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The Making of Modern Japan Paperback – October 15, 2002

by Marius B. Jansen (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 120 ratings
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Magisterial in vision, sweeping in scope, this monumental work presents a seamless account of Japanese society during the modern era, from 1600 to the present. A distillation of more than fifty years engagement with Japan and its history, it is the crowning work of our leading interpreter of the modern Japanese experience.

Since 1600 Japan has undergone three periods of wrenching social and institutional change, following the imposition of hegemonic order on feudal society by the Tokugawa shogun; the opening of Japans ports by Commodore Perry; and defeat in World War II. The Making of Modern Japan charts these changes: the social engineering begun with the founding of the shogunate in 1600, the emergence of village and castle towns with consumer populations, and the diffusion of samurai values in the culture.

Marius Jansen covers the making of the modern state, the adaptation of Western models, growing international trade, the broadening opportunity in Japanese society with industrialization, and the postwar occupation reforms imposed by General MacArthur. Throughout, the book gives voice to the individuals and views that have shaped the actions and beliefs of the Japanese, with writers, artists, and thinkers, as well as political leaders given their due.

The story this book tells, though marked by profound changes, is also one of remarkable consistency, in which continuities outweigh upheavals in the development of society, and successive waves of outside influence have only served to strengthen a sense of what is unique and native to Japanese experience. The Making of Modern Japan takes us to the core of this experience as it illuminates one of the contemporary worlds most compelling transformations.

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  1. Print length
    936 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Belknap Press
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 2 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0674009916
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0674009912
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A tremendous history of the upheavals that transformed Japan into the world's most successful of non-Western countries. Jansen shows how the country at first reluctantly, and then enthusiastically, benefited from the changes of the modern era...Jansen weaves social and political history together while narrating this course of events...A master work that will prove to be the definitive history of a dynamic society.--Kirkus Reviews

At the end of a long and distinguished career, Jansen has produced what is sure to become the standard narrative history of modern Japan, a cornucopia of information, explanation, interpretation, and careful reflection about the historical development of Japan...Jansen tells his story gracefully and with remarkable thoroughness, and enlivens it with ample detail and engaging anecdotes; personalities of the leading figures stand forth boldly and memorably. While unmistakably his own, Jansen's account makes room for the views and voices of countless other scholars of Japan (even those with whom he disagrees), giving it the impact of a consensus narrative setting forth the full spectrum of opinion on Japan among scholars both in Japan and elsewhere. In every way this is a remarkable book. Without doubt it will create its own exclusive niche in the literature, and no reference collection on Japan can pretend to be complete without it.-- (04/01/2001)

Despite our deep national involvement with the Japanese people since the end of World War II, this still frustratingly insular nation remains a puzzle for Americans and other westerners...[Jansen] strives valiantly to explain the foundations of modern Japanese history and culture in this richly detailed, smooth-flowing narrative of the past four centuries of Japanese development...A greatly rewarding examination of an admirable but enigmatic and ancient land."-- (10/15/2000)

For answers to...questions about modern Japan, there can be few better guides than Marius Jansen's splendid new history. The product of more than 50 years' study, this book combines grand sweep with vivid and telling anecdote. It is also admirably balanced. While Jansen's affection for Japan is clear ('a gifted, resourceful and courageous nation'), he is scathing in his judgement of the arrogance and ruthlessness of some of its leaders.-- (01/14/2001)

Jansen conducts his readers through the labyrinthine path taken by Japan over the last 400 years...For Westerners the most fascinating aspect of this monumental work will be Japan's always uneasy, sometimes violent relationship with the outside world...Besides politics, he ventures into economics, military affairs, literature, education, social organization and both high and popular culture.--Publishers Weekly

Jansen gives equal weight to consistency and change, and against a background of deep tradition he focuses on three moments of wrenching upheaval: the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji restoration, and the American occupation after the second world war...Jansen provides a sense of significant voices--those of writers as well as politicians and industrialists. It's hard to imagine a more wide-sweeping study.-- (05/05/2001)

Jansen's view of modern Japanese history has two particular merits. He refuses to see Japan in isolation, as a kind of sealed-off island of uniqueness...Indeed, he argues that political developments in Japan were almost always responses to events outside: Perry's ships, Western colonialism, Russian and later Soviet expansion, the world stock market crash of 1929 and so on. He also goes out of his way to show how liberalism in Japan always had a chance. Authoritarianism and war were never inevitable consequences of some deep Japanese warrior instinct; when given the opportunity, the Japanese, like the rest of us, want to be free and live in peace.-- (11/19/2000)

