An Introduction to Japanese Society, Second Edition

Contemporary Japanese Society

by Yoshio Sugimoto

This revised edition has been updated to cover developments in the five years since the first edition was published. Yoshio Sugimoto challenges the traditional notion that Japan is an homogeneous society with few cultural and social disparities.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Sociology, History, Cultural, Politics, Anthropology

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Yoshio Sugimoto is a writer and sociologist professor at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. He grew up in Kyoto where he graduated from the Kyoto University with a BA in Law and Politics.

From there he worked as a staff writer at the Mainichi Shinbun, which is a national level Japanese newspaper. He got his PhD in Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un manual útil, interesante y detallado para adentrarse en la sociedad japonesa y conocer y entender varios de sus aspectos a través de numerosas gráficas y tablas de datos. Me hubiera gustado que incluyera alguna fotografía y que las palabras japonesas que aparecen estuvieran acompañadas de sus respectivos kanji. Quitando que me he sentido ofendida pero reflejada en varias de las definiciones de otaku que presenta, es una buena lectura para los interesados en Japón y sus gentes.

[長谷川 純一郎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for any introductory course for Japanese Studies. Yoshio Sugimoto presents a very unbiased view of Japanese society, and covers many different aspects, such as gender, hierarchy(the vertical society), and education that play daily roles in the maintaining of the structure and implement of Japanese ways. Excellent reading for anyone with an interest in Japan, necessary reading for any student of Japanese Studies.

[Akflier300 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This basic sociology text covered all the bases, from basic history to a population overview, education, politics, culture. Written for a basic course on the subject, it's ideal for expats and newcomers looking for a solid reference on life in Japan. One complaint is that the discussion on culture, while it lays out a basic framework of high art and pop culture like anime and manga, leaves a void in the space that Japan's wonderful film industry occupies. A more literate reader may take issue with some of the weight Sugimoto gives various trends and how the author interprets data, but this is an essential text for anyone interested in living and learning in Japan.

[Thư · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it because he's a Japanese so his writing is a little bit like protecting the Japanese view and sometimes even exaggerating the great of Japanese culture? I think yes. For example, in the geographical variation part, I did not agree in the way people raised outside Tokyo are considered as bilingual. In a basic scale, they are all speaking one language which is Nihongo (Japanese). They only have differences in the word choice, dialect, and accent. Therefore, they cannot be called bilingual. Also, the kind of geographical variations exists in every culture, not only in Japan. His statistics and information are usually (too) outdated. For instance, it is given that people in many parts of Japan did not have the consciousness that they were Nihonjin. Nevertheless, recently, this situation has raised to a new level which even causes discrimination to 'Gaijin'. Not only in daily life but also in law, the rights of gaijin are not fully protected (One funny fact, before the residence card of foreigners in Japan changed its name to 'zairyu card', its previous name literally means 'alien registration card' :v such a 'fantastic' experience to become an alien once you get to Japan). One thing I really don't like about this book is that many of his points are not strong and deep enough to make claims or at least give the core of an issue. For instance, when talking about gender inequality, he didn't really point out the problem of the Japanese society itself causing this situation. At home, how can a child learn the gender equality if he or she sees his or her mom is always busy with the housework when the dad comes home and just sits there waiting for the meal (I don't remember the term exactly but they called this as 'miso soup' issue in Japan). This is a really common type of Japanese family. At school, the education should also change itself to adjust the situation. It should find a way to teach the children that the thinking like 'men should work outside and women should stay home' is already fogy. In that case, the 'new' children will grow up with a different mind. However, I doubt if they really teach that at school. One last thing, I would be happy if somehow, the author just admits that the Japanese culture is actually based on the Chinese one. Still, this reading is suitable for college-level learning about Japanese society.

[Ruri Gokou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Japanese society is nothing like how you think it is. The book.

I have been living and working in Japan for close to 4 years now, but I really don't know much about the modern culture and the kinds of real issues Japan is having.This book did a great job as an introduction, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Japan or living in Japan.

