Japanese Books

Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

Tsunetomo Yamamoto

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Square One Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $5.25

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> Regional -> Middle Eastern
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> Japan
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Consciousness & Thought

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Bushido or Hagakure??? 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Hagakure: The Way of the SamuraiBushido: The Soul of Japan (Dodo Press)

This book (Bushido: The Way of the Samurai) really needs to have a different title. At first glance I thought it was the classic Bushido, especially as it is the first book to pop up when one searches Bushido on Amazon. This book is NOT the classic Bushido; it is a translation of the Hagakure.

The Japanese martial philosophy book, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, is NOT the same book as the equally classic Japanese martial philosophy book, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, by Inazo Nitobé. Indeed, Bushido was written nearly 200 years after Hagakure.

Just a heads up for anyone that is looking for the real Bushido.

Editorial Review:

In eighteenth-century Japan, Tsunetomo Yamamoto created the Hagakure, a document that served as the basis for samurai warrior behavior. Its guiding principles greatly influenced the Japanese ruling class and shaped the underlying character of the Japanese psyche, from businessmen to soldiers.

Bushido is the first English translation of the Hagakure. This work provides a powerful message aimed at the mind and spirit of the samurai warrior. It offers beliefs that are difficult for the Western mind to embrace, yet fascinating in their pursuit of absolute service. With Bushido, one can better put into perspective Japan’s historical path and gain greater insight into the Japan of today.

The Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

Yuzan Daidoji, Thomas Cleary

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Charles E Tuttle Co Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $4.17

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The author does a good job translating the text into modern day principles. Definitely a good read for those interested in Bushido and it's ideas.

Disappointing 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Cannot see any great spiritualism here.
Altogether a very disappointing experience.
A Karate Sensei has far more to offer.

An ancient book but still applicable to modern life 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Code of the Samurai is a nice peek into Japanese culture, in under a hundred pages. It's amazing to see how such an ancient book can still be of use today, and how some things we consider 'common courtesy' have fundamental roots, and an actual reason.

Editorial Review:

The Code of the Samurai is a four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in Bushido, the Japanese way of the warrior. Bushido has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally. The Japanese original of this book has been one of the primary sources on the tenets of Bushido, a way of thought that remains fascinating to modern world, East and West

Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

Leonard Koren

Amazon Price: $10.92 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Stone Bridge Press Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $6.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> Regional -> Asian
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

delightful read for anyone interested in aesthetics or design 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

a close friend of mine loaned me the book on saturday - i read it once on sunday, and again yesterday (monday)

the book is more powerful than i can describe in a review. 5-stars, no-brainer.. read this book!

the orientation is more ideological than demonstrative or critical.. the relative shortage of (delightful!) examples leaves me wanting more. and as much as like loved this book, i would like to read the large glossy version titled "wabi-sabi: for people with ipods, large televisions, and who generally disdain reading" :)

in its existing form, the book is an easy and inspiring read. if you're intrigued by the beauty of a pair of worn-out shoes, the grime of a subway station, the cracks in a crumbling rock, a decaying leaf, etc.. this book may give words, insight and extension to your aesthetic perception. given the relative lack of high-fidelity examples, it may be hard for others to gain an appreciation of wabi-sabi through this book

wabi-sabi is primarily contrasted with modernism, providing a much more useful and forward-focused comparison than against its more classical/baroque aesthetic ancestors - however the comparison does imply an inappropriate (imo) us-vs-them context with modernism. modernism is concerned with the clean, permanent, undistracting, impersonal, etc.. wabi-sabi is about the dirty, organic, distracting and personal. the author positions wabi-sabi as occupying a subset of aesthetics that is *not* modern.. i don't know if this "anti" element is a crucial part of wabi-sabi (?). wabi-sabi would be more powerful to me if it were described only in terms of its own fundamental traits, without counter-reference to other aesthetic ideologies. i find my ipod attractive *and* i find decaying leaves attractive - is it possible there could be more one "good" aesthetic?! the author generally defines wabi-sabi as fundamentally antithetical to modern design aesthetics. for example, on page 9 he writes:

"wabi-sabi - deep, multi-dimensional, elusive - appeared the perfect antidote to the pervasively slick, saccharine, corporate style of beauty that i felt was desensitizing american society. i have since come to believe that wabi-sabi is related to many of the more emphatic anti-aesthetics that invariably spring from the young, modern, creative soul: beat, punk, grunge, or whatever it's called next"

otherwise, i don't know anything about zen buddhism - and the book left me wanting to know more

Editorial Review:

This extended essay in words and pictures universalizes the Japanese traditional rustic aesthetic of wabi-sabi that was developed over hundreds of years by Zen priests and teamasters. Wabi-sabi functions today as a prototypical "complete" aesthetic, nature-based and "soft" in contrast to the "hard" digital aesthetics of modern computer-age design. As such, it offers designers and other creative people a wealth of insight into materials and process.

