Japan Today and Tomorrow (1914) by Hamilton Wright Mabie

No attempt is made in this book to describe in detail the Japan of to-day as the traveler sees it in its schools, industries, banking, administration, army and navy organization and activity; reports of the changes and developments of the last sixty years may be found in an increasing literature of information. It is a story of such dramatic interest, of such striking contrasts, of such rapid changes of external occupation, methods of work and habits of life, that it has found many recorders. Never before in historic times has the transformation of a civilization been accomplished with such intrepid intelligence or with such efficiency. Japan has changed occupations, tools and methods,