Japan: Profile of a Nation

I liked this book very much. It gives a good overview of Japan; past and now. I recommend it!

Upon receiving that book, I was a little impressed by the amount of bilingual information provided on all kinds of topics, ranging from history to politics and society. Albeit looking austere, the writng style is (surprisingly) very accessible and non-Japanese speakers ,like me, will be able to fully seize the characteristics of the Rising Sun's culture. However, for anyone with a command of Japanese , this encyclopedia offers countless opportunities since all the notions and keypoints are translated in Japanese. I certainly regret the absence of pictures which would have made this encyclopedia more lively, but first and foremost it was pointed at condensing the great Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, which I recommand more to people looking for a pleasure cruise along Japan's wonders and culture. Furthermore , I wish they had put some extra information over certain particular aspects of Japan such as the Samurai, the War in traditional society, the relation with the outside world, etc... Nonetheless, this condensed encyclopedia is best for people looking for a comprehensive view on Japan at a reasonable price.