Nations in Focus – serie

Asia in Focus: The Koreas is the most complete, accessible, and up-to-date resource available on both North Korea and South Korea.Asia in Focus: The Koreas presents an authoritative and unprecedented look at the contrasts and similarities between the history, geography, politics, economy, culture, and society of North Korea and South Korea. It offers a wealth of new insights into North Korean life, as well as extensive explorations of Korean music, arts, language, cuisine, and popular culture, including the "Korean wave,” which began with the export of Korean television dramas to other parts of Asia and has spread South Korean culture around the world. Also included are sections on women's history and roles, class and ethnicity, and a wide range of contemporary issues.For a deeper understanding of one of the most closely watched regions of the globe, this volume is a must.Six contributing scholars with considerable experience and expertise conveying a deep understanding and appreciation for Korean culture100 photographs, including many from author Mary Connor’s travels to North and South Korea, as well as a complete compilation of maps

Asia in Focus: The Koreas is the most complete, accessible, and up-to-date resource available on both North Korea and South Korea.Asia in Focus: The Koreas presents an authoritative and unprecedented look at the contrasts and similarities between the history, geography, politics, economy, culture, and society of North Korea and South Korea. It offers a wealth of new insights into North Korean life, as well as extensive explorations of Korean music, arts, language, cuisine, and popular culture, including the "Korean wave," which began with the export of Korean television dramas to other parts of Asia and has spread South Korean culture around the world. Also included are sections on women's history and roles, class and ethnicity, and a wide range of contemporary issues.For a deeper understanding of one of the most closely watched regions of the globe, this volume is a must.

This introduction to life and culture in Japan presents a captivating portrait of the island nation, home to 127 million people and one of the most robust economies in the world.This volume focuses on an often misunderstood nation with vast economic and cultural influence in the United States and around the world. It combines thoroughly up-to-date coverage of Japan’s history, geography, politics, economics, and society, with a range of helpful reference tools.Delving deeper than typical reference books, Asia in Focus: Japan is the ideal authoritative introduction to Japanese life for students, businesspeople, travelers, and other interested readers. The volume offers a contemporary look at the Japanese economy, extensive cultural coverage, and a rich collection of photographs. This resource also dispels long-running stereotypes and misconceptions to show Japan's surprising diversity and creativity.A detailed historical account takes the reader on a narrative journey from the rise of the Jomon culture some 13,000 years ago to the economic downturn of the 1990s and subsequent recoveryIncludes an annotated bibliography and a wide variety of images

This introduction to life and culture in Japan presents a captivating portrait of the island nation, home to 127 million people and one of the most robust economies in the world.This volume focuses on an often misunderstood nation with vast economic and cultural influence in the United States and around the world. It combines thoroughly up-to-date coverage of Japan''s history, geography, politics, economics, and society, with a range of helpful reference tools.Delving deeper than typical reference books, Asia in Focus: Japan is the ideal authoritative introduction to Japanese life for students, businesspeople, travelers, and other interested readers. The volume offers a contemporary look at the Japanese economy, extensive cultural coverage, and a rich collection of photographs. This resource also dispels long-running stereotypes and misconceptions to show Japan's surprising diversity and creativity.

An up-to-date, concise examination of China—past and present—providing detailed information on a country whose substantial impact on the global economy and consumer culture continues to grow.Part of ABC-CLIO's Asia in Focus series, this authoritative resource is designed to help a wide variety of readers understand the complexities of the world’s most populous country—a nation of ancient glory and rising importance, yet one that remains elusive and not generally well known.Packed with recent scholarship and fascinating details, this concise, multifaceted volume offers an updated look at China’s geography and history, from the political and technological dominance of the imperial period to the communist revolution and the present state. The work also vividly captures the “living” China of today—its economy, politics, and culture—with extensive coverage of topics ranging from education, languages, arts, and cuisine to industrialization, gender issues, population control efforts, and human rights controversies that have impacted the country's relationship to the global community.Contributions from an accomplished team of scholars and experts on Chinese history, economics, art, music, literature, politics, and other topics—organized to facilitate clear and focused conveyance of informationMore than 50 sidebars focusing on key people, places, and events, plus a variety of maps created to help readers better understand the nation's history, geography, language distribution, and other important facets