Understanding Japanese Society

by Joy Hendry

This is a welcome new edition of this bestselling textbook. It provides a clear, accessible and readable introduction to Japanese society which does not require any previous knowledge of the country. Fully updated, revised and expanded, the 3rd edition contains new material
· the effects of the Asian crisis and recession in Japan
· the emergence of the millennial cults such as the Aum Shinrikyo
· major advances in sport and leisure such as the 2002 World Cup and the amazing global cultural success of Pokemon and Japanese animation and computer games
· the tumultuous changes of the Japanese ruling elite
· the Ainu and other Japanese minorities
· debates about the future of the Japanese constitution and the resurgence of nationalism and militarism.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Sociology, Japanese Literature, Asia, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Jimmy Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a relatively enlightening introduction, albeit full of information about Japanese politics, culture, education, and domestic life that somewhat disappointingly reflected my own gut assumptions about Japan. Not to mention that this was the 1995 edition, which is undoubtedly dated at this point.

Hendry's is an anthropological approach; one comprised largely of fieldwork and some sociological surveys. It's probably one of the more well known texts on Japanese culture in English, and what's sort of remarkable, more than some of the writing in and of itself, is how concise yet broad her focus seems to be for such a short book. This all seems like a difficult accomplishment by any researcher's standards, as it possible to fall into endless assumptions and some cultural relativism about about another culture.

At this point, I can only look upon these texts as tiny, structural building blocks that will be part of an endless attempt at understanding a culture which is vastly different from my own. One that I hope to understand to the best of my ability before the end of my time on this earth.

[carnival · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although having a very interesting look into different aspects of Japanese society in clearly separated chapters, the book definitely includes too many references to external sources, which impedes the seamless lecture. I liked the list of films and novels at the end of each chapter, but I regret they lack more contemporary positions (almost all were released before 2000 year).

[Alice Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I own, and she updates her research (my copy is 2012). Covers every topic you want on Japan- explains everything very clearly, its very easy to read and well researched-Hendry draws from everyone else. It deserves big praise, its rare to find a scholar who is both a good scholar and writer, but Hendry pulls it off

[Shyames · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dobra pozycja, zarówno dla osoby, która nigdy się Japonią nie zajmowała, ale także dla kogoś obeznanego z tematem i poszukującego pewnego usystematyzowania wiedzy. Autorka już na początku wspomina, że będzie w książce dużo odwołań do innych pozycji, ale w pewnym momencie zaczęło mi się wydawać, że dużo za dużo.
Kolejne rozdziały czyta się przyjemnie, od wprowadzenia poprzez kolejne podrozdziały. Miałam jednak czasem wrażenie, że tak naprawdę o niektórych zjawiskach przeczytałam 2-3 zdania, a kolejne 3/4 akapitu to pochwała jakiejś pozycji, w której można znaleźć o wiele więcej na ten temat. Nie mam nic przeciwko odwołaniom do literatury, pokaźnej bibliografii, wręcz przeciwnie - zawsze to kolejne źródło wiedzy. Ale tutaj było to dla mnie jednak zbyt dużą częścią właściwej całości.

[Ansgar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un libro que presenta una imagen completa de la sociedad japonesa, pero creo que le fallan algunas cosas. A menudo da demasiada información bibliográfica seguida, lo que hace que sea una lectura pesada en vez de centrarse más en darte la info que cuentan esas referencias. Por otro lado, también se nota que el libro es de los 80, aunque la edición que he leído incluye bibliografía más actualizada, creo que de hasta 2011. Hay temas modernos que se quedan en el tintero y no es el libro mejor escrito, pero está muy bien estructurado y como manual para dar un curso está muy bien. Son 12 capítulos bien compartimentados que se pueden leer tranquilamente a lo largo del tiempo sin perder el hilo.

[Zia Udell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful and informative for what it is, but sometimes extremely Western in its descriptions.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a college course centered around this book. It's a great introduction to many aspects of Japanese culture. Hendry writes in a way that is easy to understand, and provides her readers with great sources for further reading. I will probably go back to this book as a reference or for some re-reading in the future. Well written, well organized, well worth a read!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this during my first visit to Japan to meet husband's family. Really good, readable, broad brush primer on Japanese society and worldviews they might hold. Plenty of resources for onward reading that you can take or leave at will, I didnt find their addition too intrusive. I can recommend this to read before or during your travels, I feel it made certain activities like visiting the many shrines there a richer experience for me.

[Karolina Wydra]

Bardzo ciekawa książka, taka bardzo ogólna i przeglądowa. Niektóre tematy zostały bardzo bardzo powierzchownie zarysowane a niektóre kwestie sie przewijały cały czas co już było męczące.
Ale ogólnie super i polecam każdemu jak chce przegląd historii i współczesnego społeczeństwa Japonii❤️

[Waldo]

I got a few insights and the book has nice citations. I feel like there's a lot of unexplored territory.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro muy bueno para conocer a la sociedad japonesa más de cerca desde una perspectiva antropológica. Escrito de una forma muy didáctica, sólo se echan de menos más ilustraciones. Al final de cada capítulo sugiere lecturas y películas para ilustrar los contenidos.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the way this book was written. There are tons of other works from articles to novels and even films listed at the end of each chapter if you want to delve deeper into any specific topic.

[iSL · Rating 1 out of 5]

No m’ha agradat. Potser no el vaig triar bé, penso que és més aviat un llibre de text. Moltes dades (disperses) i poques conclusions, segurament per mantenir el rigor científic, el fan molt feixuc de llegir.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good review of japanese culture and society. Though remarkably short.... Luckily she provides references to hundreds of other sources a reader should look into.

[Rebecca Radnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Japan books (and I did my dissertation on the subject); apparently I'm not alone because even though it had limited distribution, there's a kindle version

[Lucian Nistor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Japanese society is unique.

The japanese people are masters of the future and guardians of the past.

[India Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good overview of Japanese Society, History, and Mythology.