents etc. Since I wrote one of the chapters (Ch. 6 about Suematsu Kencho) I am of course not without bias, but I strongly recommend this book as a must-have for anyone who is interested intellectually and/or professionally in Anglo-Japanese relations.

This series began with the first volume in 1994, then Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV and this volume were published. Volume VI appeared in 2007 and Volume VII is being planned for 2009.

Ian Ruxton, editor of Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins: The Correspondence of a Pioneer Japanologist from 1870 to 1918 (Paperback), also available on amazon.