Japan Before Perry: A Short History
I thought this was a great book for a brief introduction to pre-modern Japan. It gives an overall idea of the historical events and cultural themes of the eras, enabling the reader to decide on areas for further research. It is by no means a comprehensive study, but as it says on the cover this is a 'short history' that is perfect for anyone wishing to break into the fascinating, but sometimes intimidating, subject of Japanese history.
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