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A Brief History of Japan
- Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
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A Brief History of Japan
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Summary
This 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.
First 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.
With 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.
What listeners say about A Brief History of Japan
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Habiba Mohamed
- 13-06-21
a good read, but somewhat hard to follow!
I found some of the chapters a bit hard to follow, too many names, jumping between incidents and topics, especially that I know very little about the subject. However, I loved how the book discussed elements of society and culture, given a voice to the people, instead of just focusing on politics and power.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 20-03-24
Modern history of Japan almost as captivating as the past.
Very interesting from start to finish on a unique culture and country and people. Amazing
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- smells
- 14-03-24
Really informative and beautifully read
Clear, concise and informative. I have learnt so much more about Japan. Thought provoking and at times surprising.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JDH
- 19-05-20
does a great job of condensing the story
Really enjoyed this. Brought in new information to the standard histories. Jonathan Clements has a wry sense of humour which perks up the narrative. Recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- muttley the dog
- 31-01-20
excellent overview
W written and keeps the story moving. Narrator irritatingly pronounces Japanese names/words wrongly sometimes.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stukez
- 17-10-20
Essential
The deeply researched Mr Clements manages ( again) to make his subject both fascinating and entertaining. Leavened with personal tales and insight his text rattles along, being at once deeply informative and somehow succinct.
His joy of language is hugely contagious and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jamie Barron
- 08-04-22
Well-performed Introduction / Overview
A really good overview / introduction to Japanese history, covering a wide range and it seemed to be to be equably-presented. I enjoyed Clements’ deftness in picking out representative scenes which humanise the history. Elfer’s performance is really accomplished and effective.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Will
- 13-01-24
Incredible
Ive found it hard to find a good history of Japan. This is detailed enough so you aren't missing too much but brief enough so you can digest the information properly. The performance was excellent.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Ismael Gutierrez
- 05-11-20
Succinct as they come, and yet fascinating
Books about the history of a country are often absurdly long and detailed. Let alone when it comes to a country with a rich and convoluted history like Japan. This book, on the contrary, manages to be succinct and yet detailed enough to captivate the reader from the first page to the last.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rhiannon
- 18-06-23
Fascinating
A succinct and informative history of Japan. The chapters dealing with enforced globalisation are particularly revealing and make the collapse of the League of Nations more understandable.
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1 person found this helpful