History of Art in Japan is a comprehensive textbook prepared for students, but written in such an accessible (and interesting!) way that it will please any art lover. The 10 detailed chapters, featuring colorful photographs of artwork, cover art history from the origins of Japanese art in the Jōmon period all the way up to 2005, when the book was released in Japan. There are a few appendixes which help organize the knowledge – including a map of archaeological sites, a timeline, extensive footnotes, an index of ideas, places and creators, and a recommended bibliography.
The book not only presents the cold facts, but also provides the context for the creation of the works, different aspects of styles or schools, as well as the influence of the art of other countries on Japanese culture. The works of art presented here cover many fields, from painting, through woodcuts, ceramics, sculpture, to architecture. Nobuo Tsuji explains all the details thoroughly but concisely, so reading the book is not overwhelming despite the huge amount of information. It is also worth mentioning that the English translation was developed by a group of specialists, each of whom edited a part according to their field of study, thanks to which the English-language translation is top-notch.
