Edo Japan: Spine or cover with flaws

Author: (Japanese) Ayame Moriyoshi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Different cultures have their own unique characteristics, and one of the defining aspects of Japanese culture is "monogatari" (narrative tales). Things that may seem insignificant in other cultures become profound subjects in Japan, where everything is discussed with great depth and clarity. The book explores the secular lifestyles and various customs and curiosities of people in Edo Castle (the old name for Tokyo) during the Edo period under the Tokugawa Shogunate. It covers topics such as food, daily life, romance, entertainment, the Shogunate, chivalry, and ghost stories, discussing everything from the shogun to the commoners, from samurai to performing arts, painting a lively picture of the Edo era's "ukiyo-e" (floating world). From the perspective of popular culture, it vividly recreates the rich, vast, worldly yet unique Edo period.