The Japanese Myths: A Guide to Gods, Heroes and Spirits: 4

Daughter loved it

This was a present for grandson who is studying Japanese.He was delighted with it.

Very good quality book, like the others. I recommend all this line of books about mythology because they’re well written by people who are definitely knowledgeable of the myths. I bought the Chinese mythology one as well and they’re both very good quality and a good read. Very interesting

Interesting series by Thomas and Hudson, packed with information. The Norse, Greek/Roman, Celtic and Egyptian versions are also available and I plan to gradually purchase these too. Please make Chinese myths available too. Would love to have the same series include this. Would be fascinating!

Sadly, I found this a rather shallow exposition of Japanese gods, heroes and spirits. The earlier part of the book (dealing with the eighth and ninth centuries) is the most interesting, and this draws heavily on the two major texts of the ‘Nihonshoki’ and the ‘Kojiki’, but without seeming to add much. From then on, it goes downhill, and the final chapter (‘The New Mythologies of Modern Japan’) hardly belongs in a book with this title at all. Disappointing.

Christmas gift requested by my 29 years old daughter!

Slightly disappointed by the fact that a brand new book has damage to the dust jacket.