Author Description

For Japan, the reign of Emperor Hirohito - the Showa Era - is all but synonymous with the history of the twentieth century. The story is a dramatic one, with a fascinating cast of characters. In this volume, it is told by one of Japan's most respected economists and historians. Takafusa Nakamura, an almost exact contemporary of the Showa emperor, brings alive not only the events and historical forces that shaped the century, but the effect they had on ordinary citizens. Decade by decade, he describes the way Japan looked and felt, not only to the rest of the world but to itself. He discusses not only the political and economic forces that shaped Japan's history but also the intellectual and cultural background against which historical events took place.