The Emperor and his aristocratic entourage, institutions of power and conspiracies, foreign policy and lifestyle, perception of space and time, myths and religion. Why is Japan called Japan? Why did the Japanese refuse to drink milk? Why do the Japanese respect scientists? About all this and much more - in the most detailed presentation that exists in European languages. Table of contents: Preface 5 History of ancient Japan Geographical conditions and historical and cultural process 13 Section I. Prehistoric Japan Chapter 1. General state of Japanese archeology 30 Chapter 2. Paleolithic 39 Chapter 3. Jo:mon (Neolithic) 42Chapter 4. Yayoi (Bronze-Iron Age) 61Chapter 5. Kurgan period (kofun) 85Section II. Early historical JapanChapter 6. Written sources on the early history of Japan 111Chapter 7. Formation of the Yamato state 130Chapter 8. Asuka period 152Section III. Nara PeriodChapter 9. Written sources on the history and culture of the Nara period 182Chapter 10. Political history 200Chapter 11. Institutional history 243Chapter 12. Social structure 275Chapter 13. Economy 275Chapter 14. The city of Nara and its inhabitants 308Chapter 15. State and information processes 341Chapter 16. Formation state ideology 361Chapter 17. Japan and the outside world 385Chapter 18. Picture of the world 405Appendices - Synchronistic table 455 - Early Japanese emperors. Dates of reign, mottos of reign (nengo) 456- Maps of Japan 499- Ranks 504- Structure of the state apparatus 506- Hierarchy of institutions of the state apparatus 511- Nominal composition of the Giseikan 512- Four categories of positions 517- Correspondence between rank and position 518- Table of weights and measures 525 Index geographical names 528Index of proper names 534Index of titles of works 541