This book, which Barth himself called "the happiest" of all his works, is inspired by his travels to Japan and, more broadly, by the "Japanese text" of his life. In his early years, he was fascinated by haiku, and later by calligraphy, bunraku theater, and more.

Barth's "illustrated guide" to the country (both real and imagined) is a place where he dreamed of living but never managed to settle. The Russian translation of "Empire of Signs," first published in 2004, is now released in a new edition, complete with detailed commentary and an afterword by the translator and editor.