A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present

by Andrew Gordon

In The Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present, Andrew Gordon paints a richly nuanced and strikingly original portrait of the last two centuries of Japanese history. He takes students from the days of the shogunate--the feudal overlordship of the Tokugawa family--through the modernizing revolution launched by midlevel samurai in the late nineteenth century; the adoption of Western hairstyles, clothing, and military organization; and the nation's first experiments with mass democracy after World War I. Gordon offers the finest synthesis to date of Japan's passage through militarism, World War II, the American occupation, and the subsequent economic rollercoaster. But the true ingenuity and value of Gordon's approach lies in his close attention to the non-elite layers of society. Here students will see the influence of outside ideas, products, and culture on home life, labor unions, political parties, gender relations, and popular entertainment. The book examines Japan's struggles to define the meaning of its modernization, from villages and urban neighborhoods, to factory floors and middle managers' offices, to the imperial court. Most importantly, it illuminates the interconnectedness of Japanese developments with world history, demonstrating how Japan's historical passage represents a variation of a process experienced by many nations and showing how the Japanese narrative forms one part of the interwoven fabric of modern history.
With a sustained focus on setting modern Japan in a comparative and global context, The Modern History of Japan is ideal for undergraduate courses in modern Japanese history, Japanese politics, Japanese society, or Japanese culture.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Japanese History, Asia, Politics, Japanese Literature

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2002

About the author

A specialist in the history of modern Japan, Andrew Gordon is the Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Professor of History at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1981 in History and East Asian Languages after completing a B.A. from Harvard in 1975.

Reviews

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon's history of Japan from the end of the shogun era to the present day is an interesting read. I prefer Sansom's volumes for learning about Japanese history prior to the Tokugawa, but this is an excellent follow-on to cover the modern period. Full of charts and photos, I can highly recommend it for understanding how the empire that committed atrocities in China and elsewhere formed from the cinders of the pre-modern era and their economic recovery after WW II.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my textbook for a college course, "Modern Japan," a history class that I took for my Japanese major. As textbooks go, this one does a good job of showing multiple sides of the situation at any given time period. Gordon will talk for a while about the prosperity of the Japanese people, but then he will address the groups that weren't so prosperous. He conveys the important message that just because the country as a whole tends to feel a certain way or be in a certain situation, there are always people in every camp. He doesn't lean in one direction too much.

Something that I am not quite happy with is the too-small focus on some large events in Japanese history. Gordon spends a good amount of time discussing the 3.11 disaster, but I feel that the Rape of Nanking and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki do not receive enough attention. Luckily, my professor had prepared supplementary materials for us to read about those topics.

They might even be helpful to someone looking to do a little more reading into modern Japanese history, so I'll list them here:


Hiroshima: The Autobiography of Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa

The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang

Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami

[Vladimir Prudnikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Ward’s description of this work as ‘THE textbook on modern Japanese history’ is not an exaggeration. Though other studies such as Marius Jansen’s ‘The Making of Modern Japan’ and James L. McClain’s ‘Japan: A Modern History’ may very plausibly claim the same title, Andrew Gordon’s book stands out for a number of reasons. First, its relative brevity forces the author to be as concise as possible and he meets the challenge by mastering the art of pithy formulations and carefully selected examples. Second, while Gordon’s expertise in labor history consistently shines through, no aspect of modern Japanese experience is neglected here with domestic and international politics, culture and economy, as well as gender and environment all given their due. Though not an expert on early modern period, the author carefully examines the Tokugawa years and, unlike many volumes of this kind, this book treats contemporary history as a serious subject of study and not a mere afterthought. Furthermore, whilst attentive to nuances and complexities, Gordon is never afraid to take a clear stance - even when his position is a controversial one (such as his application of the term ‘fascism’ to the 1930s-40s period). Finally, Gordon’s is a properly analytic study with all the major historiographical issues - from the nature of the Meiji Restoration to the causes of the postwar economic ‘miracle’ - clearly outlined and directly addressed. For all those interested in modern Japan, this will surely remain a book to read and re-read for years to come.

[Andrew]

I'm afraid I don't know enough about the specifics of Japanese history to discuss the accuracy of this text, but it was an interesting enough introduction to the ins and outs of the social and cultural history of Japan over the course of its various upheavals en route to modernization. I suppose I'd like to see more from the history-of-ideas perspective, namely how waves of thought and aesthetics changed over this time period, alongside the excellent descriptions of how gender and labor relations changed.

[Barty (Bartholomew) Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

good textbook

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this entire book for a Japanese history class I took. The book is alright, though it gets really boring and dense at times. That’s to be expected because it’s a textbook, however I believe the textbook was boring for the wrong reasons. This area of history has some really cool and interesting stories, yet this book barely mentioned them so it could continue droning on and on about economics and social changes. While those things are important, I was disappointed that the book spent more time talking about economics than anything else. It particularly upset me that the Nanking Massacre was given two or three paragraphs while unions and unemployment during WWII were given multiple pages. This book should have been titled “An Economic History of Japan” because of its focus on economic growth. I understand that it’s an important theme, but it’s also important to learn about the various atrocities the Japanese committed or technological advances the Japanese made. The postwar sections were good, but I did not enjoy anything prior to the 1950s in this book, which is a large portion considering the book starts at 1600.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding telling of the History of Japan from the Meiji restoration until the early 2000s. The book focuses mainly on the political play-by-play, especially during the 1900s, and the corresponding sociological changes, and does so marvellously. It's a gripping read, even if some of the aspects covered are not as well fleshed-out -- in particular, the minutiae of the military conquests, the political frameworks upon which these events play out, and the changes to the economic system Japan underwent.

