What do you think?
Rate this book
اليابان: رؤية جديدة
لليابان صورتان شهيرتان يتمسك بهمات الغرب في أيامنا هذه، فهناك اليابان القديمة: يابان الساموراي و حدائق الزن، و اليابان الجديدة: يابان الكفاءة الإنتاجية و الآلات... بين الاثنتين، توجد منطقة فراغ، حيث يعيش الياباني
هذا الكتاب مكرس لاستكشاف منطقة الفراغ هذه. يناقش الكاتب فيه الصورة المغلوطة التي قدمها المستشرقون عن اليابان إلى الغرب، بنظرة
نقدية تغلب على منهج المؤلف منذ صفحاته الأولى، نظرة مستمدة من تجربة طويلة من المعيشة و العمل في اليابان، و من الاختلاط باليابانيين
و المؤلف على وعي بأن النظرة الاستشراقية لا يعني إغفال الخصوصية اليابانية. و هو يتناول هذه الخصوصية من مداخل نفسية ووجدانية، علاوة على المداخل التاريخية و الاجتماعية. و من ثم، كان اهنمامه بالفن و الأدب، و كثرة استشهاده بأعمال المبدعين اليابانيين، و له من بينهم أصدقاء و معارف كثر. و علاوة على أنه يجعل القارئ على صلة باليابان الحقيقية، و يشبع فضول أفكار خمسين عاما مضت، فإنه يساعد على التعرف على السياق الذي كتبت فيه الأعمال الأدبية المتلاجمة، التي يقبل كثير من مثقفينا على قراءتها، و كذا الذين يتابعون الأعمال الفنية
اليابانية
هذا الكتاب مكرس لاستكشاف منطقة الفراغ هذه. يناقش الكاتب فيه الصورة المغلوطة التي قدمها المستشرقون عن اليابان إلى الغرب، بنظرة
نقدية تغلب على منهج المؤلف منذ صفحاته الأولى، نظرة مستمدة من تجربة طويلة من المعيشة و العمل في اليابان، و من الاختلاط باليابانيين
و المؤلف على وعي بأن النظرة الاستشراقية لا يعني إغفال الخصوصية اليابانية. و هو يتناول هذه الخصوصية من مداخل نفسية ووجدانية، علاوة على المداخل التاريخية و الاجتماعية. و من ثم، كان اهنمامه بالفن و الأدب، و كثرة استشهاده بأعمال المبدعين اليابانيين، و له من بينهم أصدقاء و معارف كثر. و علاوة على أنه يجعل القارئ على صلة باليابان الحقيقية، و يشبع فضول أفكار خمسين عاما مضت، فإنه يساعد على التعرف على السياق الذي كتبت فيه الأعمال الأدبية المتلاجمة، التي يقبل كثير من مثقفينا على قراءتها، و كذا الذين يتابعون الأعمال الفنية
اليابانية
472 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
18 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 30, 2021
I want to start off by saying that JAPAN A REINTERPRETATION by Patrick Smith is a very detailed, throughly researched book. However, it was published in the late 1990’s and is therefore very outdated when it comes to the “current issues” that Japan is facing. This is still a great book, but I had to mark it at three stars, just because of it’s outdated nature. It’s not quite what I was looking for.
