Perez has brought up to date what was already a standard textbook for premodern Japanese history, and in the process has not only done a great service to those of us who teach the subject, but has kept the legacy of Mikiso Hane's alive. Simply put, the book is short enough to keep introductory student's attention, yet detailed enough to be used as a text in advanced courses.
Michael Laver, Rochester Institute of Technology Perez has provided a welcome update to a concise introduction to premodern Japanese history. Clearly written, the revised version better situates Japan in the context of East Asia and adds new information on women, gender, and relations between the sexes critical for developing a fuller picture of Japan before 1868.
Eric C. Rath, University of Kansas The revised edition of Premodern Japan offers a detailed yet concise introduction to Japan's history from its mythical origins to the overthrow of feudal rule in the mid-19th century. In prose that is highly accessible to college students and non-Japan specialists, the authors not only tell the story of how Japan developed politically, economically, and socially, but also introduce readers to the cultural, religious, and intellectual traditions that continue to shape Japanese life today.
Elizabeth Dorn Lublin, Wayne State University