Japan in Transformation, 1952-2000 [Paperback]

Jeffrey Kingston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0582418755 | ISBN-13: 978-0582418752 | Edition: 1

Only fifty years after WWII, Japan is an influential world power and a dominant player in Asia. How did Japan rise from the ashes to become one of the world s most important powers in the international economy and what effect did it have on its people? This new book covers the emergence of the "new" Japan, following the the changes made by the Occupation (1945-52), and the enormous social and cultural consequences of this dramatic transformation. Themes covered include:
 
- post-war politics
- the economic "miracle"
- the family
- women
- the political and economic crisis of the 1990s
 
The author shows how Japan's economic "miracle" was closely linked to the political system put in place in 1955, and how the unravelling of this system has led the nation into uncharted waters. With the bursting of the economic bubble at the start of the 1990s and corruption scandals bringing down successive governments throughout the decade, Japan has once again been thrown into a period of revolutionary change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His sources are unusally detailed...One finishes this admirable book with not only a deeper understanding of contemporary Japan, but also with a further concept of history's role in revealing and assessing change". Donald Richie, The Japan Times

From the Back Cover

Kingston: Japan in Transformation

 

 

Since 1945, Japan has successfully reinvented itself, rising from the ashes of defeat to become a peaceful and prosperous nation. It is seen as an inspiration for other developing nations and contributes significantly to global development. As the third largest economy in the world, with a reputation for technological innovation and cultural creativity, Japan is a country shaping the world we live in.

 

In this new edition of Japan in Transformation, Jeff Kingston explores the character of the nation as it has evolved since the end of the Second World War. The book:

 

• Examines the US Occupation and explains the causes of the economic miracle and its demise
• Evaluates the effect of the Lost Decade of the 1990s and the unravelling of the Japan, Inc system that prevailed in the twentieth century
• Analyses such central and topical issues as the demographic crisis, regional relations, security concerns, political change and the role of women

 

Expanded and thoroughly revised to cover the period from 1945 up to 2010, this second edition of Japan in Transformation provides a succinct and comprehensive study of the recent history of one of the most dynamic nations in the modern world.

 

Jeff Kingston is Director of Asian Studies and Professor of History at Temple University Japan, and has taught in Japan since 1987. He is the author of three other books, including  Japan's Quiet Transformation: Social Change and Civil Society in 21st Century Japan and Contemporary Japan: History, Politics and Social Change Since the 1980s.

 

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 1 edition (May 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582418755
• ISBN-13: 978-0582418752
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 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: #1,198,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for history of modern Japan, February 1, 2009

By 

B. Stover (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Japan in Transformation, 1952-2000 (Paperback)

I got this book as a requirement of a history of modern Japan class and it was very interesting to read. At times it reads like a text book, but there are small articles that are easier to get through and more informative than a general text book.