Myths and Legends of Japan: Restored & Annotated Edition Hardcover – December 20, 2025

An essential classic of Japanese folklore—restored, annotated, and beautifully contextualized for modern readers.First published in 1912, Myths & Legends of Japan by F. Hadland Davis introduced generations of English-speaking readers to the imaginative world of Japanese gods, spirits, heroes, and uncanny traditions. Drawing on ancient chronicles, medieval tale collections, and living folk belief, Davis gathered stories of creation and catastrophe, fox spirits and snow women, sacred mountains and haunted bells.This Bunbu Editions critical release presents Davis’s influential work in a newly prepared edition designed for both general readers and serious students of Japanese culture.✦ What makes this edition unique• Carefully restored textThe original prose has been preserved while correcting inconsistencies, modernizing romanization, and resolving transcription errors common to early twentieth-century printings.• Scholarly endnotes throughoutOver 250 concise endnotes clarify mythological references, religious concepts, festivals, and supernatural beings. Classical Japanese sources such as the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and Konjaku Monogatari-shū are identified where relevant, with gentle clarification of outdated interpretations when necessary.• Cultural and historical contextReaders are guided through Shintō and Buddhist belief, Edo-period folklore, and the literary traditions behind celebrated tales such as Kaguya-hime, Urashima Tarō, Issunbōshi, Kintarō, Yuki-onna, and the Peony Lantern.• Restored classic illustrations by Evelyn PaulThis edition includes carefully prepared reproductions of Evelyn Paul’s iconic early twentieth-century illustrations, whose refined line work and restrained composition helped shape the Western visual imagination of Japanese myth and legend.• Extensive reference indexA newly constructed index allows readers to locate deities, supernatural beings, places, texts, and themes with ease—ideal for study, teaching, and research.• Designed for readability and studyClear typography, consistent modern Hepburn romanization with macrons, and a balanced scholarly tone make this edition suitable for classrooms, personal libraries, and long-term reference.Neither a simplified retelling nor an academic retranslation, this edition bridges the gap between classic storytelling and responsible scholarship.Ideal for readers interested in Japanese mythology, folklore, religion, art, literature, and the supernatural. Read more