A Traveller's History of Japan

by Richard L. Tames

Book by Tames, Richard

Genres: Japan, History, Nonfiction, Travel, Reference, Japanese Literature

283 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Richard Lawrence Tames, born 30 January 1946, lectures on history at Syracuse University London and is a Blue Badge guide.

Tames is also a Lecturer on London’s history for the Institute of Tourist Guiding. He has written over twenty books on different aspects of English history, including Shakespeare’s London on 5 Groats a Day.

Reviews

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found reading this 10-chapter “A Traveller’s History of Japan” by Richard Tames readable, inspiring and informative due to his presentation features as follows:
1. Readability: Each chapter is not too brief or lengthy, its content is concise under related subtopics and clear narrations.
2. Inspiration: There are various stunningly exemplifying cases that solidly support amazing industrial success, for instance, Ibuka Nasuru, Sony chairman, was successful in exporting his transistor radios to the USA in 1958 after his study-visit there in 1952 (p. 185).
3. Information: Its readers would, I think, be sufficiently informed on Japan’s critical issues based on the contents’ chronological order as well as its essential 11-topic appendix followed by its indispensable index and 4 key maps.
In brief, this book should be a must read before/after visiting this amazing country by any keen tourist/prospective Japanophile.

[Kimberly Schlarman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is only a 200 page history of Japan so it is very basic but I am slightly confused by the author’s priorities here (and I wish this hadn’t been written by an Englishman--you couldn’t find a Japanese historian?). For example: five pages devoted to mini-biographies of the English and American men who “modernised” Japan vs. three pages explaining World War II. Almost half of the book discusses the 20th century (which is fascinating) but I was really looking for a better understanding of pre-Meiji era Japan.

There is a nice appendix explaining Japanese Buddhism and the author does do an excellent job of describing changes in art and literature throughout Japan’s history (but he often compares Japan’s artistic culture to European culture--why?).

[Keith Alverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this book. Written well to engage and interest the casual historian (I'm sure the pro's would despise it for being too simplistic). Now that I am living in Japan it is good to know a few of the basics of its history. Though it claims to be a third edition updated to 2009, this updating was obviously not done well - the book doesn't cover the period from about 1993 to today.

One of my favorite quotes from the book, attributed to a Kyushu fisherman, is a complaint about rampant industrial pollution in the 1980's due to breakneck economic growth. It shows how simple and intuitive it is to understand how unsustainable economic income (GDP) can be a chimera derived at the expense of drawing down on a country's financial, environmental and human capital (income achieved by sacrificing wealth, killing the goose that lays golden eggs, etc): "Japan is like an octopus eating its own legs. Our main wealth has always been in our oceans, rivers and good farmland and in the spirit of our people...In a race for more and more economic growth we are poisoning our soil, water and air, as well as ourselves. We are Number 3 in the world in Gross National Product, but we are number 1 in Gross National Pollution." Unfortunately this lesson has mostly not been heeded by other countries in Asia now trying to emulate Japan's economic miracle.

[Anna C · Rating 2 out of 5]

A compact little history of Japan. It covers post-war Japan in far more detail than all the centuries that came before it, which is annoying if you'd rather read about the rise of the Shogun than the rise of Honda. Even more annoying, the author seems to breeze through the most interesting parts of Japanese history, and linger too long in more monotonous (and Eurocentric) sections.

For example:
- Several pages on the Jesuits, compared to several paragraphs on the contemporary Shogun.
- Less than a page on Minamoto Yoshitsune, compared to 10 pages on interesting Westerners who visited Japan during the Meiji Restoration.
- 30 pages on post-war economic change, compared to *three paragraphs* on World War II.
- A complete sub-chapter on Japanese Prime Ministers of the 1970s, compared to less than a sentence on the Rape of Nanking
- A whole chapter on MacArthur's post-war reforms, compared to one sentence on the bombing of Hiroshima, and another sentence on the bombing of Nagasaki.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Consise, straightforward history for someone who wants to know the basics. As with others in the series, not a travel guide, but a good basic read for a traveler who wants the basics on the history behind the culture they'll see when they travel there.

[Olli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hyvä yleisteos Japanin historiasta.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

After wanting to visit Japan for most of my life, I finally made it. Before going I had to pick up a book about Japan, and this one looked pocket-sized enough to go with me. Excellent trip, good book. It was concise and the author made a good effort to keep things balanced. It really did help open my eyes to the country and better appreciate what I was seeing.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I've read some of the other books in this series. They're good for topics you know very little to nothing about because a book is nicer to read than Wikipedia; however, the content is not any deeper and is more likely to gloss over any controversy.

[Spring · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as helpful as the recommendations on the back of the book led me to believe.

Reads like your high school history textbook. I couldn't even get to the halfway point in this book.

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but with enough detail to understand how Japan progressed from ancient to modern times. My favorite periods are just up to the opening of Japan - the beginning of the Meiji period. The Kamakura shogunate is absolutely fascinating as was the Heian era - for more leisurely reasons. It's really interesting to think how an isolated island country developed, absorbing external influences while retaining their own identity. In that sense Japan is quite unique and it has it's volatile climate and landscape to thank for that. The book made me fall in love with Japan all over again.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not meant to be riveting literature--it is a brief history of Japan that is like a Reader's Digest condensed version of a country with a long and fascinating history. I would have given it four stars if the more recent past were done in a shorter format--it just got bogged down for me.
TYhe other thing i would have appreciated it a lighter writing style that was more "isn't this cool" and less "these are the facts" but I do think in a preparation for travel to Japan, this is a good book to include in your preparations.

[Robbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel weird about giving reference books ratings. I personally liked the short chapters on specific times and places in Japan, but I do have a degree in Japanese...so I probably have more context than the normal reader. I'm not sure how useful it would be to someone new to Japan.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer on the country and its history. Very accessible.

[Jeroen Van de Crommenacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cool addition to the series. Love the concept and this one about Japan is as good as the others.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appendices and timelines were very helpful. Would have liked more WWII but that’s par for the course with me. Overall very readable and useful.

[Kristel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid primer to understanding the history, culture and people of Japan.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book provided a thorough and fascinating overview of Japan's history, from the earliest days of the Jomon period up to the 21st century. Reading this in French translation rather than the English original, thankfully it was quite clear and easily followed! Perfectly suited for my current module on the introduction to Japanese history, so I would certainly recommend for those doing something similar! Covered historical, political and social issues quite thoroughly and provided information and insights into the culture for those previously unacquainted.

[CF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. A great complement to my Introduction to Japan subject at University, this book touches on many topics. Starting from pre-history and working through to about 2001. Very readable and presented in a way that the information is easier to swallow (in bite size chunks). The language used and the explanation is detailed but easy, so I would definitely recommend this to anyone doing a Japanese history course or wanting to start out with the subject.

[Aneel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Japan's history chopped up into bite-sized pieces. An interesting approach to getting familiar with the subject.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read when Shirley and I spent 6 weeks in Sendai.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avand in vedere ca Japonia e tara mea preferata,m-am gandit sa aleg si aceasta carte.Nu m-a dezamagit deloc,ba inca mi-a oferit informatii si noutati deosebite despre "Tara Soarelui Rasare"

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The introduction was good; the rest read like a long encyclopedia article.

[James Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend Richard Tames books for any travel pre-read - it's a very concise history textbook with other interesting information.

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books I've read as a child, when I was around 10yo. From that moment Japan became my favorite country.

[Beth Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent -- a model of what such a book should be.