Japanese Sports: A History

This is a very interesting book, on a subject that is not readily available outside Japan. The historical chapters on the development of kemari (an ancient, aristocratic ball game), sumo and other typical japanese sports are treated with academic seriousness, though with an accessible and easy approach. The dismistification of constructed and uncritically accepted traditions associating martial arts (budo) with the warrior code (bushido) are worth the book alone, and should be read by all who are interested on the subject. Also of note is the introduction of Western sports in Japan starting from the Meiji Era, especially in the beginning of the XXth century, set in the background of westernization and fast technological development of the Japanese society, and the role of Japan in the Olympics.