Unbeaten Tracks in Japan

Kiyonori Kanasaka, a distinguished geographer at Kyoto University (Emeritus 2011), is widely recognized as Japan’s leading researcher on Isabella Bird. He has published extensively in Japanese on the subject, including a full annotated translation of the original two-volume (1880) edition of Unbeaten Tracks in Japan. He is also known worldwide for his ‘Twin Time Travel’ photographic exhibition, which he has taken to many countries – presenting Bird’s descriptions of what she wrote about in her books in juxtaposition with illustrations of the present. In particular, in the course of his research over the last thirty years he has developed a ‘scientific approach’ to understanding Bird and her writings, with a view to clarifying many misconceptions about Bird – where she went and what she did – the inspiration for doing so deriving in part from the fact that much of what is known of Bird and Japan has been based on the abbreviated version of Unbeaten Tracks used widely by scholars and researchers in modern times. This book, therefore, first published in Japanese, represents the essence of the author’s life’s work on Bird.

Author’s Preface to the English Edition ix
The Kanasaka Commentaries: xxv
Background to the Publication of the Abridged Edition, 1885 xxv
Structure of the Abridged Edition and Organization of this Annotated Edition xxx
Treatment of Bird’s footnotes in this edition xxxiii
Map of Isabella Bird’s Journeys through Japan Endpapers
The Original Work
UNBEATEN TRACKS IN JAPAN
AN ACCOUNT OF TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR INCLUDING VISITS TO THE ABORIGINES OF YEZO AND THE SHRINE OF NIKKÔ
BY ISABELLA L. BIRD