Paul Tierney: 2 books

Tracing the development of Edo's (pre-modern Tokyo)kabuki district,many behind the scenes dramas - amongst shogunate officials vying for power, between the actors and owners of the theatres, between the owners and investors - are revealed in this detailed history. Even in Tokugawa period Japan, government...

Fires were so common in Edo that they gave birth to a saying in Japanese: "fires and fights are the flowers of Edo."The men who formed the backbone of Edo's fire brigades - the "Tobi", semi-skilled construction laborers - were both feared and admired. Admired for the unflinching bravery...