Peasants, Rebels, and Outcastes: The Underside of Modern Japan, 2nd Edition Book

Reluctantly, I wasn't sure if I could enjoy reading this nine-chapter book, "Peasants, Rebels, and Outcastes: The Underside of Modern Japan" by Professor Mikiso Hane since it looked a bit highly-academic with innumerable references. However, I gradually found the author's style of narrative amazingly enriched by citing data/information from related various sources, that is, "… diaries, memoirs, fiction, trial testimony, personal recollections, and eyewitness accounts" (back cover); therefore, its reader simply couldn't help feeling embittered for such pityingly sad plights of those unfortunate Japanese rarely read or known from past publications. Generally, we tend to prefer reading on Japanese glory rather than on her shame. A reason is that, I think, the author has scholarly weaved a tale revealing some facts in which those concerned would learn from the past, that is, from history itself so that all sections/people wisely get more developed by eradicating such backward follies and keeping pioneering in the world as effectively moved by the Japanese wisdom and character.