{"title":"Jonathan Clements","description":"\u003cp\u003eJonathan Clements offers insightful explorations into the rich histories and vibrant cultures of East Asia. His works span from concise historical accounts of China, Japan, and the Vikings to immersive studies of samurai, manga, and anime, blending scholarly detail with accessible storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect a blend of \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTravel \u0026amp; Adventure\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e that illuminates both the past and present. Whether investigating wartime Japan or tracing the rise of cultural phenomena, Clements’ books invite thoughtful reflection on the forces that shape societies.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-japan","title":"A Brief History of Japan","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Brief History of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e by Jonathan Clements is a captivating exploration of Japan's rich tapestry of history. From the era of ancient teenage priest-queens to the bustling modern age of salarymen, Clements weaves an engaging narrative that takes readers through the myriad transformations of a nation that once aspired to conquer China yet later chose to seclude itself from the world for two centuries. The book covers nearly 2000 miles of Japanese territory, encompassing almost 7000 islands, and paints a vivid picture of a country with the fourth-largest GDP and the tenth-largest population globally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJapan is a land of fascinating paradoxes, blending ancient traditions with modern innovation. It is a democracy that retains an emperor as its symbolic head of state. The nation is recognised for its safety, despite being situated on an active earthquake zone with 108 volcanoes. Despite the futuristic vision of sprawling cities and cutting-edge technology that many associate with Japan, seventy-three percent of its landscape features uninhabited mountains and serene forests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis compelling tome delves into Japan's early encounters with the West, beginning with Marco Polo's accounts. Japan was initially perceived as a mythical realm, safeguarded by the fearsome Kamikaze storms and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was both the end of the Silk Road and the edge of the known world, symbolising the mysterious East in the European imagination. Over time, Japan evolved into a global industrial powerhouse and a central hub of pop culture, although it has recently grappled with issues of post-industrial decline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Brief History of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e is structured around \"specific moments of transformation\" over eleven chapters. Clements takes readers from the mythological origins of Japan to contemporary challenges such as the \"lost decades\" marked by a declining population and economic struggles. Though some sections are dense with information, the narrative is enlivened by an array of images, including depictions of notable figures and photographs of significant landmarks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJQ Magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e praises the book, commenting, \"To many, the title of Jonathan Clements's work would seem to be an absolute impossibility. Indeed, he uses that word in the preface to describe his task in telling a story that spans 'millions of years.' But Clements settles on 'specific moments of transformation' in eleven chapters that address periods of Japanese history ranging from the legend behind Japan's formation to the 'lost decades' that saw the country face a dwindling population and struggling economy. While the information Clements provides at some points may be overwhelming, \u003ci\u003eA Brief History of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e does come to life through the collection of images appearing in the middle of the book (such as depictions of prominent figures and photos of landmarks).\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are a history enthusiast or simply curious about the multifaceted story of Japan, \u003ci\u003eA Brief History of Japan\u003c\/i\u003e is an indispensable read that provides a thorough and engaging overview of one of the world's most enigmatic and influential nations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"David Bateman Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45739448107244,"sku":"9784805313893","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9784805313893.jpg?v=1726571009"},{"product_id":"manga-a-visual-history-by-jonathan-clements-9780241621936","title":"Manga A Visual History","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTake a deep dive into the wondrous world of manga, the Japanese comics phenomenon that has taken the world by storm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eManga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone—fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport, business, and even school textbooks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eManga A Visual History\u003c\/em\u003e chronicles the evolution of manga from its samurai-era beginnings, through its post-WWII surge in popularity, to its meteoric rise overseas. The book explores the key writers and artists who have shaped an entire culture with their visions and stylings, the iconic characters now recognised worldwide, and manga's impact on anime and live-action film and TV.