A Beginner's Guide to Japan
A Beginner's Guide to Japan

Author: Pico Iyer

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2019-09-03

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 0451493966

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“Arguably the greatest living travel writer” (Outside magazine), Pico Iyer has called Japan home for more than three decades. But, as he is the first to admit, the country remains an enigma even to its long-term residents. In A Beginner’s Guide to Japan, Iyer draws on his years of experience—his travels, conversations, readings, and reflections—to craft a playful and profound book of surprising, brief, incisive glimpses into Japanese culture. He recounts his adventures and observations as he travels from a meditation hall to a love hotel, from West Point to Kyoto Station, and from dinner with Meryl Streep to an ill-fated call to the Apple service center in a series of provocations guaranteed to pique the interest and curiosity of those who don’t know Japan—and to remind those who do of its myriad fascinations.

The State and Politics In Japan
The State and Politics In Japan

Author: Ian Neary

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-05-20

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 1509535853

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Politics in Japan is undergoing a major transformation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has, since 2012, embarked upon an ambitious programme of policy reforms as well as changes to Japan’s governing structures and processes. At the heart of this policy agenda is ‘Abenomics’ – a set of measures designed to boost Japan’s flagging economy, but one which is yet to deliver on its promises. In this fully revised and updated second edition of his classic text, Ian Neary explores the dynamics of democracy in Japan, introducing the key institutions, developments and actors in its politics from the end of the Second World War to the present day. Packed with illustrative material and examples, this comprehensive study traces the continuities and the changes that are underway in five major policy areas: foreign and defence, industry, social welfare, the environment and human rights. Assuming no prior knowledge of Japan, this textbook will be an invaluable and welcome resource for all students interested in the government and politics of contemporary Japan and its international profile.

Cool Japan Guide
Cool Japan Guide

Author: Abby Denson

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 2015-03-10

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1462914934

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Traveling to Japan has never been so much fun—visit the land of anime, manga, cosplay, hot springs and sushi! This graphic Japan travel guide is the first of its kind exploring Japanese culture from a cartoonist's perspective. Cool Japan Guide takes you on a fun tour from the high-energy urban streets of Tokyo to the peaceful Zen gardens and Shinto shrines of Kyoto and introduces you to: the exciting world of Japanese food—from bento to sushi and everything in between. the otaku (geek) culture of Japan, including a manga market in Tokyo where artists display and sell their original artwork. the complete Japanese shopping experience, from combini (not your run-of-the-mill convenience stores!) to depato (department stores with everything). the world's biggest manga, anime and cosplay festivals. lots of other exciting places to go and things to do—like zen gardens, traditional Japanese arts, and a ride on a Japanese bullet train. Whether you're ready to hop a plane and travel to Japan tomorrow, or interested in Japanese culture, this fun and colorful travelogue by noted comic book artist and food blogger Abby Denson, husband Matt, friend Yuuko, and sidekick, Kitty Sweet Tooth, will present Japan in a unique and fascinating way.

Super Cheap Japan
Super Cheap Japan

Author: Matthew Baxter

Publisher: Super Cheap Japan

Published:

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13:

