Joshua Frydman

An interesting guide to Japanese mythology. Engaging, and contains many captivating illustrations. Although this is meant to be a primer, the summaries of information that I read immediately previous were unnecessary. Ultimately, I would recommend this to anyone who is unfamiliar and wishing to learn more about Japanese mythology.

Informative and long-winded at the expense of clarity. Frydman delivers the raw material for an excellent text. Thames & Hudson's editor(s) did not do enough to extract the precious metals from the slag.

A sentence-level example: "Richū is only the second ruler (after the ill-dated Chūai) to have a short reign, and the first whose lifespan is realistic in length." (p. 90)

Can be a bit heavy going in some sections and getting your tongue around the names is not easy. However, it is a informative read and highlights that possibility that everyone's cultural history could have started from a common story.
Cannot wait to read the others in the series