This absorbing book, written by an author who has lived in and studied Japan for many years, provides a fresh perspective on Japan's history, politics, and culture over the past hundred years. It traces Japan's phenomenal development into one of the world's great powers, portraying events in Japan - and its rapid industrialization - as shaped by Japanese decision-makers rather than as generally perceived by the outside world.

Beginning in 1890, the year in which the country's first modern constitution came into being and the Imperial Diet was first convened, Giffard describes Japan's determination to gain an equal footing with the dominant nations of the West. He examines the complex interplay, through the century, of forces underlying economic development during peace and war, analyzing the conflicts and contradictions as well as the achievements.

Recognizing the role of individuals in the development of modern Japan, Giffard provides insights into many important leaders - from those who directed comprehensive national transformation at the start of the century to those who inspired economic recovery after World War Two. He concludes by analyzing the demand for political reform in Japan, up to the spring of 1992, and its implications for Japan's future as a world power.