Regardless, I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone vaguely interested in Japanese History.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, if a little dry. I have too many scattered musings regarding Japanese culture to begin to write a coherent review here, but something will come soon. I can't recommend this history book of Japan above any others, but it is what it is. Dense, factual, lots of names. That there is little discussed by way of individual people here is maybe reflective of Japan anyway.

[Saya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque he tardado mucho en acabarlo porque hice un parón hacia el final, en la época de los 80, me ha parecido un libro magnífico, muy bien estructurado y que toca muchos temas en cada época, más allá de nombres y fechas (que también los hay): clases sociales, movimientos obreros, feminismo... Cada capítulo da la suficiente información como para tener una visión bastante dellada de esa época, y al mismo tiempo el lector se queda con ganas de profundizar más, pero de manera positiva: este libro puede servir muy bien como índice de temas a explorar más en profundidad según los intereses del lector. Por ejemplo, es gracias a Gordon que me enteré de que una parte de la Constitución japonesa de posguerra la escribió una mujer, de quien acabé leyendo sus memorias: The Only Woman in the Room. Además, ha sido interesantísimo leer partes de esta obra al mismo tiempo que iba viendo el dorama (o jdrama) Oshin, de 1983 (una de mis series favoritas, con diferencia).

En definitiva, un libro recomendadísimo al 100% para cualquier persona interesada en la historia japonesa y que quiera profundizar en la historia moderna del país. Puede ser una muy buena lectura tras otras más generalistas o básicas como Breve historia de Japón, y también puede servir de entrada a obras más densas como The Making of Modern Japan.

[Yalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Gordon's work is a wonderful read for those interested in studying modern Japan, as he traces its creation and development, as well as the major domestic and global changes and challenges faced by Japan. The text is quite accessible, and at this stage it is reasonably up to date on current events (although 5 years of new developments is quite significant, as a period of time, in which the book should be updated). I find that its style also encourages thought and questioning on part of the reader, which is quite fantastic.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very accessible and very well written survey history of modern Japan. The book is excellently organized for reading purposes to find whatever you are most interested in. I also greatly appreciate the extensive and useful further readings section at the end. Modern Japan’s political, economic, social, and cultural history are all made very understandable, with close attention given to labor and gender history as well.

[Rick Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough well written book on Japan from Tokugawa Shogunate until 1990s. I think I was surprised by the amount of change in Japan from 1860's - 1880's. Japan transformed from Feudal state into Modern nation.

This is an academic book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gaining an outline of Japan.

Deus Vult,
Gottfried

[Frank Theising · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this one took me way too long to get through (it’s been a busy few months with long work hours), I enjoyed this book on Japanese history much more than my previous book on the subject, in part because a) the other book was published in 1971 and missing a lot of recent info and b) this book was much better organized and more comprehensive. A Modern History of Japan covers roughly 1600-2001 A.D. It covers all the major eras in Japan’s history: the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Meiji Restoration, Japan’s rise to become an imperialist power, and the major transformations of society post WWII. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a single volume overview of the history of Japan and its people.


What follows are my notes on the book:


Japan has always been defined by the geographic hand it was dealt. They were close enough to the mainland to enable shipping and cultural exchange more than 2000 years ago. But it was far enough to make conquest impractical. During the early period of settled agriculture the population was roughly 5M. This grew to 30M by 1800. Tokugawa rulers settled in the large Kanto plain and developed the major city of Edo (Tokyo). For most of its history, the rugged terrain of Japan prevented centralized rulers from exercising control over the island chain.

The current imperial family traces its hereditary line back to the 6th century. By the early 700s, the Yamato clan had achieved political supremacy over rival clans. With few exceptions emperors were of little political significance as others largely ruled in their name. By the mid-1500s, Japan was fractured into hundreds of political domains, ruled by feudal lords (daimyo). The first European missionaries and traders arrived in the 1540s. The modern weapons they brought accelerated unified political control. Their Christian religion however was viewed as a threat and was actively and brutally persecuted.

Japan was more successful than others at combating Chinese demands for tribute. However, mainland cultural practices (including Buddhism and Confucianism) still heavily permeated Japanese society for over a millennium. Though there was some jockeying for influence, Buddhism and Confucianism coexisted in reasonable harmony in pre-modern history. They both coexisted with earlier religious practice of Shinto where various kami (gods) were worshipped. The Japan of 1800 was largely an agrarian backwater on the global stage. Yet by 1900, it would be the only constitutional nation state and industrial power outside the West.

The Tokugawa era was a period of social order and stability from 1600-1868. Before and after this period of peace, the nation was marked by war. Between 1467-1477, Japan was in a state of constant war. It took a series of ruthless rulers to unify and build social order from the chaos. Nobunga (the Japanese Attila) was the first of these. He pioneered land surveys and taxation to extend central rule over all Japan by 1591. These decades of swift political innovation culminated in rule by the Tokugawa family (aka bakufu). Ieyasu was the first Tokugawa ruler. He seized power after Nobunga’s death and crushed rival clans. In 1603, the emperor named him shogun (supreme military leader). Ieyasu’s grandson Iemitsu further consolidated power by requiring daimyo to swear allegiance to him and he had to personally approve all their marriages and titles to land. Furthermore, daimyo families were required to live in Edo (defacto hostages), forcing the lords to travel frequently to Edo (driving up their expenses and minimizing opportunities to plot rebellion back in their own fiefdoms).


