Historical Dictionary of Postwar Japan

Written for general readers in high school and academic libraries, this contains more than 500 entries on key people, organizations, activities, and events, with a minimum of Japanese terms and expressions. Names are entered in the Japanese fashion of family name first, although organizations and other groups are entered using the English name followed by the Japanese one and often by Japanese characters. A professor of Japanese history for more than 40 years, Hoover prefaces the dictionary entries with a map, a lengthy and detailed chronology from 1945 through 2010, and a list of abbreviations and acronyms. Bolded cross-references where appropriate will assist readers in easily finding more information on a desired topic. A list of prime ministers from 1945–2010 and 13 tables, charts, and graphs covering various issues in Japan close the presentation. BOTTOM LINE This is a valuable, unbiased starting point for finding brief information quickly.—Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Queensborough Community Coll. Lib., Bayside, NY