emd

I would like some recommendations on fiction films and books that are based on or portray the cultural, political, and/or social history of Japan. I recently acquired the DVD of The Last Samurai and my son and I enjoyed the story, which weaves the story of the westernization of Japan and the resulting effect on the samauri into the fictional story. I have read The Memoirs of a Geisha. Any other films or books like that that you can recommend?

LittleTiny

I highly recommend Shall We Dance, which I think won a Best Foreign Film Oscar a few years ago? I think it is absolutely charming, delightful, touching. An American re-make is on the way with Richard Gere and JLo. I do NOT recommend Lost in Translation, which I thought was horribly racist in the way it relentlessly ridiculed Japan, the Japanese people and culture. But that's just my opinion, because I love Japan and the Japanese people, who must be among the kindest, most helpful people on earth.

LittleTiny

Sorry! I just noticed that you were interested in the "cultural, political, and/or social HISTORY of Japan." I will have to think about that.

mrwunrfl

Hi emd. There are the classic film's from Akira Kurosawa (e.g. <i>Seven Samurai</i. <i>Lost in Translation</i> was ok. I didn't think it was racist, thought it was Bill Murray experiencing the culture clash in good humor.

Pulitzer Prize Winner book: <i>Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan</i>, by Herbert P. Bix

<i>The Tale of Genji</i>, Murasaki Shikibu. Translation of the 11th century original by Edward G. Seidensticker. Should be able to find it at RandomHouse.com

<i>Edo Culture - Daily Life and Diversians in Urban Japan, 1600-1868</i>, Nishiuama Matsunosuke, University of Hawai'i Press.

orgy7

mothra VS Godzilla's sub plot is verry political. and tells about the social injustices against non japanees humans.

Gecko

Tampopo is a funny movie. It's not political or historical but may have some cultural value. It's a satire about a woman who wants to open a ramen shop and her quest for the perfect ramen soup recipe. If you take your ramen seriously...and I do...this is a fun movie to watch.

glorialf

Here are some books -- I'll email more later.

Shogun -- both book and film
The Tale of Murasaki by Dalby
Makioka Sisters
Lady Nijo's Confessions
the mystery series about Sano Ichiro by Laura Joh Rowland (these take place during the edo period and you learn a lot in a painless way -- make sure you read them in order)
Taiko by Yoshikawa
Memories of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

emd

These are all great- thanks so much. I am going to the beach soon for two wks and will rent some of the movies and get some of these books to take (might really need them when we hunker down in the Outer Banks they way things are going w/the weather).

emd

BTW Gecko, I am planning on visitng the ramen factory in Yokohama as well as other Yokohama sites, as we are staying in Yokohoama for 6 days while getting acclimated and visiting Tokyo at the start of our 15 day trip next March. So I appreciate your ramen reference in addition to the other recommendations.

orgy7

WOW.. taking a trip too the ramen noodle factory is just about the coolest thing I've read in years on this board.. post back on how it went..

yes raman noodle kept me alive in collage and as I live in thailand the 5 baht. (10 cent) package of all narural goodness still is one of my life supports.

rkkwan

I also enjoyed &quot;Shogun&quot; the book a lot. Highly readable and educational.

I haven't watched &quot;Lost in Translation&quot;, but you may also try &quot;Wasabi&quot;, a fun film with the French actor Jean Reno (&quot;Ronin&quot in Tokyo with the really hot Japanese actress Ryoko Hirosue. Not a bad movie to rent.

Gecko

emd - And I thought I was the only one who enjoyed touring factories of products I enjoy. Please post back on how the ramen factory visit went. Sounds fun!

kuranosuke

tora-san is ichiban.

DonTopaz

I especially liked &quot;The Mystery of Rampo,&quot; a sort of gothic thriller that came out about 10-15 years ago. 'Rampo' is &quot;Edogawa Rampo,&quot; which is the Japanese way of saying Edgar Allen Poe.

The movie is about a writer who may be confused between real life and a plot line from one of his novels -- the movie is brilliantly done.

(Incidentally, one of the main actors in 'Rampo' is also prominently featured in &quot;Shall We Dance;&quot; I would wholeheartedly second the recommendation for that movie, too.)

JoyceL

These are some of the better books I've read while preparing for a visit to Japan:

Embracing Defeat, by John Dower: a very good history book describing Japan's transition from dictatorship to democracy after World War II

The Japanese Mind, by Robert Christopher: terrific book about various aspects of Japanese behavior

The Enigma of Japanese Power, by Karel van Wolferen: a very interesting book about Japan's economy and government

FICTION:

Shogun - very entertaining and also educational

The Waiting Years, by Fumiko Enchi - beautifully written

The Makioka Sisters - entertaining soap opera

For good examples of classic literature:

Thousand Cranes, by Kawabata
Spring Snow, by Mishima

For movies, see anything directed by Kurosawa

easytraveler

ttt for aj

Second the &quot;Culture Shock&quot; series.

The outstanding American classic on trying to understand Japan is Ruth Benedict's &quot;The Chrysanthemum and The Sword&quot; which is still available via Amazon.com. The reviews on amazon are very intriguing as well.

mrwunrfl

<i>Japan for Starters</i> by Charles Danziger. &quot;52 Things You Need to Know About Japan&quot;

mrwunrfl

Top 5 Geisha Books
as reported by Shizuko Mishima at gojapan.about.com

1) Geisha
Written by Liza Dalby. She is an American anthroplologist and became a geisha in Kyoto.

2) Geisha - The Life, the Voices, the Art
Written by Ian Buruma and photographed by Jodi Cobb, who is a National Geographic photographer. Beautiful pictures of geisha women in Japan.

3) Memoires of Geisha
A novel written by Arthur Golden. The life of a Japanese geisha, Sayuri.

4) Women of Pleasure Quarters - The Secret History of The Geisha
By Leslie Downer. She writes about the history and culture of geisha.

5) Yoshiwara : The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan
Written by by Cecilia S. Seigle. Yoshiwara is a district where prostitution was taken place in old days. A good book to learn about Japanese history and Japanese sexuality.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/books/tp...geishabook.htm

santamonica

I think &quot;lost in translation&quot; is a wonderful movie about how we deal with things like age and culture that separate us from others. We rented it again last week after our trip to Japan. The blinking red lights on the high rise buildings at night, the white embroidery under the plastic seat covers in Taxis, the neon, the quiet visit to a shrine...they all seemed true. I've also sent away for &quot;Tokyo Sketches: Short Stories&quot; by Pete Hammil. I liked the one story I read while visiting the library in Takayama...

sfarah

Any book my Haruki Murakami.