On a clear, sunny day in July, Yuval Zohar boarded a ferry at Kagoshima port, on Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu, and headed to the tiny island of Iojima (not to be confused with Iwo Jima, ...

The story of Japan began with a dance, writes Lesley Downer, in her brisk and aptly titled book. Amaterasu, the mythical progenitor of Japan’s imperial line 2,600 years ago, was lured from her ...

In September last year, the book won the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Award at the Japan Book Design Awards, which recognise books with beautiful design and bookbinding.