Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914 - (Tuttle Specials) by Dan Free (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914 is a cultural and engineering history of railway building in Japan during the Meiji era.

The importance of early railways in the industrialization of the United States and Europe is a fact all of us are familiar with. To witness the amazing parallel development of the railways in Japan, happening at much the same time as America was connecting its vast hinterland to the East and West coasts, is an eye-opening realization.

Early Japanese Railways, tells the fascinating story of the rise of Japanese rail amidst a period of rapid modernization during Japan's Meiji era. Leaving behind centuries of stagnation and isolation, Japan would emerge into the 20th century as a leading modern industrialized state. The development of the railways was a significant factor in the cultural and technological development of Japan during this pivotal period. Free's rare photographic and historical materials concerning Japan's early railways, including a print showing the miniature steam engine brought to Japan by Admiral Perry aboard his "Black Ships" to demonstrate American superiority, combine to form a richly detailed account that will appeal to students of Japanese history and railway buffs alike.

This one-of-a-kind book, Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914, illuminates for non-Japanese-speaking readers the early history of Japanese railroads and in the process the fascinating story of Japan's prewar industrial modernization. Anyone interested in train history or model trains will find this book a fascinating read.

Review Quotes

"...a superbly researched and written book, one that leaves no stone unturned. I can heartily recommend it if you have an interest in Japanese railways. It should serve as an example to any author wiring a railway history-this is the way it should be done." --Losing Track blog

"A rare example of a work that combines technical excellence and a plethora of information with a lively writing style that always gives the human element its due." --SamuraiArchives.com blog

"Free details Japan's first six decades of railway development accompanied by rare, historic photographs, postcards, maps, and woodblock prints. Free brings to life the events and people, while providing greater context in both Japanese and world history. " --Trains Magazine

"There is enough information here to satisfy the historian, but the old maps, postcards, drawings and dining car menus are a definite bonus for the more visually-oriented." --Shelf Awareness blog

About the Author

Dan Free is a writer based in New York City. For many years Dan studied East Asia--particularly its adaptation of, and modernization through, railway technology. He has long been interested in the 19th century as the first modern age of sustained, comprehensive contact between Asia and the West. He has spent over 25 years assembling the collection show for the first time in these pages.