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom classic favourites to lesser-known gems, \u003cem\u003eManga A Visual History\u003c\/em\u003e is the definitive guide to Japanese comics. Featuring incisive insights from preeminent manga experts, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table compendium is a must for diehard otaku as well as the growing ranks of manga converts, who will treasure it for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46122085810412,"sku":"9780241621936","price":75.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780241621936.jpg?v=1737458403"},{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-the-samurai-by-jonathan-clements-9781845299477","title":"A Brief History of the Samurai","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eClements has a knack for writing suspenseful sure-footed conflict scenes: His recounting of the Korean invasion led by samurai and daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi reads like a thriller. If you're looking for a samurai primer, Clements' guide will keep you on the hook\u003c\/em\u003e \u003ci\u003eJapan Times\u003c\/i\u003e, reviewed as part of an Essential Reading for Japanophiles series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a leading expert in Japanese history, this is one of the first full histories of the art and culture of the Samurai warrior. The Samurai emerged as a warrior caste in Medieval Japan and would have a powerful influence on the history and culture of the country for the next 500 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eClements also looks at the Samurai wars that tore Japan apart in the 17th and 18th centuries and how the caste was finally demolished in the advent of the mechanised world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848224657644,"sku":"9781845299477","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/27808013482844.jpg?v=1758968510"},{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-the-vikings-by-jonathan-clements-9781845290764","title":"A Brief History of the Vikings","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade, raid and invade along the coasts of Europe. Their influence and expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the first of the modern Europeans? This concise study puts medieval chronicles, Norse sagas and Muslim accounts alongside more recent research into ritual magic, genetic profiling and climatology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt includes biographical sketches of some of the most famous Vikings, from Erik Bloodaxe to Saint Olaf, and King Canute to Leif the Lucky. It explains why the Danish king Harald Bluetooth lent his name to a twenty-first century wireless technology; which future saint laughed as she buried foreign ambassadors alive; why so many Icelandic settlers had Irish names; and how the last Viking colony was destroyed by English raiders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExtending beyond the traditional 'Viking age' of most books, \u003cem\u003eA Brief History of the Vikings\u003c\/em\u003e places sudden Scandinavian population movement in a wider historical context. It presents a balanced appraisal of these infamous sea kings, explaining both their swift expansion and its supposed halt. Supposed because, ultimately, the Vikings didn't disappear: they turned into us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848226853100,"sku":"9781845290764","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/27720883482844.jpg?v=1758968531"},{"product_id":"rebel-island-by-jonathan-clements-9781761380280","title":"Rebel Island","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gripping story of Taiwan, from the flood myths of ancient legend to its 'Asian Tiger' economic miracle — and the looming threat of invasion by China.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOnce dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a 'ball of mud', Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province — merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eRebel Island\u003c\/em\u003e, Jonathan Clements offers a concise and vivid telling of Taiwan's complex island story, beginning with the unique conditions of its archaeology before examining its indigenous history and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1949, the island became a lifeboat for two million refugees from the Chinese Communist Revolution, and the White Terror began. Later chapters explain the recent conflicts that have emerged after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as the Taiwanese debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule — all under the watchful gaze of President Xi Jinping, and politicians around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRebel Island\u003c\/em\u003e is an essential guide to Taiwan's past and present, providing invaluable context at a time of escalating tension over its future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Clements's pacy and engaging account offers a valuable counterpoint to today's news coverage of Taiwan. \u003cem\u003eRebel Island\u003c\/em\u003e offers a compelling portrait of a perennially fragmented place, subject across centuries to a succession of claims on its territory, resources and identity — of which Xi's is but the latest.'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e— Christopher Harding, The Telegraph\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A concise journey through the island's complex history and all the different ethnicities, refugees, mavericks, and nationalities that have come together to make modern Taiwan.'