The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 6) - The Twentieth Century, 1900-1974 (1988. e2008)

The twentieth century poses a problem for the historian. The actors on the historical stage are in the midst of an ongoing drama, and our observation of this drama, to say nothing of our understanding of it, is also in flux. Research on the history of twentieth-century Japan, much of it in the social sciences, seems to be expanding at an almost exponential rate. The study of the Japanese economy alone has become a major academic cottage industry in the past decade, engaging specialists both inside and outside the field of Japanese studies. By its very nature, then, a volume of this sort, concentrating on the twentieth century, is an exercise in obsolescence. Like the later volumes of the first Lord Acton's Cambridge Modern History, this volume is the most likely among those of the Cambridge History ofJapan to require early revision. Given this reality, it seemed wiser to plan the volume as a discursive guide to twentieth-century Japan than as a complete Baedeker with each site and vista along the way properly noted and catalogued. For example, there is less space, and hence less detail of coverage, devoted to political and diplomatic history than there might have been. But as there are many excellent monographs in English on these subjects, readers will not have trouble filling in the obvious gaps in the record. It may be more difficult for them to find succinct accounts of other subjects, particularly in economic, social, and intellectual history, and hence the contents err in their favor. Japan has played a key role in spurring this transformation. Once an isolated island society, little known to its neighbours and practically unknown to the West, Japan has emerged today as a leading economic power. The country's rise to a position of international prominence has not been a smooth process, however - it has come only after a period of turmoil and conflict. Volume 6 provides a general introduction to Japan's history during the first three quarters of the twentieth century, with emphasis on political, economic, social and intellectual trends. Leading historians have contributed essays dealing with the development of domestic politics, particularly the politics of representative institutions, and Japan's relations with the outside world, including its prewar territorial expansion and aggrandizement on the Asian continent. Although written by specialists, this volume will be an important reference work for general readers as well as scholars and students of modern Japanese history One of the major transformations in world history during the twentieth century has been the slow shift of world economic and political power from the Atlantic to the Pacific Rim. Japan has played a key role in spurring this transformation. Once an isolated island society, little known to its neighbours and practically unknown to the West, Japan has emerged today as a leading economic power. The country's rise to a position of international prominence has not been a smooth process, however - it has come only after a period of turmoil and conflict. The Cambridge History of Japan is the first major collaborative synthesis to present the current state of knowledge of Japanese history for the English-reading world. Volume 6 provides a general introduction to Japan's history during the first three quarters of the twentieth century, with emphasis on political, economic, social and intellectual trends Leading historians have contributed essays, based on recent Western and Japanese scholarship, dealing with the development of domestic politics, particularly the politics of representative institutions, and Japan's relations with the outside world, including its prewar territorial expansion and aggrandizement on the Asian continent. The essays also survey Japan's economic development, describe the changes that took place in the working and farming classes (which until recently constituted the majority of the Japanese population), and assess the ways in which intellectuals viewed these and other long-term social and economic changes. Although written by specialists, this volume will be an important reference work for general readers as well as scholars and students of modern Japanese history "The Cambridge History of Japan is the first major collaborative synthesis to present the current state of knowledge of Japanese history for the English-reading world. The series draws on the expertise and research of leading Japanese specialists as well as the foremost Western historians of Japan. From prehistory to the present day, the series encompasses the events and developments in Japanese polity, economy, culture, religion and foreign affairs. In the distinguished tradition of Cambridge histories, the completed series provides an indispensable reference tool for all students and scholars of Japan and the Far East."--Provided by publisher This first volume to be published in The Cambridge History of Japan provides a general introduction to Japan's history during the first three quarters of the twentieth century. Leading historians have contributed essays, based on recent Western and Japanese scholarship, that present an overview of Japan's political development, external relations, economic growth, and social and intellectual trends. --V.3. Medieval Japan, edited by Kozo Yamamura. v.4. Early modern Japan, edited by John Whitney Hall. v.5. The nineteenth century, edited by Marius B. Jansen. v.6. The twentieth century, edited by Peter Duus