Christopher Gerteis is a historian specializing in Modern and Contemporary Japan. His work particularly delves into the intricate histories of class and gender within this context. He offers insightful perspectives on how these social structures have evolved and shaped Japanese society.
"Examines the forces that shaped the political consciousness of Japanese youth who chose to engage in political violence during the 1960s and 1970s. The book argues in part that the intertwined political rhetoric of the far left and far right precipitated further levels of social alienation that helped to define the political consciousness of the 'Sixties Generation' well into the twenty-first century"--
Does Japan really matter anymore? The challenges of recent Japanese history have led some pundits and scholars to publicly wonder whether Japan's significance is starting to wane. The multidisciplinary essays that comprise Japan Since 1945 demonstrate its ongoing importance and relevance. Examining the historical context to the social, cultural, and political underpinnings of Japan's postwar development, the contributors re-engage earlier discourses and introduce new veins of research. Japan Since 1945 provides a much needed update to existing scholarly work on the history of contemporary Japan. It moves beyond the 'lost decade' and 'terrible devastation' frameworks that have thus far defined too much of the discussion, offering a more nuanced picture of the nation's postwar development.