Five Gentlemen of Japan: The Portrait of a Nation's Character

Now an eminent scholar of Japan currently affiliated with The Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College, Gibney wrote these profiles in 1951 and 1952. Though he was young at the time, his experience with Japan was already extensive (including two years as Times Bureau Chief in Tokyo, among other activities). He spoke fluent Japanese (learned at the Navy's wartime school). The profiles presented here were his effort to convey his understanding of Japanese culture. Except for the emperor, he knew all of the men personally. In a new introduction, he says that he has not fundamentally changed his ideas, but was a lot surer of them at 27 than at 77. He includes explanatory notes, but no bibliography or index. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR