Funnily enough there is another, much older book also called Soul of Japan, that may actually capture its essence.
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12096 https://librivox.org/bushido-the-soul-of-japan-by-inazo-nito...
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12096 https://librivox.org/bushido-the-soul-of-japan-by-inazo-nito...
"Japan: An attempt at interpretation" (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5979) and
"Tales of Old Japan" (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13015)
Especially "Japan: An attempt at interpretation" I found remarkable, It really struck a cord and goes in-depth on cultural expectations and habits in Kami (villages). "Tales of Old Japan" is a great collection of mythological tales.