May 24, 2014
هذا كتاب غني جدا بالمعلومات القيمة و جد مفيد . نعم لقد سادت نظرة غريبة عن اليابان و اليابانيين عالميا و حتي العرب يسمونها كوكب اليابان . هذا الكتاب جاء ليقدم نظرة جديدةعن اليابان او حقيقة هذا الشعب فهو تحقيق رائع قام به الصحفي باتريك سميث و قسمه الى 11 قسما . القسم الاول اليابني الخفي و يكشف فيه الكاتب عن وجود حقيقة اخرى لليابان خلف الصورة المصدرة الينا . القسم الثاني التاريخ المخبأ و يحكي فيه عن التاريخ الذي لم ترد يابان مابعد الحرب العالمية ان تقدمه لشعبها وللعالم الفسم الثالث تنشئة النيهونجين و هم اليابانيون الجدد و يتكلم فيه الكاتب عن التعليم الياباني القسم الرابع اسوار في قلوب و بتكلم فيه عن العمال في اليابان و عن البؤس و الكاروشي الموت جراء العمل الكثيف القسم الخامس السعادة في ركن خفي متعلق بالنساء في اليابان القسم السادس الاسمنت و الديموقراطيةو يتكلم فيه عن التقسيم الجغرافي و المركزية و اهم المدن القسم السابع الروح المسافرة عبر التاريخ و يتكلم فيه عن الهوة الواقعة بين اليابانيين الجدد و تاريخهم القسم الثامن اللاشىء المقدس يتكلم عن الديانة و الامبراطور اله القسم التاسع الحلم المبتسر يتكلم عن الثقافة اليابنين بين المستقدم و المستورد و الاصلي القسم العاشر الاخر في داخلنا يتكلم عن مهازل العنصرية اليابنية تجاه الجاليات الاجنية و حتى تجاه اليابانيين انفسهم في بعض المناطق الجنوبية القسم الحادي عشر الفضيلة المراوغة يقدم فيه نظرة عن توجه اليابان كدولة نحو العالم الكتاب مفيد جدا ينزع عنك الانبهار الذي ربينا عليه و يجعلك ترى اليابان على حقيقتها كما قال باتريك سميث اليابان هي احسن دولة متخلفة و اسوء دولة متقدمة.
August 23, 2009
I found this book fascinating, and recommended for anyone with a marginal interest in Japan.
Smith provides a convincing case for debunking previous stereotypes of Japanese, held both by Westerners and the Japanese themselves.
Interesting is the power of culture, and how (for the Japanese) accepted culture was essentially something more-or-less synthesized and handed down from above, rather than coming from below. Hence, Smith claims that Japan is a democracy in name only, with a single party ruling after WWII (with a minor short-lived exception).
Smith provides a convincing case for debunking previous stereotypes of Japanese, held both by Westerners and the Japanese themselves.
Interesting is the power of culture, and how (for the Japanese) accepted culture was essentially something more-or-less synthesized and handed down from above, rather than coming from below. Hence, Smith claims that Japan is a democracy in name only, with a single party ruling after WWII (with a minor short-lived exception).
January 20, 2017
One of the best books I've read on the Japanese history/culture. Though somewhat dated, part 1, especially its first 4 chapters, is fully worth reading today. Smith explains, among other things, why the Japanese are so reluctant to share their true feelings and honest opinions in public by depicting the Edo period as akin to the Stalinist Soviet Union when common people were forced to spy on their neighbors. Smith argues that the real fears that lasted for over 200 years still live on today as essential loneliness contemporary Japanese feel in their own society. Part 2 isn't as successful because he is highly opinionated. I have to say I liked the book partly because Smith and I are opinionated in a similar way. For instance, we agree that the works of Haruki Murakami are meaningless fluff devoid of any substance or originality.
February 18, 2016
It's an interesting read and I would like to say I liked it but like Patrick Smith himself interprets about Japan I think that his book gives me the idea that there is a lot I don't know about Japan inner core because it hides behind a mask of agenda.
I know he was trying to peel away the "Orientialism" of Japan by explaining the history and the modern back story of Japan and it's citizens but he ends up sounding preachy and too mired in his viewpoint of how horrible the Japanese life must be without knowledge of it's true identity and self-worth.
Also anytime he actually praises anything good coming from Japan it's like faint praise to be scattered about like bread crumbs in the sand. By the time you try to pick up on it it's to hard to see behind what Mr. Smith opines as what was so wrong with Japan , The Japanese people , and Japanese body politic.
So if his goal was to get me motivated to dig deeper into understanding the Japanese Cultural zeigeist; it worked. Only because near the end I was left wanting to form my own opinion.
Did I mention that it was an interesting read? ;>
I know he was trying to peel away the "Orientialism" of Japan by explaining the history and the modern back story of Japan and it's citizens but he ends up sounding preachy and too mired in his viewpoint of how horrible the Japanese life must be without knowledge of it's true identity and self-worth.
Also anytime he actually praises anything good coming from Japan it's like faint praise to be scattered about like bread crumbs in the sand. By the time you try to pick up on it it's to hard to see behind what Mr. Smith opines as what was so wrong with Japan , The Japanese people , and Japanese body politic.
