The Meaning of Internationalization: Practical Advice for a Connected Planet

by Edwin O. Reischauer, Masao Kunihiro (Translation)

In "The Meaning of Internationalization," Edwin O. Reischauer--former American Ambassador to Japan and one of the world's most acclaimed scholars of Japanese life and culture--delivers a heartfelt message to the Japanese people on the need to look beyond their borders at the changing nature of the world. Reischauer stresses the need to adapt in order to survive and thrive in the new reality that our ever-shrinking world is bringing about--a message that resonates even more deeply today and applies not just to Japan, but to every country in the new global economy.

160 pages, ebook

First published May 10, 2009

About the author

Edwin Oldfather Reischauer was an American diplomat, educator, and professor at Harvard University. Born in Tokyo to American educational missionaries, he became a leading scholar of the history and culture of Japan and East Asia. Together with George M. McCune, a scholar of Korea, in 1939 he developed the McCune–Reischauer romanization of the Korean language.

Reischauer became involved in helping create US policy toward East Asia during and after World War II. President John F. Kennedy appointed Reischauer as the United States Ambassador to Japan, where he served from 1961 to 1966. Reischauer founded the Japan Institute at Harvard University in 1973 and was its founding director. It was later named in honor of him.

Reviews

[Jonathan Hertzog · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad that this book was written in 1988 and about 98% of its advice for Japan still holds true in 2014.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book was written in 1988, a lot of the concepts are completely relevant to Japan today, because the enormously slow pace of change. It outlines that, in this day in age, we need to take steps to become world citizens. It explains what Japan can contribute to the world and also talks about the Japanese problems in learning a foreign language and educational reforms to be taken. This book is really relevant to me as I was an English teacher in Japan and gave me perspective of Japan from the rest of the world's eyes.