Japan can seem mysterious and inaccessible to foreigners at times, especially if one does not speak the language. But, help is on the way. To bridge this gap, a set of 100 best books about Japan has been compiled for anyone who wants to get a firm grip on how to understand this complicated country from every angle.

These carefully selected contemporary books, written by experts in their respective fields, cover Japanese politics, government, international relations, economics, business, society, culture, literature, the arts, and history. The books are particularly chosen to help non-experts gain a basic understanding about Japan.

This set of must-read books will be donated absolutely free to individuals, cultural organizations, libraries, universities, and schools throughout the world by The Nippon Foundation. The book selection committee, established by the foundation, comprised recognized experts from Japan and abroad.

This is just the start. Eventually, the set will contain 300 books.

The current "100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan" contains titles such as: Japan Rising, The Resurgence of Japanese Power and Purpose by Kenneth Pyle; Who Was Responsible?--a comprehensive study by Japan's prestigious daily Yomiuri newspaper about the decisions that led to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the start of the Pacific War; Tsukiji, The Fish Market at the Center of the World, by Theodore Bestor--a colorful insider's look at how to understand Japanese culture by looking at what they eat; plus more subjects which are delightfully informative and educational.

These books will expand contemporary international knowledge and understanding about Japan reaching a wider audience than ever before, supplementing in a more substantial and long-term way the things that people have seen about Japan in movies and television. The target audience goes beyond just academics or experts to reach out to a broader range of intellectuals, politicians, business people, and interested individuals. This 100-book donation project is thus unique in this sense. It puts good quality books about Japan on library shelves that are within reach of ordinary people.

The result, it is hoped, will be a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of contemporary Japan that transcends stereotypes and out-dated ideas.