While the emperor appointed the shogun, in reality, the Tokugawa family effectively served as the rulers of the nation (in the emperor’s name of course). Overtime the samurai morphed from a military elite to a hereditary elite (i.e. bureaucrats in the state apparatus). Tokugawa social order had 4 classes: warrior, farmer, artisan, and merchant. There were also outcasts (eta). Another outcast group were indigenous peoples (Ainu) who remained on the outskirts of Japanese society.

The English, Spanish, and Portuguese had all abandoned the Japanese trade by 1624, leaving only the Dutch (who didn’t push a foreign religion). This in effect isolated Japan from the 1630s to the 1850s, a crucial period of innovation in European history. The Tokugawa refused to recognize Chinese-centered order and rejected relations with the West. This would sow the seeds of its own destruction when the West returned with modern technology (gunboat diplomacy). When the Western powers returned in the 1850s, the Tokugawa polity was comparatively weak, unable to mobilize human resources across its domain.

The peace imposed by the Tokugawa (through the system of alternating attendance of daimyo in the capitol) did enable interregional commerce in Japan. Japan urbanized rapidly (even faster than Europe did). With peace and rising agriculture output, Japan grew rapidly during this period. This growth did grind to a halt in the 1720s as a result of terrible weather, crop failures, and famine. For reasons still hotly debated, the country also went through a period where rich and poor alike practiced infanticide on a large scale. Tokugawa imposed taxation coupled with rising levels of inequality led to frequent revolts.

The success and longevity of the Tokugawa period was not solely the result of coercion, but appeals to authority and religious symbols (like the divine emperor). This in part was why Christian missionaries and their converts were so heavily persecuted by the state. Internal tensions in this system (including the growing incompetence of daimyo and the rivalry between emperor and shogun) threatened the whole structure. This, coupled with growing debt, sparked calls for reform in the early 1700s. The educated classes began to develop interest in political and economic matters beyond their village boundaries.

By the 1800s there was a growing sense that times were disjointed and things were not as they should be. In time, the emperor would become the focus of reform. The general discontent and the humiliation by Western superiority proved a potent, nationalistic brew that called into question the legitimacy of the Tokugawa bakufu and would have revolutionary consequences. The rulers who took over in 1868 initiated a modern revolution.


The Russians were the first to arrive in the early 1800s, followed by the British and the Dutch. In 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived and forced the country to open to trade. The Tokugawa agreed to some American demands, which quickly led to unequal treaties that extended these rights to other foreign powers. These treaties did not trample preexisting national pride, they in fact created it, in effect forging the very idea of a unified entity known as “Japan”. The sudden expansion of trade led to inflation and widespread protests among Japanese city-dwellers.

In 1857, the emperor took the unprecedented step of refusing to sign the treaty with the USA, crippling and humiliating the Tokugawa shogun. The Tokugawa faced a restive population, foreign powers, and an emperor who no longer supported them. By 1862, they gave in to demands for reforms. By 1868, revolts restored the Meiji emperor to true power over the country, ending Tokugawa rule. Bakufu resistance wasn’t fully crushed until 18 months after the official restoration.

The “restoration” was a coup d’etat. Unlike the revolutions in Europe, this was an aristocratic revolution from above with the daimyo and samurai turning on the Tokugawa. It was a revolution of a frustrated elite that could not pursue their ambitions in the existing order. One of the first moves by the emperor was to eliminate land domains and establish prefectures, allowing direct taxation by a central government. Overnight, this eliminated the semi-autonomous domains of daimyo. The second great change was a social revolution, namely eliminating the samurai and their special financial stipends. This changed the rigid stratification by class into a more merit based and fluid social hierarchy.

Without the special class of samurai, the emperor imposed mass conscription. This was wildly unpopular by commoner and samurai alike. However, this, coupled with the creation of a modern navy, meant the Japanese state was soon strong enough to move from internal control to imposing its will overseas. The Meiji also implemented education reforms with remarkable speed in order to compete with the West.

As Meiji leaders traveled abroad they were impressed by industrialization and recognized that a flourishing economy was the foundation of military strength. The prefecture tax system not only expanded revenue, it changed the relationship of people to the state, removing the emphasis on their local village where they previously paid taxes. The people were now tied to the state and its success. The state financed a number of enterprises including railroads, telegraph, shipping, mining, and other manufacturing plants. Many of these early efforts lost money, but it trained up a first generation of industrial managers and engineers. Japan as a late comer to the industrial world, followed a German model, rather than the British laissez-faire method in order to catch up.

By the 1870s, Japan began to manifest attitudes of superiority over the Asian mainland, viewing themselves as the natural hegemon. When efforts to strengthen pro-Japanese trade relations failed, they invaded Korea in 1873 and Taiwan in 1874 to force the issue. Now they too were using gunboat diplomacy to bring “civilization” to the rest of Asia.

The Meiji gave commoners a role in political life, but relied heavily on indoctrination to channel that energy for the benefit of the state/emperor. In 1868 the Meiji published the five article Charter Oath that promoted public debate as long as it strengthened the foundation of imperial rule. The first daily newspapers emerged and became a center of public debate. Numerous grass roots societies formed all over the country to debate political issues. By 1881-1882, political parties were being formed. To stave off any radical movements, the emperor announced that a constitution would be written. Revolts and protests also grew more common, one led by Samurai looking to restore their stipend, marshalled 40K men and took 3 weeks of bloody fighting to suppress. Others were led by impoverished tenant farmers. During this era, a number of new religions popped up and women were more willing to transgress cultural norms and gender boundaries.