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Super Cheap Japan is the ultimate budget travel guide to Japan, full of the most useful, up-to-date information for a cheap holiday in Japan. With extensive tax-free shopping, crazily discounted train passes and an unbelievable exchange rate, Japan is the place to spend your next holiday. Unlike other guides, this book shows you exactly how, where and when you can save money. Go shopping for $4 clothes in Tokyo, enjoy inexpensive hikes in Nikko, or visit Kyoto’s beautiful shrines and gardens on the cheap; all with this super helpful guide. Inside the Super Cheap Japan guide book: - Budget food - eat for only a few dollars with comprehensive listings of low-cost restaurants, takeouts, supermarkets and more - Budget shopping - 100-yen ($1) and 300-yen ($3) shops, cheap variety stores, free sample hotspots, tax-free shopping, discount passes and coupons - Highlights and itineraries based on the best discount train or bus passes, so you can keep your wallet happy while still having an amazing holiday - Hidden treasures - walking and cycling routes to cut down on train fares, cheap side trips and free alternatives to crowded, overpriced spots - Essential help for budget travelers - expert travel tips, free tours, simple to understand directions, translations for places that don’t have English support - Train and bus passes - local, regional and national passes, and info on how to use them for additional savings at tourist hotspots - Cheap accommodation - the best and cheapest capsule hotels, net cafes, overnight spas, hostels and campsites - Guides to spots such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Mt Fuji, Miyajima, Himeji Castle, Kobe, Yokohama, Kamakura, Nikko and Hakone, as well as great off-the-beaten-track places nearby What's new in this 2nd edition? - Updates on attractions, accommodation, shops, restaurants and much more - New, highly detailed color maps for budget travelers, making it even easier to get around - More transportation passes and updated information on the Japan Rail Pass - More itineraries, to make planning as stress free as possible - New chapters, such as for the Toyosu Fish Market and Yanaka Super Cheap Japan is perfect for backpackers, budget travelers, families on a tight budget, students and those who are new to Japan. Get the most out of this amazing country, without burning a hole in your wallet!

On the tracks of 007
On the tracks of 007

Author: Martijn Mulder

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9789081329415

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In this detailed field guide, Mulder and Kloosterboer use 30 travel stories to explain exactly where even the smallest James Bond film scene was shot.

MITI and the Japanese Miracle
MITI and the Japanese Miracle

Author: Chalmers Johnson

Publisher: Stanford University Press

Published: 1982-06

Total Pages: 818

ISBN-13: 080476560X

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The focus of this book is on the Japanese economic bureaucracy, particularly on the famous Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), as the leading state actor in the economy. Although MITI was not the only important agent affecting the economy, nor was the state as a whole always predominant, I do not want to be overly modest about the importance of this subject. The particular speed, form, and consequences of Japanese economic growth are not intelligible without reference to the contributions of MITI. Collaboration between the state and big business has long been acknowledged as the defining characteristic of the Japanese economic system, but for too long the state's role in this collaboration has been either condemned as overweening or dismissed as merely supportive, without anyone's ever analyzing the matter. The history of MITI is central to the economic and political history of modern Japan. Equally important, however, the methods and achievements of the Japanese economic bureaucracy are central to the continuing debate between advocates of the communist-type command economies and advocates of the Western-type mixed market economies. The fully bureaucratized command economies misallocate resources and stifle initiative; in order to function at all, they must lock up their populations behind iron curtains or other more or less impermeable barriers. The mixed market economies struggle to find ways to intrude politically determined priorities into their market systems without catching a bad case of the "English disease" or being frustrated by the American-type legal sprawl. The Japanese, of course, do not have all the answers. But given the fact that virtually all solutions to any of the critical problems of the late twentieth century--energy supply, environmental protection, technological innovation, and so forth--involve an expansion of official bureaucracy, the particular Japanese priorities and procedures are instructive. At the very least they should forewarn a foreign observer that the Japanese achievements were not won without a price being paid.

Japan
Japan

Author: Lucien Ellington

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2002-03-30

Total Pages: 323

ISBN-13: 1576077306

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A valuable addition to ABC-CLIO's Global Studies series, this resource covers Japan in two main sections—a narrative history and an extensive general reference section. Japan: A Global Studies Handbook offers a friendly introduction to this vital, ancient country. In a series of practical, readable essays, this title explores Japan's island geography and its influence on the nation's history. Japan traces the "economic miracle" that was born in the ashes of World War II and grew into an economy seven times the size of China's—but at considerable social cost. It examines Japan's vibrant cultural traditions—from the 11th century's The Tale of Genji to karaoke, sushi, and the "salary man." Japan entices readers to continue their exploration by offering an inviting collection of jumping-off points: a timeline of Japanese history; a mini-encyclopedia of significant people, places, and events; and an annotated bibliography covering all aspects of Japanese society.