Customer Reviews

Giants of Japan: The Lives of Japan's Greatest Men and Women

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I took this book with me on a two-week trip to Japan and it was invaluable. Weston's book is the only one I've found which focuses on individuals, rather than on time periods spanning hundreds of years or on confusing family dynasties. Instead, the book is divided into easily digestible topics like "Industry," "Traditional Culture," and even "Modern Writers." As I travelled, I skipped around in the book, reading chapters which helped me better understand my surroundings. After seeing Tokyo's electronics district, I read about the founders of Sony, Mitsubishi and Minolta. On the train to Hiroshima, I read up on Tojo, Emperor Hirohito, and novelist Ibuse Masuji(Weston shares Masuji's vivid descriptions of the bombing). I wandered through several of Kyoto's impressive temples and shrines but had no sense of the history behind the architecture, so I looked to Weston's chapters on Oda Nobunaga, "the warrior who united half of Japan," and on Tokugawa, the founder of a three hundred year-old dynasty which produced several of Kyoto's most glorious structures. After viewing ancient woodcuts in Kyoto, I developed a real appreciation for them by reading about Hokusai, whose work virtually defines the craft. On the plane back to the US, I read Weston's chapter on the filmmaker Kurosawa and decided which movies to rent back home! Weston's book is packed with interesting details, yet does not overwhelm the initiate. If you're travelling in Japan and plan to get by on the information in the front of your guidebook, forget it! You'll be missing out on the most fascinating aspects of everything you see. Stick Weston's paperback in your suitcase and refer to it whenever you wonder things like, "Wow, where did Haiku poetry come from?" "How did Japan's industrial base become so strong?" "How are women treated in modern Japan?" "What's going on in the tea ceremony?" "What was it like here during the post WWII American occupation?" and of course... "Which Japanese samurai films are must-sees?"

Giants of Japan is a very pleasant introduction to Japanese history, organized in a succession of biographies of the most influential figures in Japanese business, politics, arts and sports. In addition to being well-written, the book offers a good mix of key facts and anecdotes, making the reading both interesting and exciting.

Beyond information about the country itself, Weston takes good care of extracting history lessons from his biographies. For example, it is edifying to learn how (with what vision, strategems, and tricks) Mistui developed from a sake brewry into one of the world�fs largest corporations, with what political purpose tea ceremony was used, and how a single author, Fukuzawa Yukichi, precipitated Japan's westernization.

The book recounts the origins of Shintoism, Haiku, even Aikido (judo�fs creator, Jigoro Kano, is missing from the book). It depicts the spirit of feudal warriors (both samurais and ronins), and shows how Bushido has survived in 20th century Japan (exemplified by Mishima�fs tragic death). It also deals with the dark pages of Japanese history, including Japanese military actions before and during WWII and modern political corruption.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a yet unfulfilled interest in Japan; the biographical structure of the book makes it readable even to a busy audience.

Giants Of Japan: The Lives Of Japan's Greatest Men And Women by journalist and author Mark Weston is an informed and informative biographical survey of great figures drawn from fifteen centuries of Japanese history. Ranging from the internationally famous writer Yukio Mishima and the film director Akira Kurosawa, to historical icons such as Shotoku (the prince who helped bring Buddhism to Japan), and the actress Izumo no Okuni (who created kabuki theater), Giants Of Japan effectively summarizes an eclectic collection of fascinating and remarkable lives revealed in an energetic and raptly interesting presentation. Very highly recommended reading for students of Japanese history and culture.

As one largely unacquainted with Japanese history and culture who had a need to learn more about the country, I found "Giants of Japan" a helpful, accessible, and even fun-to-read overview. Weston's format of "bite-sized" profiles makes the book easy to put down and pick up repeatedly without losing continuity.

It's very helpful to have biographies of industrial, cultural and historical figures all in one book. They are well-written and researched, and a pleasure to read.

This is the best book I have read in either Japanese or English that gives a comprehensive, easy to read and balanced overview of the lives of 37 people who contributed into making Japan into what it is today. The book presents people from diverse aspects of Japan: industry, traditional culture, history, modern writers and film directors. The people span from the first ever novelist in the world Murasaki (c.975-c.1025) to Morita Akio, the co-founder of Sony. The biographies are short and concise and are on average 10 pages long. It is not necessary to read the entire book at once, but read one biography and come back to another one at a later time. I have read and reread the book numerous times and have been inspired by the lives of each one of the people profiled.

Much has been written about the history of Japan from the point of view of society and group dynamics. This is understandable given Japan's interdependent culture. Mark Weston's Giants of Japan is one of the first that covers Japan from the point of view of it's great individuals. The subjects of the book range from well known industrialists (Konosku Matsuhita) and leaders (Tokogawa Ieyasu) to lesser known writers (Fukuzawa Yukichi) and directors (Ozu Yasujiro).

The book is good for many different types of people. Those with a deeper knowledge of Japan can pick and choose from the individuals they wish to learn more about. Those newly interested in Japan can read the book cover to cover to gain a broad knowledge of the history and people of Japan.

This book does not attempt to provide a comprehensive Japanese history, or in depth view of any aspect of Japanese society. There are other more suitable books in those genres.

This was the best book I read last year. Very informative and easy to read.