The author's premise is that "Japan can be understood only through study of her religious and social evolution." Toward that end, he gives a good and interesting account of the history and development of the Shinto faith.

This book describes in detail not only Shinto's history, but also how the religion effected and influenced Japanese society and culture for well over 2000 years. There are chapters on Shinto's/Japan's response to the introduction of new religious ideas --- namely Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity --- and on its reaction to the rise of the shoguns, and to the sudden introduction of Western ways in the mid-nineteenth century.

All-in-all, this is an informative, educational book.

One word of caution is in order, however: Hearn wrote this book in 1904. It is therefore somewhat dated; and the author's flowery Victorian-era prose might put some readers off. Same can be said for his use of nineteenth century anthropological terms and references --- words such as "Aryan," for example. Still, if the reader can look past Hearn's personal prejudices, this book is a fine history of Shinto up until the year 1904.

To complete a study of Shinto, of course, it would be necessary to learn of the religion's development through the Second World War and beyond. I am not aware of any book bringing the history of Shinto into the present, but perhaps they exist ... in English.

As a true "cajun" who grew up on South Louisiana, I am interested in the history of cajun and creole culture, which is often centered around food. This book is a treasured piece of the history of creole cuisine in New Orleans. The text is sometimes hard to read, but the recipes are an authentic snapshot of what might have been the "standard" for New Orleans before the turn of the century. I am proud to have this book in my collection of early and historical Cajun and Creole cookbooks.

The selection of works by Lafcadio Hearn shows the true Japan of ancient times. In his writings, there is a great deal of description and depth which allows the reader to fully understand how completely different it is from the Western world he came from. The first half deals with his surroundings-the garden he would watch for hours, his home where he would watch the townspeople go about their daily routines, the temples with their own unique legends and traditions. The second half of the book, though, is more interesting in that he describes the people in particular. Through his friends and those around him he tells exciting anecdotes that reveal the real Japan. I enjoyed this book very much and am glad I decided to purchase it. For anyone interested in learning about Japan following the beginning of the Meiji era (after 1868) this is definitely a good book to start with.

This collection of 17 old stories from Japan was collected and translated by a well-known ethnographer, and first published in English in 1904. The tales are old folk stories (urban legends if you will) mostly dealing with ghosts and the spirit world. Many feature the theme of a spirit who takes a human form to disguise their true nature. Another common theme concerns the uneasy spirit who must be appeased in some form. They are fairly charming old-fashioned stories, which vary considerably in length. The final three sections ("Butterflies," "Mosquitoes," "Ants") are more like meditations on the three subjects and don't really fit into the ghost story theme of the rest of the book. Four of the tales were made into an excellent Japanese movie in 1964.

Kwaidan, is a book of Chinese ghost stories, all of them strange and fascinating. The movie of the same title, based on this book, was one of the most beautiful works of art that I have ever seen brought to film. Kwaidan the movie, inspired me to read Kwaidan the book. Some of the stories from this book were used in the movie, but there are many more tales in the book, that are a joy to read. This book is a quick read, but I think that you should read one or two stories, savor them, put down the book, and read more stories at a later date. Kwaidan is like a fine wine, to be enjoyed slowly over time, appreciated, and come back to revisit again and again. Both the book and movie are a rare treat not to be missed, and both must be experienced to be appreciated. If your senses need something different to stimulate them, then I very highly recommend Kwaidan the book, and Kwaidan the movie, you will love them both.

I'm not familiar with the Twelve Point Series, but the Tuttle version I have of the Kwaidan -- a collection of traditional Japanese "strange tales" -- is an entertaining book. Some of the stories strike Westerners as just plain silly, while others actually gave me chills. Nonetheless, they are all part of the fabric of traditional Japanese culture, just as urban legends like the one of the young couple at the lake with the killer with a hook for a hand on the loose (eek!!) is part of our American heritage.