An eye-opening cultural travelogue about western Japan, Hiroshima to Nagasaki: Peace Journey follows a route between two cities indelibly marked by atomic warfare. Sooja Gen offers an informative introduction to the history and culture of her native country, relayed through engaging stories linked to the towns and cities visited. In this enthralling journey across the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, Gen weaves personal observations with historical reflections in ways that will enchant anyone interested in Japanese travel, culture or history. Through Gen's pen, visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and the hidden Christian sites of Nagasaki, learn how the arrival of Iberian missionaries in the 16th century brought about dramatic changes in domestic politics and, ultimately, a long period of national isolation, and take in an abundance of castles, shrines, temples, and formal gardens. Gen also addresses key developments in Japan's 20th century, exploring life after the atomic bomb, considering the changing relationship between the country and the United States (from enemies to friends and protectors), musing on how nuclear weapons might be reduced or even eliminated, and questioning whether Japanese culture can survive the rigours of our present century. Bringing together Japan's past and present, its landscape and legacy, Gen offers a clear and accessible account of Japan's evolving identity, distilling complex topics into digestible stories. Hiroshima to Nagasaki: Peace Journey will delight readers who wish to get to grips with Japan's historical foundations without being weighed down by lengthy academic texts.
