Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change since the 1980s

Blackwell History of the Contemporary World

by Jeff Kingston

Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change since the 1980s presents a comprehensive examination of the causes of the Japanese economic bubble in the late 1980s and the socio-political consequences of the recent financial collapse.

Represents the only book to examine in depth the turmoil of Japan since Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, the Cold War ended, and the economy collapsed.

Provides an assessment of Japan's dramatic political revolution of 2009.

Analyzes how risk has increased in Japan, undermining the sense of security and causing greater disparities in society.

Assesses Japan's record on the environment, the consequences of neo-liberal reforms, immigration policies, the aging society, the US alliance, the Imperial family, and the 'yakuza' criminal gangs.

Selected as a 2011 Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, History, Politics

328 pages, Hardcover

First published June 8, 2010

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has a few interesting tidbits about the Imperial family and the Yakuza near the end, but this book is mostly a dry overview of the problems facing contemporary Japan, already dated by its references to Shinzo Abe, who Kingston says will primarily be famous for his extremely short reign as prime minister. I guess he came back. Looking forward to finding more sources wherever they’re available — though Kingston is apparently an experienced commentator on Japanese current affairs, his prose is fair-to-middling and this book in particular feels underedited. I might be spoiled by Robert Caro’s dynamism in making the soil of West Texas fascinating, but surely there’s a writer who can provide fact with intrigue in writing about modern Japan.

[Felipe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information well presented, but a lot of random bouts of misplaced emotion hurt the volume overall. While I know it was probably deliberate to improve readability, a more obvious citation system would have also been helpful in reassuring readers as to its academic rigor and reliability.

[Thư · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess cause we're all gaijin so I quite understand and feel his writing :)) An informative book~ his writing is quite easy to understand

[David Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

While most books about Japan talk superficially of the time honored traditions of the keiretsu and lifetime employment, this books delves into many controversial topics that have come to define Japanese culture and business during the past two decades. Subjects such as the rise and fall of yakusa influence, the problem of an aging society and the resistance to look to immigration as a possible solution, the often sensitive subject of article 9 in the constitution, and the struggle to break from the amakudari and doken kokkai traditions of the Japanese government. The book even highlights some of the regulatory short cuts and risk Japan had been taking with its Nuclear agenda….keep in mind that this book was written well before the Nuclear crisis of 2011. Simply put, this makes no apologies in getting right to the heart of many critical societal issues facing Japan in recent times in a very candid and matter of fact way.

[Jake Adelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and profound introduction to post bubble Japan. The sections on the nuclear power industry and the yakuza are well-written, easy for the novice to understand, and in the case of the nuclear power problems in the country, alarmingly prescient. I liked the book because it is not written primarily for Japan experts or academics but for the general reader. Professor Kingston's observations are informative, insightful, and as a general introduction to Japan as it is or was right before the earthquake, there are few books that come close to being this useful.
If you are interested in Japan at any level: sociological, political, or anthropological--this book is worth having.
I've met the author. I wouldn't say I know him well but I came away from this book very impressed.

[Eri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Po příšerně dlouhé době jsem se tím konečně doprokousávala, a musím říct, že to stálo za to. Každé z témat je vcelku zajímavě popsané, a přestože jsem třeba politiku už jen skimmovala, tak věřím že jsem zase o něco málo chytřejší.
Věřím, že to bude stát znova za přečtení, až si na to načtu další zdroje.

[Kohei y · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very biased. I don't recommend this trash.

[Kayley]

textbook

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read overall with some new discoveries for me. However, I disliked the subjective tone of some chapters e.g. those which seemed to see the DPJ as the saviour of corrupt politics or take a skewed stand towards certain issues. Some chapters were also too long-winded and difficult to read which would probably turn readers off especially those who know too little about Japan in the first place to get what the authors were driving at.