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Emperor of Japan

Meiji and His World, 1852-1912

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Emperor of Japan

By: Donald Keene
Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
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About this listen

When Emperor Meiji began his rule in 1867, Japan was a splintered empire dominated by the shogun and the daimyos, cut off from the outside world, staunchly antiforeign, and committed to the traditions of the past. Before long, the shogun surrendered to the emperor, a new constitution was adopted, and Japan emerged as a modern, industrialized state.

Little has been written about the strangely obscured figure of Meiji himself, the first emperor ever to meet a European. But now, Donald Keene sifts the available evidence to present a rich portrait not only of Meiji but also of rapid and sometimes violent change during this pivotal period in Japan's history.

In this vivid and engrossing biography, we move with the emperor through his early, traditional education; join in the formal processions that acquainted the young emperor with his country and its people; observe his behavior in court, his marriage, and his relationships with various consorts; and follow his maturation into a "Confucian" sovereign dedicated to simplicity, frugality, and hard work. We witness Meiji's struggle to reconcile his personal commitment to peace and his nation's increasingly militarized experience of modernization. Emperor of Japan conveys in sparkling prose the complexity of the man and offers an unrivaled portrait of Japan in a period of unique interest.

©2022 Donald Keene (P)2022 Tantor
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Good overall, just bad Japanese pronunciation

I just wish the narrator could pronounce Japanese properly.

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American Bias Throughout

From the first few chapters you can tell this is written by an American. It is littered with bias statements that try and defend America's actions during the period. Despite this the parts where America is not involved are a decent read.

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