Sadly I didn't know there was a fourth edition so I picked up the third edition instead. I will pick up the fourth some time in the future.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a university student going through this book during my Japanese study course, I have to say that this is probably the best book to have in any Japanese related curriculum. It is jammed packed with political science, sociological and historical information. It covers so much and tells you the hard truth about what foreigners might not see nor experience when living in Japan for a few years. I didn't, so this was really an eye opener for me.
HOWEVER, that being said, people shouldn't go in and read this book and think it is unbiased.
You can feel an underlying displeasure towards the inner workings of the Japanese society, and you can almost taste the word "corruption" between the lines multiple times, when reading about certain areas. Yoshio Sugimoto left Japan to continue studying in America and has lived most of his adult life in America and still hasn't returned to Japan, and you can understand why, with his critical writing of the Japanese society. But as mentioned earlier, a lot of foreigners won't experience nor see a lot of these things mentioned in the book anyway.
So if you are really interested in moving to Japan or just really interested in learning more about Japan, don't let this hard truth about this magnificent country ruin it. I have classmates who simply dropped out of Japanese studies, because it sounded tough and corrupted in a way where they couldn't imagine a future working in or with Japan.
So I need to say this; It's good to know about the inner workings of a country, and important too if you want to build a future there. But one mans bias shouldn't stop you from experiencing the good parts or generalize all Japanese. Go there and experience it and then decide for yourself how it affects you.
Now that has been said, I will of course also say that I most definitely would recommend this book.

[potatoeros · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book only retained its three star rating because its content was genuinely interesting throughout, though the end of the book felt very stretched at times.
The author has to be aware of the fact that his book is doubtlessly mandatory in many non-English speaking university courses, read by students on a time limit, so I struggle to understand why he uses so many unnecessarily difficult words.
Most of the words I had to look up could have been replaced by easier alternatives, without altering the quality of the text, but instead the author opted to showcase his proficiency. I would understand if it were just terminology, but that wasn't the case.
Overall, it's a good book if you want to learn about Japanese society. Some of the topics and arguments could have been fleshed out more, but as it's an introduction, I can see why the author chooses to leave them out.

[Yalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a splendid work by Professor Sugimoto, written in a clear and sober fashion, aiming simply to describe the Japanese society. It lifts the veil of "Cool Japan" most of us see on the outside and allows the reader to peer inside, which might surprise and disillusion some about Japan whilst others may remain entirely unfazed. It is definitely a work I would recommend to anyone wishing to learn more about Japan, or have decided to study the socio-politics of Japan, as a beginners level source.

[Yusuf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a decent introduction to the Japanese society, so it can be a good starting point for everyone to learn more about it. Even though it is not too long, every chapter give a nuanced explanation and provide a deep understanding about various aspects of the Japanese society.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for a book that covers these topics for a long time, but I've had a hard time finding one in English. Sugimoto presents a well researched and thoroughly cited introduction to Japan as a heterogenous and complex society as opposed to the Tokyo-centric perspective that is usually portrayed in the media.

I only have two minor complaints. The first is that Sugimoto has never met a social issue that cannot be summed up by dividing it along two axes and then using these 4 made-up examples to discuss an entire population. In general, most of the tables and charts felt like something you'd put on a power point slide when you didn't have a graphic for that part of the talk. The second is that Sugimoto has some biases. Certain aspects of Japanese society receive more analysis and criticism than others. That's to be expected to some extent because this is just intended to be an introduction. It's not egregious, but it is noticeable.

[TGHD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best sociological analysis of Japan available in english. Especially good for being contemporary and not relying on mithical accounts of Japan

[rixx]

[Extremely strong recommendation here](https://www.kalzumeus.com/2014/11/07/...)

[vozhugueperla · Rating 4 out of 5]

he llegado ya a niveles de orientalismo altísimos tras leerme esto entero… muy interesante y lo mas chulo conocer algo a traves de sus contradicciones

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit out of date as it came out before smartphones and social media, there are still lessons to be learned.

[Sara K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes through every single aspect of japanse society in order to give you a comprehensive understanding of how it works. Great foundation to build of your knowledge about Japan.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't actually have a reason why I'm reading this book. I picked it up in the school library because it looked interesting, not because of lessons or anything (although I suppose it has some application w.r.t PEST analysis). But apart from my suspicions that Rena and I are secretly nerds (well, one of us is from ACS(I) and the other from Hwa Chong), it's probably because we want to learn more about the country we're living in (If you're curious, Rena borrowed a book on the Ainu and one of the religious practices of Japan).

Anyway, this book really is a brief introduction to Japanese society. So here, in brief, are the names 10 chapters and what I think of them.

1. The Japan Phenomenon and the Social Sciences - Basically, the introduction where it tells you what the author doesn't like about how most people view Japan and how he intends to find a middle ground.

2. Class and Stratification: An Overview - Japan likes to think it's egalitarian, but it's not.

3. Geographical and Generational Variations - A quick look at how different parts of Japan differ from each other in terms of culture, language, business, etc as well as how each generation (post-war, global generation, etc) differ and it's implications.