So if his goal was to get me motivated to dig deeper into understanding the Japanese Cultural zeigeist; it worked. Only because near the end I was left wanting to form my own opinion.
Did I mention that it was an interesting read? ;>
November 28, 2009
A very well written description of the inequities in postwar Japan, their sources in the distant and recent past, and their ramifications in the present. The author writes from extensive personal experience and several interviews with political and cultural figures, as well as Japanese salarymen, schoolchildren, and anyone else with a perspective on Japan's cultural plight. Smith's portrait of Japan is nuanced and multifaceted, but perhaps his most important theme is Japan's lack of autonomy or individuality -- a certain reluctance to be what it says it is. (Japanese "democracy" and "feminism," for example, are no such things; Japanese "internationalism" is purely mercantile.) America comes in for a not disproportionate share of the blame, but corruption and disingenuousness on the part of Japanese politicians dating back to -- well, back to the Yamato, really -- are Smith's primary targets.
The way out, says Smith, is for Japan to have a long, hard look in the mirror and decide what kind of country it wants to be. In practical terms, he thinks Japan should reexamine the constitution America gave it after the war, and then implement that constitution or a new one according to Japan's best image of itself. Such a Japan is intimidating to the West because we're accustomed to its pliability, but ultimately there's no other way through Japan's national inferiority complex.
I frequently found myself wishing for some sort of addendum that took into account the last decade-plus of development. Otherwise, excellent!
The way out, says Smith, is for Japan to have a long, hard look in the mirror and decide what kind of country it wants to be. In practical terms, he thinks Japan should reexamine the constitution America gave it after the war, and then implement that constitution or a new one according to Japan's best image of itself. Such a Japan is intimidating to the West because we're accustomed to its pliability, but ultimately there's no other way through Japan's national inferiority complex.
I frequently found myself wishing for some sort of addendum that took into account the last decade-plus of development. Otherwise, excellent!
November 8, 2016
يتحدث سِمث حول مواضيع كثيرة بلا تفصيل مُضجر، أو إن شئت فقل بلا تحقيقٍ كاف يبلغ معه أن يكون كتابه هذا عملًا أكاديميًا في علم من العلوم الكثيرة التي يُعرّج عليها في أثناء حديثه، ويستشهد منها بأسماء كتب ومؤلفين ونظريات: من علم الاجتماع إلى الأدب إلى علم النفس إلى التاريخ إلى السياسة.. ثُم هو يُعوّل كثيرًا على تجاريبه الشخصية ومقابلاته والمواقف التي تعرض لها وهو يعمل في اليابان، وعندي أنه لولا أن الكتاب من ذلك كُله لما قراته وهو يقع في أكثر من 470 صفحة. ومن أجل ذلك فالكتاب جيّد لمن أراد أن يكتفي بلمحة عامة يعرف بها عن جوانب كثيرة متنوعة من هذا البلد بعض المعرفة، ولكن الأهم أن السعي الأساسي في هذا الكتاب هو تقديم رؤية جديدة تختلف عما يُشاع حول "اليابان" عادة
January 15, 2019
الكتاب يعكس جهدا واضحا للمؤلف، وقد كتب كتابه من خلال نظرة أمريكية خالصة، هو باختصار، توضيح للشحصية اليابانية وكيف تطورت، وتطورت معها البلاد، مع من تنفسوا الهواء الغربي، ولكن بإسهاب كبير، وتكرار لفكرة تصاعد الفردية والمادية الغربية على حساب القيم اليابانية، عبر مختلف أجزاء الكتاب، وتبقي بعض أركان تلك الشخصية حتى اليوم، مثل الازدواجية السلوكية، وإظهار شيئا من كل وإبقاء الحقيقة مختفية، كإظهار السلام والدعة عامة، وإبطان الخلاف والنزاع ضمنا، وهو من أهم خصائص تلك الشخصية، كان يمكن اختصار حجمه للنصف، كما أقول دائما، حتى الدراسة المتأنية المسهبة بعمق، والمهمة المفيدة، قد تسبب لك بعض ملل،رغم كل الجهد المبذول.
February 3, 2023
I clearly and dearly miss Japan. I spent a short six months there in 2002 working as an English teacher, but at the time I knew nothing of teaching, nothing of salesmanship, and certainly nothing of being an adventurer. I left under a cloud and it has taken me years to emerge from its shadow.
