The book, unfortunately, is weakened by its neglect of intellectuals. Japan's seminal thinkers include Dogen, the 13th century Zen philosopher; Motoori Norinaga, the Tokugawa-era scholar; Tenshin Okakura, the Meiji-era pan-Asianist; and Masao Murayama, the post-war social scientist. One also wonders about the absence of great humanitarians: medical scientists, champions of the oppressed and philanthropists.
Weston invariably depicts his subjects positively. Even when judging the violent war lords, he emphasizes that they secured peace or national unity. His reasoning is usually sound. However, surely he could fault Hideyoshi for cruelly hacking off thousands of Korean noses and ears when he invaded in 1592. Only Tojo fails to garner any accolades, but he is far from the only major villain one could pillory. Take, for example, Yoshio Kodama, the slave trader who exploited Manchuria.
In a preface, former US ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale bemoans that even well-educated Americans know shockingly little about Japan. It's true. They often consider Japan too complex, remote or intimidating to warrant the attention that, say, China gets. Often, the Japan hand returns home eager to teach others, but finds himself communicating with other isolated Japan experts.
One hopes that this book will get more people interested in Japan. Weston has adroitly applied the old journalistic adage that the story, especially an abstract one like "history," comes alive when it is told through people.
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