Hagakure: The Book of the Samauri

Tsunetomo Yamamoto

Amazon Price: $9.00 List Price: $9.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Kodansha International Amazon Marketplace: 81 new & used starting at $2.73

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

|Hagakure ("In the Shadow of Leaves"') is a manual for the samurai classes consisting of a series of short anecdotes and reflections that give both insight and instruction-in the philosophy and code of behavior that foster the true spirit of Bushido-the Way of the Warrior. It is not a book of philosophy as most would understand the word: it is a collection of thoughts and sayings recorded over a period of seven years, and as such covers a wide variety of subjects, often in no particular sequence.
The work represents an attitude far removed from our modern pragmatism and materialism, and posesses an intuitive rather than rational appeal in its assertion that Bushido is a Way of Dying, and that only a samurai retainer prepared and willing to die at any moment can be totally true to his lord. While Hagakure was for many years a secret text known only to the warrior vassals of the Hizen fief to which the author belonged, it later came to be recognized as a classic exposition of samurai thought and came to influence many subsequent generations, including Yukio Mishima.
This translation offers 300 selections that constitute the core texts of the 1,300 present in the original.

Wabi Sabi: The Art of Everyday Life

Diane Durston

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 59 new & used starting at $2.35

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> Regional -> Asian
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

With “slow living” as the newest incarnation of the simplicity movement, the search for fresh inspiration on ways to live a more authentic life is as pressing as ever. Turning to Eastern traditions, people are discovering the Japanese concept of wabi sabi.

The perfect antidote to today’s frenzied, consumer-oriented culture, wabi sabi encourages slowing down, living modestly, and appreciating the natural and imperfect aspect of material culture. While defying definition, wabi sabi is best expressed in brief, evocative bites.

In The Little Wabi Sabi Companion, Diane Durston, a noted writer on Japanese art and culture, presents a collection of reflections, along with classic poetry and verse from both Eastern and Western traditions, that capture the wabi sabi moment, and inspire readers to do the same. The subtle beauty of nature, the simplicity of a found object, the impermanence of an autumnal flower arrangement, the solitude of a single fisherman in his boat are all celebrated and reflected upon in this easily browseable book. The text is complemented by photography and calligraphy inspired by the wabi-sabi spirit.

This collection of simple, yet profound insights in an irresistable, hold-in-the-hand package offers readers the opportunity for integrating moments of contemplation and meditation into their daily lives, and to discover the essence of wabi sabi.

The Book of Macrobiotics: The Universal Way of Health, Happiness and Peace

Michio Kushi, Alex Jack

List Price: $21.00 By: Japan Publications Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $1.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Special Diet -> Healthy
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A NEW AND COMPLETELY REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION OF THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO MACROBIOTICS.
The Book of Macrobiotics is the passport to a new world of infinite understanding and adventure. It has been read, reread, studied, and treasured by hundreds of thousands of people seeking a clear, comprehensive approach to the problem of living in a world of endless change.
Now, after nearly a decade, The Book of Macrobiotics has been completely revised and expanded to reflect refinements in Michio Kushi's teachings, as well as many new developments in the spread of macrobiotics in modern society. During this time, the Standard Macrobiotic Dietary approach has been simplified and broadened. Macrobiotic approaches to cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative diseases have evolved and expanded, as have basic home cares, and way of life recommendations.
The revised edition of The Book of Macrobiotics also includes a new chapter on the Spiritual World, new material on Yin and Yang and the Five Transformations, Man/Woman Relations, and Humanity's Origin and Destiny, and an annotated East West Reading List for further reading and enjoyment. Many new illustrations have been furnished, and the Food Composition tables have been expanded to include nutritional information on dozens of foods such as tempeh, seitan, rice cakes, and amazake not previously available.