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e— Josh Glancy, The Sunday Times, 'Five essential books about Taiwan'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Excellent... Clements's brisk narrative is related with style and brio and an appropriate amount of caution, given the various competing narratives surrounding the island's history, and he draws on an impressive trove of documentation, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and western. The result is a splendid portrait of the layers of identity and resistance in what is no less a settler society than the United States, Australia, or Argentina.'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e— Oliver Farry, The Irish Times\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46849926136044,"sku":"9781761380280","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3103953482815.jpg?v=1759062828"},{"product_id":"a-brief-history-of-china-by-jonathan-clements-9780804850056","title":"A Brief History of China","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor millennia, China was the largest and richest nation on earth. Two centuries ago, however, its economy sank into a depression from which it had not fully recovered—until now. China's modern resurgence as the world's largest nation in terms of population and its second-largest economy—where 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the space of a few decades—is the greatest untold story of the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Brief History of China\u003c\/em\u003e tells of the development of a rich and complex civilisation where the use of paper, writing, money, and gunpowder were widespread in ancient times and where silk, ceramics, tea, metal implements, and other products were produced and exported around the globe. It examines the special conditions that allowed a single culture to unify an entire continent spanning 10 billion square kilometres under the rule of a single man—and the unbelievably rich artistic, literary, and architectural heritage that Chinese culture has bequeathed to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEqually fascinating is the story of China's decline in the 19th and early 20th centuries—as Europeans and Americans took centre-stage—and its modern resurgence as an economic powerhouse in recent years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToday, China is a land of gleaming skyscrapers and expressways with the world's largest consumer economy, its biggest network of high-speed trains, and a digital infrastructure second to none. But China is also beset by problems—a seemingly homogenous culture with 55 ethnic minorities and a top-down political system where checks and balances are largely absent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eClements goes back 5000 years and even brings readers through to the present day, outlining China's economic renaissance under Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping. Often seen in the West in black or white terms—as either a savage dystopia or a fantastical paradise—China is revealed in the book as an exceptional yet troubled nation that nevertheless warrants its self-description as the Middle Kingdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853288919276,"sku":"9780804850056","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15056103482474.jpg?v=1759195223"},{"product_id":"japan-at-war-in-the-pacific-by-jonathan-clements-9784805316474","title":"Japan at War in the Pacific","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eBy the time of Japan's surrender in 1945, an entire generation had grown up knowing nothing but conflict; but the transformation of Japan into a militarist power began decades earlier, with the toppling of the old samurai regime, and the rush of the formerly isolated nation onto the world stage.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eJapan at War in the Pacific\u003c\/i\u003e recounts the dramatic story of Japan's transformation from a Samurai-led feudal society to a modern military-industrial empire in the space of a few decades—and the many wars it fought along the way. These culminated in an attempt by Japan's military leaders to create an Asia-Pacific empire which at its greatest extent rivalled the British Empire in scope and power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe battle for supremacy in the Pacific brought the Japanese to great heights but led ultimately to the nation's utter devastation at the end of World War II, culminating with the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—the only time such weapons have been used in warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this book, author Jonathan Clements offers fascinating insights into:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe wars that Japan fought during its rise to supremacy in the western Pacific, including the Russo-Japanese War, the seizure of Manchuria and war in China, and the Pacific theatre of World War II.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe many military actions undertaken by Imperial Japanese forces including the horrific \"Rape of Nanjing,\" the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the decisive defeat at the Battle of Midway, the savage Battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima, and many more.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe motivations and beliefs of Japan's leaders, as well as the policy decisions of a government dedicated to expansion which ultimately led to a complete dismantling of the nation's political and social order during the Allied Occupation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith over 75 photographs and maps, this book vividly recounts the amazing story of Japan's military conquests. Clements charts the evolution of the Japanese empire in the Pacific and the influence of a ruthless military-led government on everything from culture and food to fashion and education—including the anthems and rallying calls of a martial nation which were silenced long ago but continue to echo in Asian politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853662343404,"sku":"9784805316474","price":44.