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Fuji: A Mountain in the Making
A panoramic biography of Japan’s iconic mountain from the Ice Age to the present
Mount Fuji is everywhere recognized as a wonder of nature and enduring symbol of Japan. Yet behind the picture-postcard image is a history filled with conflict and upheaval. Violent eruptions across the centuries wrought havoc and instilled fear. Long an object of worship, Fuji has been inhabited by deities that changed radically over time. It has been both a totem of national unity and a flashpoint for economic and political disputes. And while its soaring majesty has inspired countless works of literature and art, the foot of the mountain is home to military training grounds and polluting industries. Tracing the history of Fuji from its geological origins in the remote past to its recent inscription as a World Heritage Site, Andrew Bernstein explores these and other contradictions in the story of the mountain, inviting us to reflect on the relationships we share with the nonhuman world and one another.
Beautifully illustrated, Fuji presents a rich portrait of one of the world’s most celebrated sites, revealing a mountain forever in the making and offering a meditation on the ability of landscape both to challenge and inspire.
Mount Fuji is everywhere recognized as a wonder of nature and enduring symbol of Japan. Yet behind the picture-postcard image is a history filled with conflict and upheaval. Violent eruptions across the centuries wrought havoc and instilled fear. Long an object of worship, Fuji has been inhabited by deities that changed radically over time. It has been both a totem of national unity and a flashpoint for economic and political disputes. And while its soaring majesty has inspired countless works of literature and art, the foot of the mountain is home to military training grounds and polluting industries. Tracing the history of Fuji from its geological origins in the remote past to its recent inscription as a World Heritage Site, Andrew Bernstein explores these and other contradictions in the story of the mountain, inviting us to reflect on the relationships we share with the nonhuman world and one another.
Beautifully illustrated, Fuji presents a rich portrait of one of the world’s most celebrated sites, revealing a mountain forever in the making and offering a meditation on the ability of landscape both to challenge and inspire.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 23, 2025
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March 8, 2026
Reviewed by Trish Palmer for New South Books and Bluewolf Reviews.
Mount Fuji is one of the most recognisable mountains in the world. Part of the “Ring of Fire” that circles the Pacific, it is a symbol of Japan and enmeshed in that country’s culture and folklore. The author has told a story which begins with the violent beginnings of this mountain, to the fact that it is now a world heritage site. Andrew Bernstein describes this book as a “Biography of a mountain, with a particular focus on its relationship with humans.”
Fuji is found on the largest island in Japan, and the nation is situated on the convergence of Tectonic Plates. Here we learn about the geological formation of the mountain. It has emerged over many thousands of years from two earlier eruptions in different periods. Many springs have percolated through the layers of lava to sustain life for people who first discovered and settled in this area.
The following chapters describe religious deities and customs and worship which have occurred around this mountain. Many famous ancient paintings depict the awesome peak, and poets have composed poetry to its beauty. Andrew has written an intensely detailed account of the history of the mountain but included how people interacted with it in every era. It was believed to be the home of a Shinto deity.
There are many photographs and maps to enlarge the understanding of this wonderful area and many references. This is a comprehensive look at Fuji, its history and that of the people living around it.
Mount Fuji is one of the most recognisable mountains in the world. Part of the “Ring of Fire” that circles the Pacific, it is a symbol of Japan and enmeshed in that country’s culture and folklore. The author has told a story which begins with the violent beginnings of this mountain, to the fact that it is now a world heritage site. Andrew Bernstein describes this book as a “Biography of a mountain, with a particular focus on its relationship with humans.”
Fuji is found on the largest island in Japan, and the nation is situated on the convergence of Tectonic Plates. Here we learn about the geological formation of the mountain. It has emerged over many thousands of years from two earlier eruptions in different periods. Many springs have percolated through the layers of lava to sustain life for people who first discovered and settled in this area.
The following chapters describe religious deities and customs and worship which have occurred around this mountain. Many famous ancient paintings depict the awesome peak, and poets have composed poetry to its beauty. Andrew has written an intensely detailed account of the history of the mountain but included how people interacted with it in every era. It was believed to be the home of a Shinto deity.
There are many photographs and maps to enlarge the understanding of this wonderful area and many references. This is a comprehensive look at Fuji, its history and that of the people living around it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review