I have read numerous books on Japan - Alex Kerr's marvellous 'Lost Japan' and 'Dogs and Demons', 'Looking for the Lost' by Alan Booth, 'The Blue-Eyed Salaryman' by 'Niall Murtagh', as well as a host of novels by Japanese, the best of which has surely been 'The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea' by Yukio Mishima. So I am certainly no beginner to the field.
That said, I learnt a tremendous lot from Patrick Smith's fine work, and a lot of it has helped me to see the Japanese from a more informed perspective - for example, the difference between the way the truth is presented and the reality underneath helps to understand the scandal of the reporter recently subjected to inhumane treatment at Narita - though not to condone it in any way.
There is too much to summarise, but the crux of Smith's work concerns two aspects - the continued challenge for the Japanese to find themselves, their private selves, not their social selves; and for the Japanese to finally (though this was written before the end of the millennium) shake off their American shackles.
The sense of privacy and individuality, and the way that the Japanese suffer from not having either, is detailed at length; the aspect of American interference was, frankly, new to me, and reading it I got the real sense of a tragedy being unfolded before me for the first time in any of the books that I've read.
After the war, when Japan at last surrendered, the Americans came in and occupied the country. For the first year at least they opened the country up to the first stirrings of democracy, and the sense of excitement was palpable. No more martial leadership, no more serving the country instead of oneself. But then the Cold War stretched in its icy fingers and the American government suddenly felt worried by their new colony. Would the Japanese go the right way, or would they go Left? Or even go neither, and sit on the fence? Best not to take the chance; so the 'reverse course' was taken, removing the new and reinstalling the old, putting back in place a gang of old war criminals who nonetheless were anti-commie. Japan is still recovering from this debacle, and it is such a shame when one considers the country it could have grown into over the last fifty years.
I have read numerous books on Japan - Alex Kerr's marvellous 'Lost Japan' and 'Dogs and Demons', 'Looking for the Lost' by Alan Booth, 'The Blue-Eyed Salaryman' by 'Niall Murtagh', as well as a host of novels by Japanese, the best of which has surely been 'The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea' by Yukio Mishima. So I am certainly no beginner to the field.
That said, I learnt a tremendous lot from Patrick Smith's fine work, and a lot of it has helped me to see the Japanese from a more informed perspective - for example, the difference between the way the truth is presented and the reality underneath helps to understand the scandal of the reporter recently subjected to inhumane treatment at Narita - though not to condone it in any way.
There is too much to summarise, but the crux of Smith's work concerns two aspects - the continued challenge for the Japanese to find themselves, their private selves, not their social selves; and for the Japanese to finally (though this was written before the end of the millennium) shake off their American shackles.
The sense of privacy and individuality, and the way that the Japanese suffer from not having either, is detailed at length; the aspect of American interference was, frankly, new to me, and reading it I got the real sense of a tragedy being unfolded before me for the first time in any of the books that I've read.
After the war, when Japan at last surrendered, the Americans came in and occupied the country. For the first year at least they opened the country up to the first stirrings of democracy, and the sense of excitement was palpable. No more martial leadership, no more serving the country instead of oneself. But then the Cold War stretched in its icy fingers and the American government suddenly felt worried by their new colony. Would the Japanese go the right way, or would they go Left? Or even go neither, and sit on the fence? Best not to take the chance; so the 'reverse course' was taken, removing the new and reinstalling the old, putting back in place a gang of old war criminals who nonetheless were anti-commie. Japan is still recovering from this debacle, and it is such a shame when one considers the country it could have grown into over the last fifty years.
July 7, 2024
Somewhat outdated because the book was written in the late 90s to early 2000s. But it’s still interesting and debunks some common myths that westerners have about Japan.
My main gripe with the book is the overly flowery writing and focus on unimportant details.
For example, here’s a sentence from the book: “This is a preposterous assertion, a gross and silly exaggeration that is widely believed out of sheer intellectual sloth”
This could have been simplified, and should’ve been written in a less judgmental, more objective way.
when he introduces an important Japanese person he spoke with, he often describes their physical appearance, which I consider unimportant. What could be conveyed in a sentence, he devotes an entire paragraph to conveying.