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25555323483898.jpg?v=1759213484"},{"product_id":"mannerheim-by-jonathan-clements-9781907822575","title":"Mannerheim","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMannerheim\u003c\/em\u003e by Jonathan Clements profiles Baron Gustaf Mannerheim, one of the most significant figures of the twentieth century and the only man to be decorated by both sides during the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs a Finnish officer in Russian service, Mannerheim witnessed the coronation of the last Tsar. He was reprimanded for foolhardiness and decorated for bravery during the Russo-Japanese War. His two-year undercover mission in Asia for the 'Great Game' saw him posing as a Swedish anthropologist. Mannerheim crossed China on horseback, even taking time to instruct the 13th Dalai Lama in pistol shooting, while spying on the Japanese navy on his return journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1917, he narrowly escaped the Bolsheviks, arriving in newly-independent Finland just in time to lead the anti-Russian forces during a local revolt and civil war. During Finland's darkest hour, Mannerheim led the country's defence against overwhelming odds in the Winter War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis major new biography of Gustaf Mannerheim, the first to be published in over a decade, offers fresh historical insights, including previously unearthed details from Mannerheim’s time in China.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855805894892,"sku":"9781907822575","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7065823482867.jpg?v=1759278533"},{"product_id":"an-armchair-travellers-history-of-finland-by-jonathan-clements-9781909961005","title":"An Armchair Traveller's History of Finland","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the American mind, Finland is often swept up in the general group of Nordic countries, little known and seldom gaining prominence on its own. But as Jonathan Clements shows in \u003cem\u003eAn Armchair Traveller's History of Finland\u003c\/em\u003e, it has a long and fascinating history, one that offers oddities and excitements galore: from prehistoric herders to medieval lords, Christian martyrs and Viking kings, and the war heroes who held off the Soviet Union against long odds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eClements travels the length of the country as he tells these stories, along the way offering accounts of Finland's public artworks, literary giants, legends and folktales, and famous figures. 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It has been a capital for several states, including those headed by Mongolian chiefs and the glorious Ming emperors, whose tombs can still be found on its outskirts. And before all that, it was a campsite for primitive hominids, known as the Peking Man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Short History of Beijing\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of this remarkable city, from its more famous residents—Khubilai Khan, Marco Polo, and Chairman Mao—right up to the twenty-first century, as modern construction wiped out so much of the old city to make way for its twenty-million-strong population. Through his timely and intimate portrait of the world’s most populous capital city, Jonathan Clements reveals the history of China itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000543953132,"sku":"9781913368463","price":35.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/6353123482869.jpg?v=1763283249"},{"product_id":"a-short-history-of-finland-by-jonathan-clements-9781913368654","title":"A Short History of Finland","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA fascinating history of Finland from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe modern nation of Finland is the heir to centuries of history, as a wilderness at the edge of early Europe, a borderland of the Swedish empire, and a Grand Duchy of tsarist Russia. And, as Jonathan Clements’s vivid, concise volume shows, it is a tale paved with oddities and excitements galore: from prehistoric reindeer herders to medieval barons, Christian martyrs to Viking queens, and, in the twentieth century, the war heroes who held off the Soviet Union against impossible odds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOffering accounts of public artworks, literary giants, legends, folktales, and famous figures, Clements provides an indispensable portrait of this fascinating nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis updated edition includes expanded coverage on the Second World War, as well as new sections on Finns in America and Russia, the centenary of the republic, and Finland’s battle with COVID-19, right up to its historic application to join NATO.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000543985900,"sku":"9781913368654","price":33.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/6355033482869.jpg?v=1763283257"},{"product_id":"a-short-history-of-tokyo-by-jonathan-clements-9781912208975","title":"A Short History of Tokyo","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTokyo, which in Japanese means the “Eastern Capital,” has only enjoyed that name and status for 150 years. 