Cultural Atlas of Japan (Cultural Atlas of)

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful photographs and detailed descriptions
Review: I'm a Japanese and I had some troubles when I explain about Japanese things in English at my web. I got several dictionaries and encyclopedias on Japanese culture in English, but they won't do when I want to explain in depth.

This Cultural Atlas has detailed descriptions and full of beautiful photos and graphics. Interesting to read and joy to eyes.

If you are interested in Japanese culture or history, this book will be a good companion.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: This volume is handsome and visually appealing, but its contents are a disappointment. The appellation "atlas" is entirely inappropriate for a work that contains only a handful of maps scattered across hundreds of pages and pays almost zero attention to regional variations. The work also spoke little about "culture," choosing to zero in on specific historical anecdotes, generalizations about historic ties with China, and the most cursory information on the life of the modern Japanese. I was very, very disappointed. It's a nice book, but it's not at all what I expected.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: This volume is handsome and visually appealing, but its contents are a disappointment. The appellation "atlas" is entirely inappropriate for a work that contains only a handful of maps scattered across hundreds of pages and pays almost zero attention to regional variations. The work also spoke little about "culture," choosing to zero in on specific historical anecdotes, generalizations about historic ties with China, and the most cursory information on the life of the modern Japanese. I was very, very disappointed. It's a nice book, but it's not at all what I expected.