Throughout the 1880s, Japan sought to renegotiate unequal treaties with Western powers. In exchange for open commerce, Japan regained tariff autonomy. Japan’s new constitution, drafted by those who had studied European models, went into effect in 1889. Between 1860-1890, the Japanese economy emerged as a powerhouse, the “workshop of Asia.” Between 1880-1900, the population rose by 40M people. The introduction of modern methods and fertilizer led to rapid productivity gains for farmers. Japan also began exporting emigrant laborers (to HI, CA, and Latin America). The most distinctive feature of Japan’s industrialization was the central role played by the zaibatsu (monopolies). While the US would crack down on monopolies, the Japanese subsidized them to make them more competitive internationally. In an effort to halt riding inflation, the Meiji implemented draconian monetary policies that crashed the economy, especially the price of agricultural commodities.

The Meiji promoted Confucian ideals of loyalty and obedience in mass education. Beginning in the 1880s, so-called traditional Japanese culture confronted the drive to reform along Western lines. Religion faced similar turmoil. They repealed the prohibition against Christianity and missionaries returned in the 1870s (though Christians would remain less than 1% of the population). The state centralized the previously locally-run Shinto shrines in order to promote its legitimacy. This coincided with attacks on Buddhist shrines and practices. The emperor served as an anchor for the nation against fears of political, cultural, or gender anarchy. Women were intentionally trained to be good wives and mothers of the next generation.

Newly patriotic Japan’s overseas focus was the Korean peninsula. 90% of Korean exports went to Japan and Japan sought to forge a close political relationship. Political turmoil in Korea left them vulnerable. Korea, seeking greater independence from China courted Japanese assistance. When China put down a pro-Japanese Korean coup by force, Japanese clamored for revenge. However, a compromise solution was reached whereby both removed military forces. China controlled Korea thru “advisors” while Japan kept a low profile for the next decade, all the while building up its navy. When a rebellion broke out in 1894, Japan and China went to war. It ended in a total Japanese victory by April 1895. Japan won control of Taiwan and railroad rights in Manchuria. The success was wildly popular back home and led to larger military budgets in the Diet.

Emigrant laborers accounted for 3% of all Japanese foreign exchange earnings. Russia challenged Japan in Korea, seizing the Liaodong peninsula in 1898. Japan, supported the foreign powers in the Boxer Rebellion, stationing “peacekeepers” in Manchuria. The British formalized an alliance with Japan in 1902, recognizing a Japanese sphere of influence in Korea. In 1904, Japan declared war on Russia. Japan crushed Russia at sea but suffered heavy losses in land campaigns. Despite their clear victory, they gained little in the peace treaty. This only confirmed the Japanese geopolitical logic that they must expand or suffer future humiliation by the West.

Participatory, parliamentary politics was a double edged sword as it allowed protests and challenegs to authority. Emperor-appointed ministers clashed with opposition parties promoting popular rights. The emperor died in 1912 passing the torch to his son the Taisho emperor. In the Diet, only a single party had forged an effective coalition, the Seiyukai. On 8 occasions between 1905-1918, widespread riots erupted. Arrests of anarchists and communists grew. While the people at large cheered the achievements of the nation, challenges from socialists, feminists, and other radicals grew. The Ministry of Education engineered a drive to promote nationalism and respect for authority to bolster the social order.

WWI brought unprecedented opportunities to Asia. With Europe tearing itself apart, Japan gained enormously from its newfound access and industrial power. This boom came to an abrupt close in 1920 when the stock market plunged and the Japanese economy limped from one crisis to the next. In Sept 1923 the Great Kanto Earthquake resulted in fires that burned down 3/4s of Tokyo’s dwellings. In 1928, the financial system broke down in a major banking crisis. Throughout these crises, the zaibatsu extended their reach. Since textiles dominated the industrial economy and women outnumbered men, it is not surprising that women’s rights issues moved to the fore. Unionization, and even communist sympathies ran rampant during this era. Factory workers became increasingly militant in the struggle for their rights. Young women in particular became a lightning rod for fears of modernity run rampant.


The death of the emperor and the handoff to his successor coincided with collapse of so many European monarchies. The new emperor Hirohito (Shining peace) stood above political parties (and by extension accountability). One American observer called the 1930s “government by assassination” as so many leaders were gunned down.


After WWI, Western powers agreed to let Japan keep its captured German territories but refused to recognize their racial equality. Japan participated in international excursions into Russian territory. They sent representatives to the Washington Naval Conference that established the number of capital ships at 5:5:3 ratio. Throughout the 1920s the central line of contention was not imperialist vs antiimperialist but fast track vs slow track expansion.

Between 1929-1932, a combination of shocks (Great Depression, political assassinations, social unrest) transformed the political system in Japan. Political parties, unions, and other independent organizations were replaced with state-controlled bodies to mobilize the nation for war with China. Throughout the 1920s, officer corps grew increasingly frustrated with the nation’s domestic and foreign policy and saw themselves as the vanguard for a coming war with China. In 1931 the Army plotted a clandestine explosion on a railway and used it as a pretext to seize control of all Manchuria and install a puppet regime called “Manchukuo.” Rather than stabilizing their borders however, this move initiated a new era of expansion. In 1932, navy officers assassinated the Prime Minister and named a successor of their choosing.

