Haruhiko Kindaichi (1913–2004)

It's not a comprehensive review of Japanese liguistics; however, it's an interesting and readable introduction to Japanese linguistics for any lay reader. It will not help you learn Japanese, but I would find it hard to believe any student of Japanese would be bored by this text. The author's son Hideho is well known in Japan as lecturer on Japanese, and his father was a collector of Ainu folktales and wrote on their language.

As someone who knew virtually nothing about Japanese etymology, I found this text to be well-structured, informative, and very readable. Also, a truly impressive translation -- and many gracious kudos from author to translator, which is unusual and in this case richly deserved.

Interesting, although a bit Nihonjinron.