Japan : An Illustrated Encyclopedia [Box set] [Hardcover]

Kodansha International (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 4069310983 | ISBN-13: 978-4069310980 | Publication Date: October 1993 | Edition: 1st

A current and comprehensive source of information on contemporary Japanese society, history, and culture. This monumental work is packed with data on the economy, government, and politics of Japan, as well as articles on Japanese art, culture, and history. In addition to the main entries and over 4,000 fullcolor illustrations, nearly 100 feature articles and pictorial essays expand on subjects of particular interest 4,000 color photos and illustrations 2 million words in 12,000 entries Easy-to-use reader's guide to entries 20 pages of maps 14 page bibliography of major works on Japan Japanese-English bilingual title entries and index

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1964 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha Amer Inc; 1st edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4069310983
• ISBN-13: 978-4069310980
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.7 x 3.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive resource on Japan, wrapped like a candy., October 19, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Japan : An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

Japan: An llustrated Encyclopedia is a condensed two-volume offspring of a venerable predecessor. Kodansha first published its 10-volume Encyclopedia of Japan in 1985. It was a landmark reference work that immediately made space for itself on the shelves of every major library in the world. It also became at once the standard by which all other reference material on Japan is judged. Illustrated was introduced specifically for homes and libraries that wished for the wealth of the original in a more manageable format. It includes high-quality colour photographs, charts, and tables, and raises the standards of its near-perfect parent to even higher levels. The text of articles has been taken directly from the parent and this ensures the same high quality of research. The articles are written by renowned academics and scholars, Japanese as well as others. They represent a fair range of points-of-view that lends objectivity as well as variety to this beautiful and entertaining work. Some issues, such as Japan's role in the War and the conduct of the war crimes trial, are approached from a novel standpoint that does justice to all parties involved. All in all, Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia is as much as can be said, and as beautifully, about a nation as complex and unique as Japan in two handy cloth-bound volumes.