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"Scandal in Japan" by Igor Prusa explores the role of scandals in Japanese culture and institutions, highlighting the contrast between how Japan and the Western world handle public scandals. The book provides a theoretical background, case studies on celebrity, political, and corporate scandals, and examines the ritualistic aspect of scandal as a social performance. It also delves into the influence of the Japanese media and its relationship with elite power circles. The book concludes that scandals in Japan often have little lasting impact and are more for entertainment than catalysts for change. Overall, "Scandal in Japan" offers valuable insights into Japanese culture, media studies, and the dynamics of scandal. [Extracted from the article]

This article reviews a Furuno Mitsugi's book, published in 2008, on the role of the Hosokawa clan in ruling Japan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), when the imperial family and the Ashikaga clan struggled for power. The book examines the extent of political control the Hosokawa clan maintained, and the extent that it symbolized stability in a volatile, unsteady period. The reviewer, whose critique is based partly on the his reading of three previous critiques of Furuno's work, calls the book highly significant for the study of both the Muromachi and Sengoku periods, and his collation of resources substantial.

Presents a list of essays included in the book "Islands of Discontent: Okinawan Responses to Japanese and American Power," edited by Laura Hein and Mark Selden.