Japan began mobilizing the human resources of Korea and Taiwan to support their expanding empire. Japan recovered much faster from the Depression due to this expansion and deficit spending by the government. Censorship and rigid orthodoxy began to spread thru political life throughout the 1930s. A minor skirmish near Beijing in 1937 quickly spiraled into a full scale war. Despite quickly capturing major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, neither the Chinese nor the world recognized their conquests. Tens of thousands were killed and raped in events like the Nanjing Massacre in efforts to break the Chinese will to resist. Guerilla attacks continued from the unoccupied countryside. Japan had gotten itself into a continental war from which it could not fully win or withdrawal. The government went thru a quick succession of different Prime Ministers.

As the country mobilized for war, political parties were replaced by the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, making the Diet a peripheral institution. New technologies (radio, cinema) promoted this new order. Military spending ballooned to 3/4s the government budget. A movement of cultural backlash and traditionalism also sprang up during this era, with bans against many profligate Western ways (jazz for example).

*Notes continued in the comments below...they were truncated due to goodreads character limit.

[Rosanne berryman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read, great detail and gives an interesting insight into the people of Japan today.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present," by Andrew Gordon, is an interesting text on Japanese history, politics, economics and culture from the 1600's to 2000. It shows the evolution of what was once a very divided set of Daimyo lands, under the tutelage of a puppet Emperor and a powerful Shogun ruler. Society progressed at times slowly, as in the Tokugawa age of isolationist policies, and at times rapidly, as in the 1850's as Japan came into increasing contact and conflict with European and American colonialist powers. This led inescapably to the rise of the Meiji Imperialists in Japan, and the eventual outcome of WWII. These years are followed by the American occupation, and the reforms of SCAP. Post occupation years and the booming Japanese economy, followed by the bubble burst in the 90's and the uncertain future of Japan into the 2000's follow.

Andrew Gorden does an excellent job recapping Japans long and fraught history. He presents the Japanese side of the argument, but does not fail to gloss over or lessen the impact of their failures (ie. bubble burst 90's, corruption and authoritarian power) or the outright atrocities that they committed (ie. the Rape of Nanking, violent imperialism, institutionalized racism). Japan suffered from many of the same failures and outright atrocious foreign policy initiatives that many other nations instigated as well, and Gorden makes note of this. To be clear, this is in no way an apologistic approach to Japanese history. Gorden just lays out the facts, and leaves it to the reader to colour it with their own preconceived notions and beliefs.

On the content side, this book examines the political evolution of Japan from Shogunate to multi-party democracy. It looks at the various turbulent forces that often butted heads throughout this transition. Japan's relationship to their Emperor is also noted in detail. The economic evolution of Japan also plays a key role in this narrative. Japan's evolution from fractured farming state to economic powerhouse is noted, with the key policy initiatives laid out. Excellent statistics accompany this narrative to give the reader an in depth look at how Japan's economy fared in comparison to other nations in the world. The evolution of society in Japan is closely noted as well, documenting the rise of feminism, the importance of socialism and conservatism in Japanese society and the well-being of everyday household, in terms of income, materialistic well-being and so on.

Gorden organises these ideas in rough chronological order, but as one would expect, he does need to backtrack a bit in order to fully cover details from the many subjects this text covers. This can sometimes be a bit confusing, and personally, I thought he skipped the importance of Japan's WWI territorial gains and the 1914-1918 era in general. Even so, the text is well written and laid out, and not confusing in its intellectual layout.

I would definitely recommend this text to those interested in Japanese history and society. It is a refreshing and unbiased look at Japanese history, with none of the ideological or nationalistic hysteria that often surrounds popular texts on the World War periods. Instead it offers a level-headed chronological progression of Japan as a nation-state. It is a bit dated now, but the facts and figures from the past have not changed much, and there are surely texts available to mark the 2000's in Japan.

[Andy Wiesendanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first study of Japan, so rating may be higher than if it was a subject I had some background in.

Starts in the 1600s up to 2000. Very interesting to see the changes over that time. Having just finished Search for Modern China, I can see so many similarities, much like with other nations. We're all the same.

He wraps up the book with the question "How does one balance the desire to feel pride in one's heritage with the need to honestly examine inequality, injustice and the operation of power in the past?" This was mostly in regard to Japan's reluctance to claim any responsibility for WWII and its imperial actions during that time, as well as the Nanking massacre and "comfort stations" (enslaving mostly Korean women to be prostitutes for Japanese army). I personally don't get this idea of pride in a heritage, especially when you weren't even a part of it. Pride can blind you to many things, which is generally recognized for most things, except in this area.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used as a textbook for many classes, this is a detailed overview of the history of Japan starting in 1600s and going thru 2013.

Why I started this book: I wanted to understand more about this amazing and foreign country that I'm living in.

Why I finished it: This book was great but more of a slog than I was anticipating. The text was dense, the typeface small and the scope was very broad. Good introduction, but with only one chapter on each topic and time period, there was a lot that wasn't covered.

[mkmk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well explained, but can't give it more than three stars because important events (e.g. WW1) are not titled, so you just stumble across important information without it being in the title. The whole wars are explained under the titles such as 'economy' etc, which means it is very hard to find, if you're looking, for these specific information.

[Jackson Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gordon's book is an introductory volume, but a good one for those of us with little knowledge of Japanese history. It reads very much like a textbook that's been heavily influenced (methodologically at least) by EP Thompson's work.

[Ollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you ask people about their dream vacations, most will say the same old thing like “Italy” or “backpacking through Europe.” Fuck all that. To me, the dream spot is Japan. I’ve been in awe of the place ever since I was a kid, consuming its anime and video games, and eating its food whenever I could. I finally booked a trip in October and, assuming North Korea doesn’t blow the place up, am planning on it being a great trip. I’ve done my homework, scoured my go-to spots, learned some very basic conversational Japanese, and of course, tried boning up on Japanese history.

Looking around the web, there really weren’t that many books that looked thorough, not epically long, and recommended by readers. The closest thing was Andrew Gordon’s A Modern History of Japan. It’s a little hard to get and kinda pricy, but if you google it you just might find a free PDF of it posted somewhere.

Let me tell you, I’m very glad I read this book. A Modern History of Japan is kind of a short book (around 400 pages or so) but covers quite a bit of ground. Helping it of course is that it’s starting at the Tokugawa are a few hundred years back instead of starting at the beginning of time. Gordon writes a pretty straightforward book, focusing on key moments in Japanese history and discussing things like how society and politics were structured, how Japan really pushed for modernization starting with the Meijin era, how its isolation from the rest of the world really prevented it from being a superpower, and how it was able to prosper in the face of repeated adversity and tragedy. It really shifts back and forth between political and social life and their various ups and downs. It seems like for its many slip-ups, Japan has always been able to make a comeback, economically at least. The verdict is still out on whether the population appreciates being the most overworked people in the world.

Fitting so much also has its drawbacks, as Gordon can only devote so much time to the events, and has to jump around quickly. This is particularly difficult when trying to keep the names straight.

Still, A Modern History of Japan is a very good book that helps understand where the Japanese are coming from and how they’ve been a country pushing for modernization yet proud of their history and culture. It would be nice for this book to get updated, and if it does, I’m willing to bet I’ll be up for rereading the entire thing. Maybe…

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read four chapters of A Modern History as an assignment for a course on the Japanese Empire which I am auditing. While this is only about 25% of the book, I decided to review it because it seems like a representative sample.

This book has many strengths. Although there are not as many footnotes as one might expect in a college level textbook published by an academic press like Oxford, it still seemed quite comprehensive. Based on other books that I have read covering the empire building and Pacific War period of Japanese history Gordon provided a thorough accounting of the political, social, economic, and cultural factors that played a role in this era. Both domestic and international issues were noted, as well as the interaction between them. In fact, if anything it can be slow going at times trying to work one’s way through the descriptions of events, even for someone like me who already knows something about the times written about. It might also be a challenge for many readers to recall all of the people he writes about. Thus, it might be the kind of book one reads in smaller chunks of 10-20 pages at a time.

Fortunately, Gordon’s prose was relatively direct and the chapters were broken up into sections each of which was labeled. Despite its density these two features made the book readable. And he made prudent use of photographs as well as paintings or drawings which illustrated the points he was trying to make. In the four chapters there were maybe two maps. I understand that publishing maps is costly. Thus, many academic books have a limited number of them. But it might have been better had he included more.

As introductory textbooks go AMH seems to be better than most I have read about the modern era in Japan. So much so that I might try to read more of it if/when I have some time. Maybe it deserves a 4.5 rating.

[Ziyad Khesbak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completed my months' long survey of Japanese history with this book, which is actually a textbook. It does a good job at covering what is a long space of time, and all of its political tumult with all corresponding factionalization, rounds and rounds of political infighting, and broad social and economic trends. I think it provides an adequate and interesting scaffolding for further reading in focused topics of Japanese history.

There is a touch of editorializing here and there, but for the most part it maintains a relatively objective tone and is interesting to read. Perhaps more interesting to me than the Samson trilogy, but this may be either due to the short space of time if covers or its modern relevance to me personally.

On reflection, I think reading the history (this or others, I'm sure) provides a different perspective than cultural exports I have enjoyed over the past couple decades would allow. It is a story that is less a monolith of a united and focused peoples and more a series of reactions to outside influences as they are incorporated into a Japanese protoplasm. A society which responds in varying degrees and with varying success to the challenges which it faces but typically with a mind on the community (though not immune from scandal and self-immolation).

In many ways, it is the story of all nations. There are idiosyncratic traits, to be sure, but it has always been and will continue to be interesting to me how individual voices sing out from such a mass of peoples. I recommend this book as an introductory text to modern Japan, and perhaps a more pertinent starting point than delving into the chaos of the pre-history and medieval chaos which preceded it.

[Munehito Moro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful textbook that covers the time between the end of Edo and the beginning of the 21st century.

That said, it still is a textbook. It's not a fan read, and I certainly do not recommend this one for those who are looking for entertainment, or a quick introduction. This is a rather dry book written by an expert academician. You need to be studying modern Japanese history in college to appreciate this.

The amazing thing is that the author covers almost everything, especially how the militarism was born and came to dominate the nation in the 1930s. Those chapters can be of great use to anyone who's interested in the topic.

Also, I liked that Gordon pointed out the rising inequalities inside Japan starting from the 70s, how the Japanese college education, which once had been egalitarian, became commercialized and increasingly monopolized by the urban rich. This is the phenomenon I witnessed as I grew up in the Japanese countryside.

So my advice is, don't try to power through this book. You'll be overwhelmed, especially if you are new to these topics. Rather, read the chapters whose topics you are already interested in, to get a panoramic view of that time period.

