A superficial explanation of Japan's evolution from relative backwardness and isolation before 1868 often describes it in terms of a "late starter" successfully catching up and closing technological gaps with the West. Behind this lies a complex interaction of political, socio-cultural and economic forces. In twenty-one articles, this volume concentrates mainly on the transformation to modern economic growth in the Meiji period. The introduction highlights such controversial issues as the Tokugawa pre-conditions, the place of governments, social costs, technological borrowing and adaptation and the role of demography, dualism, agriculture, surplus labor, scarce capital and foreign trade.