Roots of Japan. From Tanuki to Kabuki

Alexander Raevsky - a historian and Japanologist, PhD in psychology, associate professor at Tohoku University (Japan). He graduated from the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University, defending his doctoral dissertation on the religious sect "Aum Shinrikyo". In 2019, he moved to Japan, where he still lives and works.

Before you is the second part of the book "I Understood Japan", continuing the story of the mysterious island nation that has captivated the world with its amazing culture. As in the first book, only the most important and interesting information from the vast array of scientific data about Japan is selected, and academic knowledge is presented in a lively and easy language, to make the acquaintance with this country as engaging as possible and help the reader understand and love it.
This book is for those who have already delved a little into the history and customs of Japan but would like to learn more about the roots of this amazing culture hidden in the depths of the centuries that made it what we know and love today. This time the focus will be on the religion and art of Japan. These topics are not easy to discuss, but without them, it is impossible to fully understand this country. 
In the pages of this book, you will find:
• ancient gods, myths about the origin of Japan, and strange religious rituals;
• werewolves, ghosts, evil spirits, and dark forces - what has frightened the Japanese since ancient times to the present day;
• the main aesthetic principles of Japanese art - what is beautiful for the Japanese and why;
• poetic tournaments of aristocrats and theatrical performances of mountain hermits.

Get ready: the journey to the roots of Japan might be much more exciting than you expected!