- Archaic Japan--including Yamato, the creation of a unified state, the Nana Period, and the Heian period.
- Medieval Japan-- including rule by the military houses, the failure of Ashikaga Rule, Buddhism, and the Kamakura and Muroachi Periods periods.
- Ealy Modern Japan--including Japanese feudalism, administration under the Tokugawa, and society and culture in early modern Japan.
- Modern Japan--including The Meiji Era and policies for modernization, from consensus to crisis (1912-1937), and solutions through force.
This contemporary classic continues to be a central book in Japanese studies and is a vital addition to the collection of any student or enthusiast of Japanese history, Japanese culture, or the Japanese Language.