Single Volume History of Japan?

January 7, 2021 3:42 PM

Could I get recommendations on a good single-volume survey of Japanese history? I'm looking for a general overall history, not a focus on any one period.

I've seen recommendations for A History of Japan by R.H.P. Mason and J.G. Caiger, and A Concise History of Japan (Cambridge Concise Histories) by Brett L. Walker, but was wondering if there were other recommendable options.

posted by star gentle uterus to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

Not exactly what you're asking for, but you may find Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast interesting. The Supernova in the East series is an extensive overall history of Japan and is currently free. The only possible downfall is that it's VERY long.
posted by jeffmilner at 9:59 AM on January 8, 2021

James L. McClain's Japan: A modern history. "Modern" means from about 1600 to 1970. A scholarly, well-sourced history. The first chapter has a 10-page synopsis of the known history before 1600, so it covers the whole gamut.
posted by beagle at 10:23 AM on January 8, 2021

I liked Conrad Schirokauer’s A Brief History of Japanese Civilization. I believe the most recent edition was published in 2012.
posted by MrBadExample at 11:11 AM on January 8, 2021

I asked the historian of modern Japan that lives in my home, and his first response was Brett Walker's Concise History. He also likes Karl Friday's Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850. I haven't read the Walker, but second the Friday recommendation.
posted by mustard seeds at 12:45 PM on January 8, 2021 [1 favorite]