Kingdom of the Sick: A History of Leprosy and Japan by Susan L. Burns, and: Uncertainty, Anxiety, Frugality: Dealing with Leprosy in the Dutch East Indies, 1816–1942 by Leo van Bergen (review)

Abstract

Published by the Harvard-Yenching Institute HJAS 81 (2021): 345–351 and research, but it falls short in providing a foundational bibliography for these areas. That said, Bullock’s stylish and succinct writing makes this book ideal for college students and general readers, even if this accessibility means there is not as much discussion of previous scholarship and theory as one might like. Overall, the book’s many strengths, including short chapters with well-organized, clear, and engaging discussion, make it perfect for use in undergraduate classes. Chapters can easily be assigned independently if needed, since each chapter begins with a framing discussion and ends with a restatement of the main claims and supporting evidence, with further elaboration on the significance of Bullock’s research. In sum, this book provides a wonderfully readable and trenchant examination of postwar education, youth identity, and gender politics in the immediate postwar period. Coeds Ruining the Nation is highly recommended for all readers, especially those who teach courses on education and women’s issues in Japan.