Japan and the Shackles of the Past

R. Taggart Murphy (Get this book)
In this accessible, all-encompassing portrait, Murphy demystifies the nation that ended the 20th century with "some of the most dazzling business successes of all time." In part one, Murphy harks back to the establishment of the third-century imperial institution, then moves up to illustrate how the Tokugawa shogunate of the Edo period created a culture that "provided cover for the incubation of the modern Japanese state." In part two, Murphy explores the cultural mores that led to unsustainable career tracks for "permanent employees" and that barred educated women from the labor force. While the review of recent Japanese scandals such as the TEPCO coverup at Fukushima and of the scars of WWII is painfully familiar, Murphy sheds much light on Japan's current dependence upon the U.S. for maintenance of its political system and its future prospects, closing with an in-depth analysis of the current administration.