Old Japan

Tales of Old Japan (1871) is an anthology of classic tales compiled by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, Lord Redesdale. The narratives - adapted from Japanese sources - covers various aspects of Japanese life before the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Engaging with an arresting range of subjects such as Buddhist sermons, knightly exploits, ghost stories, fairy tales, folklore, terrifying vampires, noble samurai, and the plots of four Noh plays, the collection also serves as a treasure trove of information on the customs, characters, and places of the time.

Take a trip to old Japan with William Scott Wilson as he travels the ancient Kiso Road, a legendary route that remains much the same today as it was hundreds of years ago. The Kisoji, which runs through the Kiso Valley in the Japanese Alps, has been in use since at least 701 CE. In the 17th century, it was the route that the daimyo (warlords) used for their biennial trips - along with their samurai and porters - to the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo).

As read on BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week' Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award Longlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize 'Sherman’s is a special book. Every sentence, every thought she has, every question she asks, every detail she notices, offers something. The Bells...

In a rare combination of comprehensive coverage and sustained critical focus, this book examines Japan's progress through its entire history to its current status as an economic, technological, and cultural superpower. A key factor is a pragmatic determination to succeed. Little-known facts are also brought to light, and the latest findings used. 

A selection of eight fairy tales from the book Tales of Old Japan by A B Mitford: The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, The Accomplished and Lucky Tea-Kettle, The Crackling Mountain, The Battle of the Ape and the Crab, The Adventures of Little Peachling, The Foxes' Wedding, The History of Sakata Kintoki, The Elves and the Envious Neighbour

Now tell us - did you ever like Japan? Do you know anything about its history, or just what you learned from television and anime, in general? That's a good starting point, anyway. If you want to delve deeper into Japanese history, in chronological order, and see the main events that transformed Japan into what it is today, you've just hit the jackpot.

What if there were a land where people lived longer than anywhere else on earth, the obesity rate was the lowest in the developed world, and women in their forties still looked like they were in their twenties? Wouldn't you want to know their extraordinary secret? Japanese-born Naomi Moriyama...

An elegant and absorbing tour of Tokyo and its residents. From 1632 until 1854, Japan’s rulers restricted contact with foreign countries, a near isolation that fostered a remarkable and unique culture that endures to this day. In hypnotic prose and sensual detail, Anna Sherman describes...

Hanasaki es una palabra compuesta que significa «flor que florece». La cultura japonesa es rica, diversa y contiene muchas enseñanzas útiles. ¿Por qué los japoneses viven tanto y se enferman tan poco? ¿Por qué se mantienen ágiles y en forma hasta los últimos años de su vida? ¿Por qué ni siquiera se plantean la jubilación?