Giving up the gun: Japan's reversion to the sword, 1543-1879

This is a significant story and Perrin tells it marvelously well with rich detail captivating quotations from observers of the time both Japanese and Western and a wealth of revealing comparisons with contemporary technology warfare and life in Europe. This little book is both thought-provoking and a delight to read. Edwin O. Reischauer Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan