This is not just an exploration of Japan's antimonopoly policy, it is an exploration of life. We are exposed to a society's search for it's own conscience. Dr Beeman presents the Fair Trade Commission as a fully developed character who's trial and tribulations truley engross the reader. I was left with not just a greater knowledge of antimonopoly policy in Japan, but with a renewed zest for life. The world is a better place with this publication of Dr. Beeman's life work - we can only hope that more people will adhere to the principles presented here.

Travellers to, and scholars of, Japan have always marvelled at the wonderfully intricate and romantic Bunraku puppet theatre tradition.

However, few writers in the English language have ever gone beyond the form of the art which is known to us today to look at the root and branch of puppet tradition in Japan. Yet, though the Bunraku tradition can be said to be the ultimate evolved form of Japanese puppet art as a whole, in ignoring the traditions which gave raise to it students of the art are unable to appreciate some of the aspects of the art to their fill extent. This is why this work by professor Law is of such great import to the world of Japanese theatre arts. In deconstructing a single puppet theatre tradition - the Awaji Island school (possibly the oldest in Japan and probably the branch of the art from which most if not all later schools emerged) - right down to its most basic elements, the reader is made acutely aware of the fact that puppet arts did not spring into being, whole and immaculate, in the nineteenth century as some descriptions of the rise of Bunraku might have it, neither were they the product of the partnership of Chikamatsu Monzaemon and the Takemoto Theatre as other schools of thought maintain. Professor Law shows her audience quite clearly how and (the probable reasons) why puppet arts became important to the Japanese people and - which is more - why they retained their popularity long into the Early Modern era when such arts were being almost universally discarded or marginalized on the continent. She reminds us of the socio religious aspects of the art which have become so divorced from the very touristy puppet theatre traditions which form the of the Bunraku Association and presents to the reader physical evidence of the survival of other, older traditions which are equally deserving of study as the monotheistic National Puppet theatre (and, one might argue, which are far more deserving of recognition because of the way in which some of these traditions even now teeter on the brink of oblivion - driven there by the academic indifference of a century and more).

In brief then. A most marvellous book, which has opened up the world of Japanese puppet arts in a way never attempted before.

Clearly the most important work in this area of study for many decades.

Comprised of eleven stories, one play, and five poems written in Japan during the first half of the 20th Century, A Rainbow In The Desert: An Anthology of Early Twentieth-Century Japanese Children's Literature presents a seminal and invaluable contribution to the study of Japanese literature for American students. The stories themselves reflect an essential element of Japanese popular culture, while illustrating the evolving concept of children in early 20th Century Japanese thought including such issues as motherhood, education, and gender as applied to childhood. The contributors represent a full spectrum of Japanese literary talent and their work is very ably translated into English by Yukie Ohta. Also available in hardcover ..., Rainbow In The Desert is an exceptional body of work and highly recommended for students of modern Japanese literature, culture, and history.

Tessa Morris-Suzuki offers a overview of recent scholarship regarding changing Japanese notions of nation, culture, race, gender, civilization and citizenship, with a particular and distinctive emphasis on the spatial and temporal dimensions of these concepts. Her writing is lucid and nuanced, and her treatment of these topics is both accessible to a general audience and of interest to specialists in the field.

This is a great and timely book. The Japanese economy is trying to recover from a decade long recession but it can't. This book explains why it cannot recover and what needs to change in the Japanese economy for it to recover its growth. It is easy to read and has very useful information.

When I first read this book it hooked me. I read it over and over, making sure that I did not miss anything. I really believe that if you read this book, it will cause you to want to research more on the subject.

Robert Maiden's outstanding memoir provides an unparalleled foxhole view of the battle of Iwo Jima. Beginning with Paramarine training, this well put together memoir chronicles his journey through WWII capturing the hell of the Pacific's worst battle. The book then moves through the post-war years to Korea, culminating with the landings at Inchon. Maiden later serves in Vietnam. I highly recommend Return from Iwo Jima because it's written by a true hero and patriot.
Patrick O'Donnell
Author of Into The Rising Sun and Beyond Valor

Like McDonald's, Coca-Cola and they other highly visible aspects of American culture, Disney has long been taken to be one of America's many types of "cultural imperialism" - a part of American culture forced on the rest of the world whether they like it or not that quickly gets absorbed like candy by most other countries. In "Riding the Black Ship", Aviad Raz makes a very compelling case for how Japan, in fact, reworks Disney to fit its own image in a very non-traditional way.

Drawing on visits to Tokyo Disneyland, interviews with current and former employees and comparisons with the American Disney parks and Japan's other theme parks, he looks at how Disney is presented, not only to Japan, but to the park's employees and to the country itself. He represents this as three aspects: "on-stage", "backstage" and "off-stage". He takes us through how employees are trained, how rides are conceptualized and how the people of Japan see the park - among other things.

From this he boils down his argument to essentially say that, while the illusion of being "just like America" is preserved at great lengths, Tokyo Disneyland subtly alters just about every aspect of the park to appeal to a more Japanese audience. More interestingly, this is mostly done by the Japanese management and can be used to show how Japan deals not only with cultural influences, but with the entire world.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in cultural anthropology, Japanese business practice or just a curiosity about Disney. In anthropology, arguments and perspectives like these are being used with greater frequency, but rarely are they exhibited as well as in Raz's book. It's very readable and it makes some fascinating - and important - arguments about how Japan sees and deals with the world today.

There is always a young couple playing a prominent role in every Mr. Moto story. It usually is an American in the Orient who falls in love with a girl already involved in espionage. Mr. Moto's role seems to be to help the couple and intervene when necessary. What makes this tale different in this instance is that the young people are both professional spies. They are in Tokyo to infiltrate a suspicious organization fronting for the Soviets whose operatives strive to create a major international incident damaging to the American position in Japan. Moto is as deadly as ever taking out the bad guys but he is now more apt to delegate the task to subordinates. This is clearly the best Mr. Moto book in the series.

Sheingate's path-breaking study into agricultural subsidies is not just for farmers. Anyone interested in how policy is made, the role of interest groups, and the moderation of American politics should read Sheingate's incisive and accessible book. Perfect for the classroom, and those who miss it.