Studies in the Institutional History of Early Modern Japan

The collection features twenty-two essays from prominent historians that challenge the perception of the Tokugawa Period as merely a feudal era awaiting modernization. By presenting eight previously unpublished works, the authors argue that Japan possessed significant institutional advancements prior to the Meiji Period. This compilation highlights the early development of modernization preconditions, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in comparative and Japanese modernization studies.