ABSTRACT
The country was more democratic, and with the aid of politicians such as Kakuei Tanaka, policy was focused on improving the economic and social standing of the average Japanese. Tanaka’s autobiography starts by noting the historical background of his home village, in which the local lord ruled his feudal domain, like all others, by means of the samurai, who were primarily warriors at first but evolved into a class of high-level civil servants. Tanaka showed himself to be an able student with a remarkable memory and an enthusiasm for learning which made him stand out from his fellow pupils. Tanaka also toyed with the idea of joining the military – one of the few avenues of advancement for able children of poor farm families in pre-war Japan. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
