A Short History of Japan

'A history that somehow manages to be at once succinct and sweepin essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries' - Tom HollandIn this enormously enjoyable introduction to a remarkable country, Christopher Harding traces Japan's rich history over several millennia. Beginning with its earliest coastal communities through to the spread of Buddhism, the rise of the warlords, the promise and menace of the West and Japan's own empire-building, Harding explores how a distinctly Japanese society and culture was forged. Drawing on the latest scholarship, A Short History of Japan moves beyond traditional tourist-board clich¿to consider Japan's own view of its past, values and culture, from ceramics and theatre to food and architecture. The result is a sensory, tactile history, where the reader experiences all the pleasures of a visit to Japan: a bolt of silk or a warm bowl of ramen; the feel and scent of tatami underfoot; the warmth of slipping into a hot sprin