Ben Waber reviewed Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914 by Dan Free
A Detailed, Western-Focused Chronology
4 stars
This book goes at a breakneck pace through the development of different railroads and associated industries across Japan during a formative period, occasionally providing historical context and analyses as a backdrop. Strangely, nearly all of the accounts of the railways that Free uses were written by foreigners, and while the contrast they provide with European and American railroads are helpful, it's a massive oversight that Japanese perspectives are rarely included. This is best viewed as a chronology, running through the events and technologies that led to the explosion of railways across the Japanese archipelago prior to WWI. There's a ton of information in the appendices and many great photos in the most recent edition. Highly recommend
This book goes at a breakneck pace through the development of different railroads and associated industries across Japan during a formative period, occasionally providing historical context and analyses as a backdrop. Strangely, nearly all of the accounts of the railways that Free uses were written by foreigners, and while the contrast they provide with European and American railroads are helpful, it's a massive oversight that Japanese perspectives are rarely included. This is best viewed as a chronology, running through the events and technologies that led to the explosion of railways across the Japanese archipelago prior to WWI. There's a ton of information in the appendices and many great photos in the most recent edition. Highly recommend