The Empire of the East

The author presents a concise, non-technical survey of Japan's past and present, combining cultural history, physical geography, language, and ethnology with examinations of religion, social customs, institutions, and arts. Chapters treat the constitution, education, finances, industry, army and navy, architecture, literature, newspapers, law, and communications, alongside focused discussions on morality, artistic traditions, contact with Europeans and China, and the Ainu people. Concluding chapters assess contemporary developments and forecast Japan's moral, physical, and political future, while aiming to correct misconceptions by privileging Japanese perspectives and drawing on direct observation.