Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697 (Tut Books. H)

Rating:
Summary: Faked Discoveries
Review: Post-war Japanese archaeology is based on hoaxes and fakery, and the discipline itself is nothing more than an organ for ultra-nationalists and idealogues who spout chauvinistic theories, disguised as facts, in order to promote the myth of a "unique" and homogeneous modern Japanese "race".

Rating:
Summary: Hell to read, but growing in neccesity...
Review: This translation is about the only one in existance. But, similar to the original, it is not easy reading. Like the Bible, it contains long, tedious lineages. If you can get past (or around) those, you are opened up to the mythology of Japan. Along with the Kojiki (written shortly before this, in 712) this provides a look into the beliefs of ancient Japanese. Not only beliefs, but as of late, more and more archeology is revealing the historical acuracy of many sections which were brushed off in post-war Japan as being mere fictions created to legitimize the reign of the Japanese emperor. Of course, to read this and think its Japan's ancient history without scepticism is a foolish thing to do, but for those looking to start in to researching ancient Japan this is proving to be more of a neccesity than first believed. Recomended, therefor, for the history buff and the world mythology fan alike.