The Story of Japan: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

The Story of Japan, credited to Robert van Bergen, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of The Story of Japan by Robert van Bergen. Read in English by LibriVox volunteers Robert van Bergen was one of the first Americans to enter Japan after the country opened its borders to foreign visitors following centuries of isolation. He taught English to Japanese aristocrats, eventually becoming principal of the Nobles' School in Tokyo. This book, which he wrote for young readers during his stay in the country, was first published in 1897. It includes many illustrations. From the preface: "Our schoolbooks on geography and general history touch but lightly upon the Japanese Empire, and it is for the purpose of enabling children to obtain a correct idea of the people, and of the impulses leading to the rapid progress of the past quarter of a century, that "The Story of Japan" has been written. [...] While the thread of historical events runs throughout this book, many incidents and characteristic stories have been cited to illustrate the manners and customs of the various periods. As the book is designed for children, the stories are clothed in simple form and language, which will, it is hoped, render them attractive to the young mind." (Summary by Kazbek)

Recording facts

• Recording title: The Story of Japan
• Author credits: Robert van Bergen
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 38
• Listed recording duration: 6:30:52

Catalogue topics

• children
• Asia
• japanese history
• history of japan

Opening tracks: first 24 of 38

1. 01 - Preface — 2:57
2. 02 - Jimmu, First Emperor of Japan — 6:50
3. 03 - Story of Yamato Daké — 7:33
4. 04 - Prince Bravest's Conquests — 5:18
5. 05 - First Invasion of Korea — 6:29
6. 06 - Buddhism brought to Japan — 6:16
7. 07 - The Oldest Clans of Japan — 5:47
8. 08 - Minamoto defeats Taira — 10:28
9. 09 - Story of "Young Ox" — 4:58
10. 10 - The Last of the Minamoto — 6:03
11. 11 - An Independent Tennô — 7:05
12. 12 - Christianity in Japan — 7:23
13. 13 - A Great General — 5:52
14. 14 - The Lord Of the Golden Water Gourds — 7:34
15. 15 - The Second Invasion of Korea — 9:10
16. 16 - The Three Hollyhock Leaves — 11:34
17. 17 - The Dutch in Japan — 16:44
18. 18 - Persecutions of the Christians — 7:29
19. 19 - Restrictions of the Dutch — 15:23
20. 20 - A Visit to the Regent — 7:31
21. 21 - A Shrewd Judge — 5:58
22. 22 - Tosa's Revenge — 8:55
23. 23 - A Wife's Noble Act — 6:24
24. 24 - The Forty-seven Rônin — 26:10

Listen to this recording

Open the complete recording and player on Internet Archive. The player includes the full track list and available download formats.

Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.