The history of Japanese style is entwined with many factors: the country’s heritage of hand-craftsmanship; its relationship with the US in the post-WWII years; the giddy consumerism of the economy boom in the 1980s; and the creation of the manga and anime industries. It’s a rich, dramatic story with many twists and turns, unpredictable offshoots and a long tradition of youth-led street style driving the overall agenda. In other words, it’s not what you might call simple. That’s why, as we launch The Japan Edit, our latest collection of Japanese exclusives, we at MR PORTER thought it would be a good idea to recommend some reading to do alongside your shopping. We have compiled a short list of titles, below, that should serve as a good starting point for anyone interested in Japanese style and aesthetics. Now, of course, as with any list, there are many omissions here – particularly because we have restricted ourselves (with one exception) to English-language books that are in print and widely available from European and American bookshops and online retailers. If you want to get some of the basics nailed, this is where to begin.