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He illuminates the Tokyo of the twentieth century with its destruction and redevelopment, boom and bust without forgoing the thousand years of history that have led to the Eastern Capital as we know it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTokyo is so entwined with the history of Japan that it can be hard to separate them, and \u003ci\u003eA Short History of Tokyo\u003c\/i\u003e tells both the story of the city itself and offers insight into Tokyo’s position at the nexus of power and people that has made the city crucial to the events of the whole country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000544084204,"sku":"9781912208975","price":35.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/22844033482868.jpg?v=1763283265"},{"product_id":"anime-by-jonathan-clements-9781839025129","title":"Anime","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJapanese animation is at the nexus of an international multimedia industry worth over $23.6 billion a year, linked to everything from manga to computer games, Pokémon, and plushies. In this comprehensive guide, Jonathan Clements chronicles the production and reception history of the entire medium, from a handful of hobbyists in the 1910s to the Oscar-winning \u003ci\u003eSpirited Away\u003c\/i\u003e and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExploring the cultural and technological developments of the past century, Clements addresses how anime’s history has been written by Japanese scholars and covers previously neglected topics such as wartime instructional animation and work-for-hire for American clients. Founded on the testimonies of industry professionals, and drawing on a myriad of Japanese-language documents, memoirs, and books, \u003ci\u003eAnime: A History\u003c\/i\u003e illuminates the anime business from the inside – investigating its innovators, its unsung heroes, and its controversies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis new edition has been updated and revised throughout, with full-colour illustrations and three new chapters on anime’s fortunes among Chinese audiences and subcontractors, 21st-century trends in ‘otaku economics’, and the huge transformations brought about by the rise of global streaming technology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PTY Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47362513699052,"sku":"9781839025129","price":68.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21236113482842.jpg?v=1772886224"},{"product_id":"money-and-me-by-jonathan-clements-9781804093757","title":"Money and Me","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's called personal finance for a reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHow can we use our income and wealth to make ourselves happier? What drives our financial decisions? How should we think about retirement and the financial markets?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe answers to these questions vary for each of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJoin renowned financial writer Jonathan Clements on a fascinating journey to explore the connection between money and the rest of our lives. In this thoughtful guide to personal finance, he covers a wealth of topics including effective savings and investing strategies, good financial habits, as well as insightful life lessons and sage advice for nurturing meaningful relationships and personal happiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFull of wisdom, humour and sentiment, \u003cem\u003eMoney and Me\u003c\/em\u003e combines the articles Jonathan wrote for HumbleDollar with deeply personal anecdotes from his own life. He shares his reflections upon receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis and the subsequent financial decisions it prompted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNo matter your age or situation, you will be able to apply his wisdom to your own financial practices and strive ever closer to the goal of financial freedom for yourself and your family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macmillan Publishers New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47550348263660,"sku":"9781804093757","price":49.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781804093757-money-and-me.jpg?v=1776801747"},{"product_id":"an-armchair-travellers-history-of-tokyo-by-jonathan-clements-9781909961586","title":"An Armchair Traveller's History of Tokyo","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith almost 13 million residents, Tokyo is now as much an icon of modernity as it is a city, with its neon-lit billboards, futuristic technology, and avant-garde fashion scene. But the long and fascinating history of Japan’s modern capital encompasses much, much more, and in \u003cem\u003eAn Armchair Traveller’s History of Tokyo\u003c\/em\u003e, Jonathan Clements sketches the city’s amazing trajectory from its humble beginnings as a group of clearings in a forest on the Kanto plain all the way to its upcoming role as host of the 2020 Olympic Games.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTokyo, meaning “Eastern Capital,” has only enjoyed that name and status for 150 years. Before that, it was a medieval outpost designed to keep watch over rich farmlands. But this seemingly unassuming geographical location ultimately led to its status as a supercity. Though the imperial court ruled Japan from the sleepy city of Kyoto, the landowners of the Kanto plain where Tokyo lies held the true wealth and power in Japan, which they eventually asserted in a series of bloody civil wars. The Tokyo region became the administrative centre of Japan’s Shogun overlords and the site of a vibrant urban culture home to theatres, taverns, and brothels. 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