{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-japan-samurai-shogun-and-zen-the-extraordinary-story-of-the-land-of-the-rising-sun-brief-history-of-asia-series","title":"A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun, Jonathan Clements","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of popular culture, and a harbinger of post-industrial decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong the chapters in this Japanese history book are:\u003cbr\u003e * The Way of the Gods: Prehistoric and Mythical Japan\u003cbr\u003e * A Game of Thrones: Minamoto vs. Taira\u003cbr\u003e * Time Warp: 200 Years of Isolation\u003cbr\u003e * The Stench of Butter: Restoration and Modernization\u003cbr\u003e * The New Breed: The Japanese Miracle\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"gentle books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45488183804041,"sku":"9784805313893","price":50.0,"currency_code":"HKD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/9289\/1785\/files\/9784805313893.jpg?v=1775559709","url":"https:\/\/thisisgentle.com\/products\/a-brief-history-of-japan-samurai-shogun-and-zen-the-extraordinary-story-of-the-land-of-the-rising-sun-brief-history-of-asia-series","provider":"gentle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}