Smith also puts in a lot of his own personal opinions. That makes sense, but I’d prefer if he tried to convey information objectively, and allowed the reader to form their own opinion.
Despite the debunking of common myths and interesting insights into Japanese society, the book was a tedious chore to read. If you want to learn more about Japanese society, there are almost certainly better books out there
My main gripe with the book is the overly flowery writing and focus on unimportant details.
For example, here’s a sentence from the book: “This is a preposterous assertion, a gross and silly exaggeration that is widely believed out of sheer intellectual sloth”
This could have been simplified, and should’ve been written in a less judgmental, more objective way.
when he introduces an important Japanese person he spoke with, he often describes their physical appearance, which I consider unimportant. What could be conveyed in a sentence, he devotes an entire paragraph to conveying.
Smith also puts in a lot of his own personal opinions. That makes sense, but I’d prefer if he tried to convey information objectively, and allowed the reader to form their own opinion.
Despite the debunking of common myths and interesting insights into Japanese society, the book was a tedious chore to read. If you want to learn more about Japanese society, there are almost certainly better books out there
November 16, 2019
تحليل تاريخ ممتع جدا الترجمة ممتازة
November 26, 2019
A really interesting book. Recommended reading for anyone interested in Japanese history or culture.
Read
May 30, 2023Worth a quick read. His discussion of the impact of US occupation is useful to understanding how Japan evolved after WWII.
February 14, 2025
دراسه بها اسهاب كبير عن الشخصية اليابانية الباحثه دائما عن التميز والتطوير من البدايه وحتى اليوم
April 18, 2009
This book helped me prepare for my recent expedition to the land of the rising sun. Patrick Smith, a former FT correspondent and New Yorker contributor, challenges the status quo, by deconstructing the Western, American perspective of Japan and the Japanese. We (Americans) typically see Japan as a country of robots, hard workers, technology, and retired warmongers. This book dives a little bit deeper, and unveils Japan for what it really is. For this, the book is excellent.
Unfortunately, Patrick Smith does a poor job of conveying his message. Often times, his language is obscure and verbose, making this book a tiring read. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to figure out a thing or two about the Japanese.
Unfortunately, Patrick Smith does a poor job of conveying his message. Often times, his language is obscure and verbose, making this book a tiring read. However, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to figure out a thing or two about the Japanese.
December 13, 2016
A comprehensive look at the history culture, and mores of Japan through the ages, written by an American for a western audience. Winner of the Kiriyama Prize, an international literary award given to books about the Pacific Rim and South Asia; and the Cornelius Ryan award for the best nonfiction book on international affairs, both in 1997.
To further the usefulness of the book there is an extensive chronology, notes, bibliography and index.
To further the usefulness of the book there is an extensive chronology, notes, bibliography and index.
March 23, 2016
Like another reviewer mentioned Smith can be overbearingly contrarian at times, and some of his opinions (which he doesn't seem to differentiate from facts) are suspect, but overall it's a very good (if now 20 years old) look at Japan from a critical angle.
April 1, 2016
" لكي تفهموا اليابان عليكم أن تعبروا الجسر , فاليابان هي أكثر حضارات العالم قدرة علي التعلم , فهمي أمة تستوعب كل شيء وتظل دائماً هي اليابان , فاليابان لا تستورد شيئاً من الخارج إلا بعد تستوعبه , وقد ينهلوا من ثقافة معينة لكنهم لا ينخرطوا فيها حتي تصبح السمة الطاغية عليهم "
September 13, 2007
Anyone interested in Japan should read this book. An engaging look at politics and history.
September 22, 2013
had lived in japan five years when i read this book... it was excellent in giving me a fuller understanding of the culture.... plus, an easy read.
September 26, 2010
Amazing look at contemporary problems in Japan. His metaphor to Hokusai's wave is one of the best.
October 3, 2015
شرح الكاتب الحالة التي يراها هي حقيقة اليابان الذي يقف خلف ترسانة الصناعة وخلف رجال الساموري ... يتكلم عن الياباني الذي يعمل لانه ياباني (( ساموري يخدم الاسرة الحاكمة فقط ))
May 5, 2007
Excellent book for Westerners hoping to get a more accurate view of Japan as a country and people.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews