Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai

(Hardback)

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A captivating work of Japanese history, Samurai Revolution sheds newlight on a period critical to understanding how and why Japan evolved intothe nation it is today.

An acclaimed expert on Japanese history, Romulus Hillsborough has spentdecades researching the tumultuous final years of the Shogun's governmentand the Emperor's return to political power during the Meiji Period. InSamurai Revolution, Hillsborough chronicles the era from 1868 to 1912often called the Meiji Restorationthat is widely regarded as the "dawn ofmodern Japan". During this time, Japan was transformed from a backwardcountry of feudal lords and samurai into a modern industrialized nation.But change did not come bloodlessly, and many samurai chose to fight fortheir traditional way of life. A captivating work of Japanese history,Samurai Revolution sheds new light on a period critical to understandinghow and why Japan evolved into the nation it is today. This is the firstcomprehensive history and analysis ever to be published in English anddocuments the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate through to the SatsumaRebellion, a failed coup attempt that heralded the final demise of thesamurai class.

"The author has collected an unprecedented amount of first hand accounts regarding the time period and the players surrounding the revolution. As such, the story told contains both memorable personalities AND useful history, making it a valuable read for the romanticist and researcher alike." - Ikagaiway.com

" ... this book combines storytelling, character development, and real historical data in a unique way to bring the reader into the world of Pre-Meiji Japan." - Art-Martial.org

"Mr Hillsborough provides the reader with a grand historical narrative supported by the insiders view" - The Wargamer

Reviews

"Hillsborough deserves high praise for successfully combining high dramawith meticulous scholarship." --The Daily Yomiuri
"Hillsboroughhas done a masterful job of bringing a chaotic period to life." --Booklist
"With his easily readable and entertaining style, Hillsborough does a great job of elucidating the complex customs that ruled Edo Period life and politics." --The Japan Times

Author Bio

Romulus Hillsborough is an acclaimed expert in the field of Japanese history and culture who lived in Japan for over fifteen years. He has appeared numerous times on television and radio including The History Channel and NHK television. Fluent in spoken and written Japanese, he is the author of Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai, The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps, Samurai Tales and Samurai Assassins. Hillsborough lives in San Francisco, California.