[Ashley Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should really be titled the modern economic and labour history of Japan. The Tokugawa section was interesting and I finally understand the Meiji restoration but the following periods focussed heavily on parliamentary politics, labour politics and economic growth. I don’t think enough attention was paid to the aggressiveness of Japan during war time and the severity of the crimes committed. There was also a tendency to paint popular opinion in broad strokes, especially in more modern times. I appreciated when I was being shown first hand evidence of how the average person felt like in songs or excerpts from novels and newspapers. This happened less and less as we went on. It did ask the important questions in the end - like how does Japan move forward in its own duality of victim and oppressor? As shining beacon of capitalist strength and as a perfect example of bureaucratic failure? In the 25 years since where this book left off its interesting to see how Japan has been shaped by its modern history.

And although this book has problems I think it’s a great synthesis worth reading.

[Lisa Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

从去年开始便开始读这本“日本现代史”！再去纽约的航班，以及这次来圣地亚哥的航班，都在继续读这本书。终于在等航班回湾区的机场读完了这本书。
以前对日本的了解仅限于以前中学学的历史以及后面大量的抗日题材的影视作品，还真没有对日本现代的崛起做过任何的接触。这本书的作者是哈佛大学现代日本史研究专家安德鲁•戈登。他更把日本的现代史放在全球化的大背景下着手，发现日本的现代发展和中国的发展有很多惊人的相似之处，比如战后日本制造业的大量繁荣，成为五六十年代的世界工厂，向美国和欧洲输入了大量的物美价廉的产品，经济得到了飞速腾飞，当然后来也遭到了美国的贸易打压（很类似近几年中美的trade war），日本也有一段时间教育非常卷，孩子参加各种培训机构，就是为了考好大学，这一点也好像。或许有些东西可以用日本的现代历史来project 中国的发展。另外一点让我觉得吃惊的地方，就是日本明治维新的成功。以前还记得高中历史中老师拿中国的戊戌变法和日本的明治维新做了一些比较，得出一些列日本成功的原因。这本书披露了很重要的一点是，教育先行。“日本在十九世纪六十年代末期就实行强迫四年义务教育，1905年，小学的适龄学童入学率，男性是98%，女性是93%。“这让我真震惊！想想光绪帝时代的，广大民众受教育程度，估计只有个位数的非文盲率。还有一点就是“日本以前的天皇权利完全不像中国的皇帝，被幕府将军所控制贺监视，相当于傀儡“这个和日本后来顺利走君主立宪制大约是奠定了基础。另外一点，当时大约第二次鸦片战争时代，日本其实和中国一样都是受西方列强的欺负，甚至都丧失关税权（也差不多半殖民地程度了），但是明治维新后，短短几十年，迅速崛起成为和西方比肩的列强（甲午海战就是一次证明他们的维新成果），这点除了和教育广泛普及（可以快速进行很多自上而下的改革并推广，想想同时代的中国，绝大多数民众都是文盲，鲁迅先生的“药”，反映的就是民众对志士们的所作所为麻木不仁，愚昧）以及真正学习西方（派了很多官员在西方深入学习几年，并非只是表皮的物质产品，还包括了宪法制度等等）有很大关系。我很吃惊的还有一点是，战后的日本，麦克阿瑟甚至还是完全整理了并规范修改了日本的宪法，也为日本战后的繁荣奠定了基础，当然也有点发了朝鲜战争的横财（近水楼台先得月）。
当然，也有让我不解的是，为什么以前的天皇都这么无能，就到了明治天皇就如此强硬，在相对较短时间内就能解除幕府的权利，恢复很多皇权。

[R.C. Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start off by saying that Andrew Gordon's "A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present" has successfully satisfied my interest in Japanese history. After having been disappointed in the Tuttle publication of "A History of Japan" due in part to the language and the somewhat outdated feel of information, I started Gordon's historical text in the hopes that it would clear up any confusion that I had. Fortunately, it did. While some of the aspects of the Tokugawa times and before had started to bewilder my sense of understanding (early Japanese government was an odd combination of rulers and more rulers and even more rulers, none of which were actually the Emperor), the opening of Gordon's text not only organized the thoughts and ideas I had carried with me from "A History of Japan," but it also neatly placed a foundation for the upcoming analysis of Japanese history from the beginnings of the Meiji revolution to the modern day (though not absolutely modern, as this text is already ten years old, but beggars can't be picky).

"A Modern History of Japan" is a rich and descriptive account of the past hundred and fifty-some odd years of Japanese history. Of course, Japan is much older than that- this is a country that claims its beginnings in the year 660 BC with the ascension of Emperor Jimmu. Truly, I would have loved if the author had written more on Japanese history so that I may experience the early periods through his informative and thoughtful analysis. Not only did I admire the text's unbiased perspective and clear chronological progress, but I was also thrilled by the addition of cultural and societal history (of which I am partial) to that of economical and political history (which can be, I feel, dreadfully boring if allowed to run rampant). I feel that this blend is difficult to find in historical texts; some have too much economic and political history, while others spend too much time discussing the importance of cultural changes and struggles in society. There WAS perhaps more economic discussion than anything else, but it never dragged on long enough for me to start getting bored. Of course, keep in mind that this is a textbook, and textbooks are notorious for not being the most energetic of literary achievements. But if you were/are a student of history, or have some experience working with historical texts, "A Modern History" certainly is a great resource for Japanese history. One talent of Andrew Gordon's is his ability to tie global perspective with that of the Japanese experience. I fully believe that no approach to history can be taken on any certain nation or area without first examining global affairs. Without taking into account what is occurring across the globe, one cannot recognize the trends emerging in particular areas of the world. Take, for example, the rise of communism and the socialist party. It wasn't only Russia that was influenced by Marxist ideas- Japan itself, before the onset of World War I, struggled with its own working class disorder and a need for better equality. This is a very basic example, but it gets the point across. Women's rights, the voice of the people, political scandal: these are struggles faced by every nation and, incredibly, nearly at the same general time period.

