Japanese Cultural Encounters

by Hiroko Kataoka

For All Students Presents more than 50 real-life episodes of cultural conflicts and discusses the best solutions to them.

Genres: Japan

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 1991

Reviews

[Ercilia Delancer · Rating 1 out of 5]

As someone currently living in Japan, I picked up this book to become more familiar with its customs, but found the format simply bewildering. If this book is ever reprinted, the author needs to consider her potential readers and how maddening it is to look at the end of the book for the right answers. I believe they should be printed on the page right after the scenario described.

[Leonard Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but after a while I was annoyed with constantly going to the back of the book to find the answer. I appreciate that it was written from a Japanese perspective, but I think I am done with these types of books until we move to Japan.

[Holly Franquet · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a textbook, people. It was designed to give the teacher a quick activity to do at the beginning or end of class or to assign as a very quick homework supplement. The weird design of the answer key is so that students don’t look at the answer right away but have to think about it. For someone who knows a lot about Japan already, it’s pretty easy. It’s even easier if you know how multiple-choice tests are designed!

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has a rather unconventional format. Each page briefly describes hypothetical situations involving Westerners interacting with Japanese people. At the end of the description there is are four possible explanations of the cultural situation. You choose the one that you think is closest to the truth and then look up its reference in the back of the book where you find out whether you were right or not.

A wide range of situations are covered ranging from superficial cultural differences (e.g., blowing nose in public, slurping noodles) to deeper differences (e.g., hierarchical society, indirect expression of thoughts). There is a total of 56 situations that are categorized into four sections:

I. Human Relations at Work and Leisure
II. Etiquette, Formalities, and Customs
III. Commonly Misused or Misunderstood Expressions
IV. Handy Trivia

Having lived in Japan for five years I could relate to many of the situations described. It made me realize again just how easy it is to make a cultural faux pas. My Japanese wife also enjoyed this book. Highly recommended for any one who wants to be more comfortable with Japanese culture.