A Road That Anyone Can Walk: Ki

William Reed

List Price: $24.00 By: Japan Publications (USA) Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $5.76

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Medicine -> Pharmacology -> General AAS
Subjects -> Medicine -> General
Subjects -> Medicine -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Biography of Koichi Tohei 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book starts with the history of Koichi Tohei Sensei, who developed and bring his knowledge about KI to our world. Though I was looking for a text book on KI what I found was a book that has summaries of practical KI for our daily life. The most impressive thing is the fact that relax and calmness is the key to a great strength. Book allows you to see that anyone can learn and apply KI.

Don't miss this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Read this book. Anyone and everyone will benefit of William Reed's finest work.

I spent over 10 years in the Orient learning martial arts. This book captures the true and universal essence of ki.

A must have book to overcome stress in our daily life 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book give a brief story about Koichi Tohei Sensei, who developed and bring his knowledge about KI to our world. Within this book you will find summaries in practical KI for our daily life. The most impressive thing is the fact that relax and calmness is the key to a great strength.

A great book about Ki which is not shrouded in mystery! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

My Tai Chi teacher suggested I read this book to broaden my understanding of Ki (or Chi). This book is easy to understand and unlike many books on this subject removes the shroud of mystery concerning Ki. Tohei's mastery of Ki shows through in his clear explanations and insights.

Attunement Through the Body (Suny Series on the Body in Culture, History, and Religion)

Shigenori Nagatomo

Amazon Price: $18.96 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 7 to 11 days By: State University of New York Press Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $16.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Asia -> Japan
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Consciousness & Thought
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese

The Nothingness Beyond God: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Nishida Kitaro

Robert E. Carter

Amazon Price: $16.95 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Paragon House Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $14.75

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Something to Say About Nothing 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.

Carter's "The Nothingness Beyond God" is a beacon that opens up for discovery new possibilities of a meaningful dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophical traditions. Dedicating a chapter to each developmental stage, the book clearly illuminates the evolution of the philosophy of Nishida Kitar . Initiating the inquiry with the concept of pure experience, Carter deftly, yet with eloquent brevity, extricates the essential elements of Nishidan thought from a complex of the philosopher's writings. Carter demonstrates how Nishida never lost sight of his founding concept, pure experience, while he continued to tender increasingly more elucidated refinements that saw the genesis of the Logic of Basho and the concept of Self-Contradictory Identity. The refinement eventually produced a philosophical stance which he called The Dialectical World of "Acting Intuition", and of which this edition offers a substantially expanded exegesis. But Carter does not rest here, he suggests that issues of religion, morality and ethics, in short of value in general, can be, and indeed must be, tied to an understanding of the essential unfolding of the individual, without which, these concepts, lacking a form for expression, would be essentially empty.. In other words, what Carter sees as groundbreaking in Nishida is an insight that offers an ontology that can participate in the resolution of contemporary world issues. Ecology and environmental issues now become deep issues that are inseparable from our own well being. In what has clearly secured itself as a masterpiece of comparative philosophy, its contemporary relevance has additionally advanced the endeavour to bridge the gap between East and West. Yet, one of the more salient features of "The Nothingness Beyond God" is its range of accessibility. It is equally stimulating for the neophyte as well as the seasoned comparativist, in that its accessibility does not come at the expense of scholarly exactness. Well done.

Editorial Review:

One of the 20th century''s most profound inte rpreters of Western philosphy, Nishida Kitaro, lived his ent ire life in Japan. This book will prove an invaluable introd uction to the work of a true world philosopher. '

Ki: A Practical Guide for Westerners

William Reed

List Price: $18.00 By: Japan Publications (USA) Amazon Marketplace: 21 new & used starting at $5.66

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> General AAS
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Philosophy -> Eastern -> Japanese

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A good begining 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.

William Reed has tried to define and teach the meaning of KI so that we in the west can learn. The first part of the text helps us undersatnd KI, develop KI and pratcie KI. There are a series of excericses and a section on KI meditation. The second part of the text goes into KI development in the Japanese Arts (Shodo, Aikido, Kiatsu, Go, Noh and the Tea Ceremony). And the third part, Ki in our ever changing world. A must have book.

The truth... 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Like William Reed, I spent over 10 years in the Orient learning martials arts from men who had dedicated their life to the practice. This book ranks among the best written concerning ki. The ideas put forth are universal, and can be assimilated by a broad minded and discerning person. Enjoy this book, I certainly did and continue to do so everytime I pick up my copy.