Now in a magisterial book that's also highly readable, Marius Jansen has told the story of Meiji and with it the creation of modern Japan...Jansen takes the reader by the hand to show what happened and why in those intense, formative years. A master of his craft, he allows the Meiji reformers, their opponents and foreign observers of that day to tell the story. He also gives credit to the views of contemporary historians, both Japanese and Westerners, who have handled the subject...The capstone of Jansen's work as America's foremost historian of Japan, this book will long be must reading for students. But the author's relaxed style, his eye for people and the clarity and patience of his explanations should appeal to any thoughtful reader.-- (12/10/2000)

This definitive historical companion is clear, simple and thorough, from what was decided at the battle of Sekigahara in 1600--life for the next 253 years, more or less--to the grey demographics and economics of now.-- (04/26/2003)

This magisterial work has all the details one would want in a reference work, but the mature reflections of a lifelong Japan scholar at Princeton make it a pleasure to read...At every turn, Jansen looks behind the political stage to examine cultural and social developments. He avoids abstract theorizing by recounting the experiences of specific Japanese individuals, giving the story a strong human dimension.--Foreign Affairs

Words that spring to mind are magisterial, elegant, absorbing, and essential...Political military narrative is complemented by sketches of personalities, the arts, and society, with judicious assessments of controversies in historical interpretation and generous references to further reading. All in all, it would be hard to find a better general volume.--Charles W. Hayford "Library Journal "

An elegant, lucid, and magisterial book. A distillation of more than fifty years' engagement with Japan and its history, it presents the sweeping vision of our leading interpreter of the modern Japanese experience over the past half-millennium. Marius Jansen has integrated his own scholarship and that of many others in a lively account that has great potential as a text for survey courses in modern Japanese history; professionals in the field will benefit from its integrity and interpretive breadth. Moreover, Jansen's own enthusiasm and love for his subject come through every bit as clearly as his profound erudition; that sense of excitement carries the reader along smoothly and effortlessly. The book is a pleasure to read.--Ronald P. Toby, University of Illinois

About the Author

Marius B. Jansen was Professor Emeritus of Japanese History and East Asian Studies, Princeton University, and author of Sakamoto Ryoma and the Meiji Restoration.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Belknap Press; unknown edition (October 15, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 936 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0674009916
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0674009912
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.76 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 2 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 120 ratings

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Marius B. Jansen

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
120 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Brandon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Introduction to Understanding Japanese History and Modernity
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
The Making of Modern Japan focuses on the history of Japan, mostly the last 400 years in which Jansen heavily focus on the the warring states period, the Tokugawa period, Meiji Era, and lastly what would be considered pre-WWII and after. The book is remarkably readable, as one other reviewer remarked the first few hundred pages read as a more academic article with factual evidence, references, socio-historic criticism. However, it allows for a vast amount of history in a relativity short amount of time. Jansen takes a very neutral stand, especially on WWII presenting both sides of the argument, both the U.S. wish to join WWII, Japan's imperialism in China and Indochina, the lack of Japanese resources deprived by the U.S., etc. These help the reader come to their own unbiased opinion on right/wrong, but more so than an ethical decision made by the reader it informs. The book is well structured presenting factual evidence with citations in a chronological narration of history.

While this book is considered long, it is well worth the read. With little foreknowledge of Japanese history it allows for a quick assimilation of information with many external references to look further into the desired time period of focus. Jansen does not just only cover historical incidents but remarks upon the making of society itself, introductions to literature, Noh, kabuki, printing, politics, education (and its reform), women's rights, post and prewar advances, capitalism, and so much more. It not only gives a chronological explanation of the modernization of Japan and its coming into modernity but allows the reader to further their own studies within the subsets of the book. Likewise, Jansen has made the readability accessible to those not familiar with academic writing. It does not read (entirely) as a history book, but rather closer to a lecture and at some points a page turner novel.

Overall, the book gives a good "overview" of Japanese history and its coming into modernity. It demonstrates and elucidates how the West has had its influences over the Orient and more so how it effected Japan's growth, especially in early Meiji and postwar with the creation of the constitution and later its amendment.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting started in Japanese studies, anyone with a general interest in modernity in Japanese culture. Personally, I would declare it a must read as an introduction to Japanese culture, history, and its modernization.
3 people found this helpful
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Kyle B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, Academic, and also Very Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2016
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This is a great book for those curious about Japanese history since Sekigahara (i.e., from the rise of the Tokugawa). It is certainly academic in tone, but it is very well-written, and the author's wit often shines through as one is reading. It is difficult to give a comprehensive review because of just how much is covered in this volume. I found the Meiji era to the Pacific War period to be the best written, and most interesting. This may have to do with it being the part I am less familiar with though. Still, Jansen does a great job of providing a balanced and neutral tone. He rarely takes a strong side on controversial issues, although he usually points out good critiques of a position if it is lacking.

It also features a good amount of new vocabulary, that I enjoy (consider riparian and atainder).

