This volume deals with philosophical trends in Japan from the beginning of the Meiji era (1868) to the present, in connection with European philosophy, arranged in two chapters, a full chronological table of publications and an index of names.
The first chapter follows philosophical trends up to 1945; the first question treated is: How did the Japanese receive that European philosophy known as liberation and enlightenment? They soon began to develop their own philosophy, in particular under the influence of German idealism; for instance in the work of Nishida, Tanabe, Miki, Kuki and Watsuji.
The trend makes a 180-degree turn in 1945. The experiences of a defeated Japan lead to the confrontation with the self and all existing selves; it is once more a liberation, and there occurs then a new tendency, from 'reason' to 'body'; as, for instance, in Nakamura Hajime, Izutsu Toshihiko and Yuasa Yasuo.