4. Forms of Work in Cultural Capitalism - probably the second most interesting chapter and the most relevant one for me. But I think that the look into Japanese Business Management wasn't deep enough, but then again, this isn't a Business Administration textbook.

5. Diversity and Unity in Education - So apparently, the "exam hell" we hear about isn't that bad. But university as a four-year-break? Um... well, I see a lot of my friends/senpai's working really hard here. So maybe it's no longer the case?

6. Gender Stratification and the Family System - It's very unfair to the ladies. Although I'm not sure what to make of the point about the women taking the guy's family name after marraige. I thought that was normal....

7. 'Japanese', Ethnicity, and Minority Groups - in a very ToK fashion, the author first askes the question "who are the Japanese" and kinda proves that this question cannot be answered. And then, we go on to look at the different minority groups like Rena's favourite Ainu, the Koreans and the Burakumin.

8. Collusion and Competition in the Establishment - Politics in Japan. It's a nice introduction, but if you want an in depth look, you should go and read Japanese Politics Today (from Karaoke to Kabuki Democracy).

9. Popular Culture and Everyday Life - Quite naturally, my favourite chapter, especially as it covers things like popular culture, folk culture and alternative culture.

10. Civil Society and Friendly Authoritarianism - Trying to make the case that life in Japan is 'authoritarian', Although I think that if you compare it to Singapore, Singapore might be considered stricter (at least, that's what a lot of Japanese say, especially when they hear about the stance towards gum and littering). But I wonder, is it wrong for everyone to act in a way that promotes harmony? And when does harmony lead to conformity?

All in all, an interesting book, especially if you're looking to a brief introduction. You won't become and expert on Japanese society after reading this book, but you'll definitely have learnt something. It's a bit dry at times though, so be warned!

First posted at With Love from Japan, Eustacia

[Armando Bravo salcido · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro provee una excelente primera aproximación académica y sociológica a la sociedad japonesa (no es un texto propiamente de divulgación y por elló más que vívidas imágenes para encender la imaginación muchas veces nos provee de tablas, estadísticas, esquemas).

Su tésis central con respecto a la metodología, y quízas uno de los aspectos mas interesantes del libro, es la crítica a una idea pre-construida de "Japoneseidad", una imagén abstracta que nos permitiria pensar todo fenomeno japonés en su singularidad. Primero porque todas las imagenes prehechas resultan falsas a una vista más atenta, por ejemplo, el estereotipo del salary man japones sindicalizado se desvanece cuando las estadisticos nos dicen que en japón hay mas mujeres, trabajodores de pequeños negocios y no sindicalizados, pero esta otra imagén mas acertada estadisticamente, tampóco sería la correcta de la japoneseidad, más bien habría que tratar de enteder el complejo de relaciones y oposiciones de las distintas imágenes de japón como la imágen mas adecuada de japón.

El autor aborda algunos de los temas fundamentales de toda sociedad, modelo económico, gerencial, cultura laborarl, familia, vida cotidiana, cultura, diferencias y opresión de género, educación, valores, ideologías, dobles códigos, religión. Todo con suficiente profundización para darte una idea de los problemas y conceptos generales de cada rubro, pero dejando el deseo de profundizar en obras mas especializadas sobre cada tema.

[Tobi ﾄﾋﾞ · Rating 5 out of 5]

intelligently written

[Bahia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great primer on Japanese culture. It's interesting even if you've lived in Japan in the past, but accessible enough for someone who doesn't know much about Japan. The book also challenges some assumptions about Japan. This book is definitely a resource and is not the type of book you'd sit down and read from cover to cover. I read it for a class and I always appreciate books that don't feel like a chore to read. I definitely recommend it for people interested in learning about Japan or looking for information about Japan's political system, minorities, class structure, and more.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and academic take on Japanese society. The author seems quite keen to refute commonly-held assumptions about some subjects, particularly Japanese education, but I'm not sure that I'm completely convinced; I think the author would have been better served covering the points that he targets in more detail before explaining that he would then provide his own alternative view. As an introductory text, An Introduction to Japanese Society mostly provides comprehensive coverage of a wide range of topics, but topics which are commonly the focus of debate tend to lack explanation of the different opinions used.

[Larissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I may be a bit biased on why I was particularly taken with this book considering my academic background but nonetheless, it has some GREAT info about Japanese social structure. Even if you jump around you will still gain more wrinkles in your brain. :)

[Alice Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own this boom it was so good. Alongside Joy Hendry, Sugimoto is excellent in giving a general overview of the key topics of Japan- work, gender, education, home e.c. Very easy to read to, and quotes from many anthropologists in almost a collection of other peoples work, but with his own opinion.

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asian Studies