This is a long book, but worth the read if you are curoius about Japanese history. I initially thought it'd be a 4-star book because of its academic tone, but Jansen's style really wins you over, and the Post-Tokugawa section is extremely well-written and interesting.
7 people found this helpful
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Late-stage academic
4.0 out of 5 stars Masterful, but Frustratingly Organized
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2010
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Although this should be the third or fourth book you read on Japanese history, you should read it: Jansen writes a compelling narrative and highlights crucial aspects of Japan. However, he is maddeningly imprecise in terms of what happens when, so you very often find yourself reading about events that happen months or years after others. If you're not already aware of how things link together in the bigger picture, or if you're trying to write a lecture or paper using his book, you'll very often find yourself in a real muddle. A more substantial criticism of that, though, is that he occasionally links together things that obviously are out of line. Still, in all, a very, very readable and useful book.
6 people found this helpful
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C. E. Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive guide to understanding historical, modern, and contemporary Japan
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2018
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Let me first say that this book will not be for everyone. It is lengthy, it is scholarly, and one must remember that 'modern' Japan is not the same as 'contemporary' Japan--of its 20 chapters, about 10 are on the Edo period (roughly 1600-1868) and about 5 are on the Meiji period (1868-1912)--so if your interest is primarily in 20th or 21st century Japan, you might want to look elsewhere. Jansen is incredibly informative, and while this is not a book for academics, it is written in a scholarly style that seems to alternate between long sentences with too many commas and long sentences with not enough commas. If you want the 'too long, didn't read' version of Japanese history, save yourself the trouble: skip this book and go to Wikipedia.

And yet, I gave this book five stars for a reason. This is a well-organized and detailed book, and despite its length and style, for someone truly interested in Japanese history it is a compelling read. By giving approximately 500 years of context and history, Jansen blows up many commonly-held pieces of conventional wisdom (held not just in the West, but by the Japanese themselves) about what is--or is not--quintessentially Japanese. Japan has an interesting and unique history, and if you want to understand the country (and region as a whole), you need to have at least a fundamental grasp of the path the country and its people have traveled. In an era of increasing specialization, a book like Jansen's is striking in its breadth and scope. Again, it's not for everyone, but if you really want to understand Japan, this book is an indispensable read.
13 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic reading!
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
I bought this book in order to better understand the background of the modern Japanese culture and literature. For me, it has the right ratio between the description of general trends and the historical details. I like the fact that it refers to many life aspects of the different periods, not only to military or political aspects. It reads like a good historical novel. The many illustrations are very clear and useful.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon_User
5.0 out of 5 stars First Class Scholarship | Intended for Serious History Buffs
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
No doubt this is first class scholarship. The book is well structured with huge amount of meticulously researched interesting facts. Writing style could have been better. The first one third is a bit hard to read. The lack of proper punctuation drives me crazy but I get used to his style a few chapters into reading it. You have to be a real history buff to be able to finish it. Otherwise, go buy John Dower's Pulitzer winning "Embracing Defeat: Japan In The Wake Of World War II", which has far fewer pages and makes easy read.
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Amazon カスタマー
3.0 out of 5 stars 大きい
Reviewed in Japan on June 6, 2017
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役に立つ内容が沢山あるが、本体は大きくておもいので
持ち歩けない。
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic overview - The Making of Modern Japan
Reviewed in Germany on February 11, 2016
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The book is structured in a Logical way. It tells the Story about modern Japan in an interesting way. Great book.
Dr. Marc Helmold
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars predominantly a political and ideological history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2016
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I got this as it was well reviewed. There seemed to be few alternatives for a decent recent history in English of the making of modern Japan, so I have to recommend it. It is very detailed and verbose. I often felt I couldn't see the wood for the trees and wanted to rewrite the book at half the length with a clearer analysis. It is better at detail on the detail of politics and cultural/ideological icons than on economics and economic development. I found the chapters on the Meiji Revolution and the building of the Meiji state particularly confusing, a pity since they are crucial to understanding what follows. However that may say more about me than the book... I strongly recommend Janet E Hunter's old book "The emergence of Modern Japan" (1983) chapter 1 as an antidote to Mr Jansen since it is a very clear brief analysis of the Tokugawa period and of the Meiji Revolution itself.
4 people found this helpful
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James Thomas
2.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly "Very Good" condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2018
Verified Purchase
Book is warped, have tried straightening it out with little success, the nature of the bend leads me to think this isn't new damage, either way not really happy. Aside from being warped the pages inside are okay, few minor creases and marks but nothing serious. Overall i am disappointed as i expected a book in "Very Good" condition and feel like i barely got "Good".
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James Thomas
2.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly "Very Good" condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2018
Book is warped, have tried straightening it out with little success, the nature of the bend leads me to think this isn't new damage, either way not really happy. Aside from being warped the pages inside are okay, few minor creases and marks but nothing serious. Overall i am disappointed as i expected a book in "Very Good" condition and feel like i barely got "Good".
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