Japan is uncultured, or rather uncultured. It did not have and does not have either a technical culture or a philosophical culture; it has borrowed and is borrowing too much, but does not know how to use it properly. She disfigured the Chinese culture borrowed from China, now she is disfiguring European culture.” Such an extraordinary review belongs to the remarkable orientalist Vasily Melentyevich Mendrin, who devoted his entire life to the study of the culture, literature and language of Japan. The book offered to the reader is a translation of Rai Jo’s work “Nihon Gaishi,” known in Russia as “The Unofficial History of Japan.” This translation was published in separate editions in the Izvestia of the Eastern Institute in Vladivostok from 1910 to 1915. In total, 6 books out of 22 were translated. The main text of the translation is accompanied by comments, additional and reference materials. In this edition, these materials are separated into a separate volume. The transcription of Japanese words and names has been replaced with the one currently used. Spelling and punctuation are brought into line with modern standards of the Russian literary language. Professional knowledge of the language, deeply personal interest in the topic and source material, an original look at a little-studied period of history, and at the same time, individual style and humor, make the book ints・ readable for a wide audience circle of readers.