The main emphasis of this book is upon political, social and economic developments, as conditioned by Japan's interaction with the outside world, the advance of industrialisation and the emergence of the Japanese nation state. Unlike previous textbooks on the history of modern Japan, Janet Hunter's book adopts a thematic approach which makes the period much more accessible for readers who wish to pursue their particular interests throughout the period. Moreover, it will also establish a greater awareness of the cultural and institutional continuities which are crucial to any proper understanding of modern Japan.

Janet E. Hunter

Chapter 1 Restoration and Occupation; Chapter 2 Japan and the West; Chapter 3 Japan and Asia; Chapter 4 Individual and Community; Chapter 5 Town and Country; Chapter 6 The Pattern of Industrial Development; Chapter 7 Men and Women; Chapter 8 Emperor and Nation; Chapter 9 Heterodoxy, Orthodoxy and Religious Practice; Chapter 10 Oligarchy and Democracy; Chapter 11 Popular Protest and the Working Class; Chapter 12 The Role of the Military; Chapter 13 Administration and Public Service; Chapter 14 Conclusion - 1950s to 1980s;