Book excerpt: Japan has always seemed a puzzle to most westerners--so modern, so industrialized, yet somehow so different. Japanese Society and History seeks to initiate westerners to the learning process of making Japan seem a little less mysterious and a little more understandable. This book walks readers through some of the important features of Japanese society to help readers begin slowly forming a more complete picture of Japan. Japanese Society and History is a unique text and effective teaching tool designed for use in comparative sociology and political science courses, as well as courses in Asian Studies. Japanese Society and History explores a variety a topics in Japanese society, including: Geography Language History Cultural Themes Family Life Education Religion Politics and Government The Economy