The Making of Modern Japan Kindle Edition

This is a great book for those curious about Japanese history since Sekigahara (i.e., from the rise of the Tokugawa). It is certainly academic in tone, but it is very well-written, and the author's wit often shines through as one is reading. It is difficult to give a comprehensive review because of just how much is covered in this volume. I found the Meiji era to the Pacific War period to be the best written, and most interesting. This may have to do with it being the part I am less familiar with though. Still, Jansen does a great job of providing a balanced and neutral tone. He rarely takes a strong side on controversial issues, although he usually points out good critiques of a position if it is lacking.

It also features a good amount of new vocabulary, that I enjoy (consider riparian and atainder).

This is a long book, but worth the read if you are curoius about Japanese history. I initially thought it'd be a 4-star book because of its academic tone, but Jansen's style really wins you over, and the Post-Tokugawa section is extremely well-written and interesting.

The Making of Modern Japan focuses on the history of Japan, mostly the last 400 years in which Jansen heavily focus on the the warring states period, the Tokugawa period, Meiji Era, and lastly what would be considered pre-WWII and after. The book is remarkably readable, as one other reviewer remarked the first few hundred pages read as a more academic article with factual evidence, references, socio-historic criticism. However, it allows for a vast amount of history in a relativity short amount of time. Jansen takes a very neutral stand, especially on WWII presenting both sides of the argument, both the U.S. wish to join WWII, Japan's imperialism in China and Indochina, the lack of Japanese resources deprived by the U.S., etc. These help the reader come to their own unbiased opinion on right/wrong, but more so than an ethical decision made by the reader it informs. The book is well structured presenting factual evidence with citations in a chronological narration of history.

While this book is considered long, it is well worth the read. With little foreknowledge of Japanese history it allows for a quick assimilation of information with many external references to look further into the desired time period of focus. Jansen does not just only cover historical incidents but remarks upon the making of society itself, introductions to literature, Noh, kabuki, printing, politics, education (and its reform), women's rights, post and prewar advances, capitalism, and so much more. It not only gives a chronological explanation of the modernization of Japan and its coming into modernity but allows the reader to further their own studies within the subsets of the book. Likewise, Jansen has made the readability accessible to those not familiar with academic writing. It does not read (entirely) as a history book, but rather closer to a lecture and at some points a page turner novel.

Overall, the book gives a good "overview" of Japanese history and its coming into modernity. It demonstrates and elucidates how the West has had its influences over the Orient and more so how it effected Japan's growth, especially in early Meiji and postwar with the creation of the constitution and later its amendment.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting started in Japanese studies, anyone with a general interest in modernity in Japanese culture. Personally, I would declare it a must read as an introduction to Japanese culture, history, and its modernization.

If you don't know the amazing history of Japan's development, this is the book to read. Jansen is a wonderful writer as well as distinguished scholar. What's more, he had personal connections with some of the events he describes.

This books covers the last 400 years of Japanese history in a series of very well written and well organized chapters. The focus on structural changes in Japanese political and social organization with briefer but insightful discussions of intellectual and economic history. Relatively unfamiliar topics such as the emergence and articulation of the Tokugawa state, the Meiji restoration, and the complex structure of Japanese politics in the pre-WWII era are discussed with great insight. There is an excellent annotated bibliography for each chapter. Jansen does an excellent job of balancing the need to explain and analyze events properly with the need to produce a one volume (though pretty thick) book. This is the book for someone looking for an introduction to Japanese history.

Although this should be the third or fourth book you read on Japanese history, you should read it: Jansen writes a compelling narrative and highlights crucial aspects of Japan. However, he is maddeningly imprecise in terms of what happens when, so you very often find yourself reading about events that happen months or years after others. If you're not already aware of how things link together in the bigger picture, or if you're trying to write a lecture or paper using his book, you'll very often find yourself in a real muddle. A more substantial criticism of that, though, is that he occasionally links together things that obviously are out of line. Still, in all, a very, very readable and useful book.

I bought this book in order to better understand the background of the modern Japanese culture and literature. For me, it has the right ratio between the description of general trends and the historical details. I like the fact that it refers to many life aspects of the different periods, not only to military or political aspects. It reads like a good historical novel. The many illustrations are very clear and useful.

The late Marius Jansen has left us with a superb single volume introduction to modern Japanese history. Anyone approaching Japanese history for the first time would do very well to start with this book. Those who know the story well already will nevertheless find many delights. The book is good reading and explains the intricacies of Japanese history with remarkable clarity. Jansen treats the social and cultural as well as political and economic sides, and integrates them into a coherent whole. When reading more specialized accounts, I find myself referring back to Jansen's book as a convenient way to put their stories in context. The illustrations are well chosen and well presented. Strongly recommended.