Japan Book Review - Issue 11 (October 2007)

Aug 21, 2026

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Japan Book Review Issue 11 (October 2007) presents new book reviews and introduces its first full film review, expanding coverage to major Japanese movies and DVD releases. The issue’s main features include critical discussion of historical and contemporary works, such as studies related to Emperor Hirohito and analyses of Japan’s wartime and postwar decisions. A preview of the debut novel Under the Sun complements reader-focused sections, with invitations for ongoing letters and comments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Hirohito: The Showa Emperor in War and Peace

"Koizumi no Shori, Media no Haiboku" (Victory for Koizumi, Defeat for the Media)

Britain and Japan: Biographical Portraits, volume VI

The Japanese Housewife Overseas

Long Nights Alone

Reader's comments: Long Nights Alone

Hula Girls

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Warriors of Art: A Guide to Contemporary Japanese Artists

Under the Sun (Preview)

japansociety Japan Book Review Japan-UK Reviews Volume 2 No. 5 October 2007 Issue No. 11 Editor: Sean Curtin Managing Editor: Clare Barclay Along with our usual great selection of new book reviews in this issue we offer our first proper film review of the award-winning and highly popular movie Hula Girls. We now hope to start regular reviews of major Japanese films and DVD releases to complement our book line-up. You will also find a preview of the thought-provoking debut novel Under the Sun along with our main features and Japanese language book reviews. Finally, please keep on sending in your letters and comments about what you would like to see in Japan Book Review. Also please remember if there is a book or movie you would particularly like to make a comment about, then either e-mail us ([info@japansociety.org.uk](info@japansociety.org.uk)) your thoughts or post them tous. We will put your comments up on the Reader's Comments section of the website and when possible publish some of them. Sean Curtin [New reviews:](New reviews: www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews.html)[ ](New reviews: www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews.html)[www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews.html](New reviews: www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews.html) Archive reviews: [http://www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews_archive.html](http://www.japansociety.org.uk/reviews_archive.html) Contents (1) Hirohito: The Showa Emperor in War and Peace (2) "Koizumi no Shori, Media no Haiboku" (Victory for Koizumi, Defeat for the Media (3) Britain and Japan: Biographical Portraits, volume VI (4) The Japanese Housewife Overseas (5) Long Nights Alone (6) Reader's comments: Long Nights Alone (7) Hula Girls (8) Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (9) Warriors of Art: A Guide to Contemporary Japanese Artists (10) Under the Sun (Preview) Japan Book Review Hirohito: The Showa Emperor in War and Peace, Ikuhiko Hata, edited by Marius B.Jansen, ISBN 978-1-905246-35-9, pages 272 including notes and index, Global Oriental, 2007. Review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi So much has been written about the Showa Emperor that some readers may ask whether there is anything more to be said about a man who would hardly have left much lasting impression if he had been born in any other walk of life. But Professor Ikuhiko Hata's book provides some interesting insights into the emperor's personality, as well as into aspects of modern Japanese history. Professor Ikuhiko Hata, professor emeritus of Nihon University, has delved deeply into the source material available in Japanese and English and has interviewed many of the participants in the events he describes. The results of his researches impressed the late Professor Marius Jansen, a doyen of Japanese historical studies in the USA, and we must be grateful to him and the publishers, Global Oriental, for bringing these fascinating studies to the attention of English speaking students of modern Japanese history. This is not a new biography of the Showa Emperor but a series of historical studies of events in which he was closely involved. The first essay deals with the japansociety Japan Book Review: October 2007 infamous ni-ni-roku (26 February 1936) incident when the emperor's adamant refusal, following the murder of some of his closest advisers, to countenance a "Showa Restoration" as demanded by the rebels, ensured that the mutiny was crushed. But as Professor Hata puts it: "From the emperor's perspective, the mountain had laboured and produced a mouse. Hegemony had merely passed from the hands of the Imperial Way Faction into the hands of the Control Faction and its epigones and Japan would soon plunge headlong down the path to destruction in the China and Pacific Wars."Hata's account fills in many details and gives a vivid picture of how the events must have seemed to those at the centre of the crisis. "Koizumi no Shori, Media no Haiboku"(Victory for Koizumi, Defeat for the Media), by Takashi Uesugi, Soshisha, Nov

FAQs

What new content does Japan Book Review Issue 11 add beyond book reviews?

It includes the first proper film review, with an aim to start regular reviews of major Japanese films and DVD releases alongside book reviews.

Which main historical study is highlighted in this issue?

The issue features reviews including "Hirohito: The Showa Emperor in War and Peace," focusing on the emperor’s role and the events surrounding wartime and pivotal decisions.

How can readers participate with comments or suggestions?

Readers are encouraged to send letters and comments about what they want to see, and comments can be submitted by email or posted, with selected items published on the website.

Aug 21, 2026

Upload by Skyler