I can't complain much about Gordon's text, which truly highlights the "miracle" that is Japan, emerging from that of an almost "backwards" nation to that of an industrialized titan in the mere span of a few decades. Even, really, from a disconnected series of prefectures to that of a single nation and identity (to some extent) unified under the name of the Emperor. Andrew Gordon is clearly versed in Japanese culture, as well, for he exemplifies his knowledge in the examination of critical movements and the slow shift from traditional to that of western modernity. The only true problem I had in this text was Gordon's habit of somewhat downplaying the power of women in Japanese society. Yes, women's suffrage was a clear issue, as well as women's subordination to men (their husbands in particular). However, I feel that this is a somewhat misleading analysis of Japanese women. It is a western concept to believe that Japanese women (as well as women in other Asian countries) are basically domestic servants to their husbands, with absolutely no say in matters of importance. The truth is that Japanese women control the household, and are considered the driving force behind a man's success in the workplace. Men are head of the household only symbolically. They are given little power in, say, the furnishings of the house, the location of said house, the raising of children, etc. It is only outside the home when men are given the superior advantage. It is a Japanese belief that men are basically useless without a woman's wisdom, that they are mere toddlers when left to their own devices. I feel that this is absolutely relevant when examining the role of women. One must shrug off western perspective and understand that Japanese women are revered for the successful upbringing of their children and the care they give to their husbands. So intense and essential is the woman's role that this was a likely cause of the Japanese government's hesitance in granting women privileges akin to men: working women, or politically active women, may no longer be as capable of fulfilling their role as their nonworking counterparts. And in Japanese society, one's role supersedes all personal desire. It is for the good of society that they exist, and this cultural understanding is often believed to have aided Japan's astonishing rise in the modern world. It would be incorrect to state that Japanese men and women are equal. However, it would be likewise incorrect to assume that women are therefore less important in Japan's society. In this way, men and women are surprisingly equal. Again, however, western perspective claims otherwise. I simply must disagree.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last time I read a general history of Japan it was over twenty years ago when I fist came to the country. It was very general, only stuck to the basics and didn’t go into as much detail. This one helped pull the envelope back on some of the questions I had over what happened but also reinforced what I already knew. It was easy to read and I enjoyed understanding some of the things I see now. Japan hasn’t changed much in the twenty years since this was published. It still worries about the same population things and the economy is still broken but its internet infrastructure is miles better than back home.

Check out a longer review on my blog
https://sixdegreesofstories.blogspot....

[Mareto]

This book explains the life span of Tokugawa. he was one of the most important people of Japan and he had created a moment and time of Japan. Because he was so important to Japan, the life spam of has various connections to Japanese history. Tokugawa attended to a lot of war and he was the reader of Japan. He also created a lot of mysteries of Japan history for example the treasure that he left before he had passed away is still not founded and made people very excited. people who are interested in Japanese history or not should read this book. not just Japanese history but you can also tell the importance of being someone's leader. If you are interested please read this book.

[Ryo · Rating 5 out of 5]

日本近现代史一本通，很好看。
1. 明治天皇穿上传统日式朝服的照片对比下一页穿西式礼服的标准照，一页翻过非常震撼，国家/民族/时代的转折点；
2. 德川家康曾下过一道严厉命令，其中便指出“农民过的生活应该是不死不活”，他们就好像制油用的芝麻一样，“你愈用力榨，它就出得愈多”。而当精英武士讨论政治事务时，他们亦集中谈及所谓“愚民”问题。……提高人民忠诚度的方法是宣扬天皇理念，让他们了解天皇本质上的崇高，自然不再会有异心。——洗脑灌输社会主义新人，何其相似？
3. 万元大钞福泽谕吉，【福泽主张日本应该“脱离亚洲国家这一群体，转而加入西方文明国家之列”。希望“远东各国能合并成为一大国，一方面对抗西方的大不列颠，一方面参加世界迈向进步之旅程”】脱亚入欧和大东亚共荣圈的理论奠基人
4. 欧美竞争者指责日本的做法为“社会倾销”，他们认为日本出口的增长不在汇率而在工资低廉，工人被大幅剥削。很多国家因此纷纷提高日本产品的关税或实施配额制度。但在日本人的眼中，外国的抗议恰好证明长期以来军方所持看法：世界是互相敌视的，日本必须建立一个自给自足的帝国。——何其相似x2
5. 日本最富有的20%与最贫穷的20%相比，有钱人的收入只高出2.3倍，这个比值与10年前一样，而美国的比值则是8至10倍，中国更高至12倍
6. 从2003年到2008年初，失业率不高，人均收入提升，成长虽轻微但持续不断。上述的经济趋势都点出，用第二个“失去的十年”一词来形容21世纪初的日本，是与事实背离的。
7. 历史让日本无法在亚洲政治及经济事务上扮演领导性的角色

[Christopher Byram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first discovered this book when it was referenced on Khan Academy, in the YouTube video 'Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism: Crash Course World History #34' uploaded by the channel CrashCourse, in the article '‎WATCH: Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism', in Unit 6, in the course 'World History Project - Origins to the Present'. In the video, the narrator, John Green, states that we tend to think of samurai as honourable and noble, but in this book, the author states that urban samurai were "a rough-and-tumble lot. Samurai gang wars - a West Side Story in the shadows of Edo Castle - were frequent in the early 1600s."