日本―その姿と心 （和英対照） ―NIPPON The Land and Its People

by 日鉄ヒューマンデベロプメント

“ The Land and its People” by Nippon Steel Corporation, Personnel Development Office.

1982, Second edition, Gakuseisha Publishing Co. Ltd.

Originally compiled solely for the use of employees of the Nippon Steel Corporation; this pocket-sized book was designed to assist the employee in promoting mutual understanding, and to adequately answer questions from foreign business partners about Japanese industry and culture.

The chapter headings Geography and History, Government, Economy, Business Management, Society, Science & Technology, Culture, and Afterword; each with multiple sub-headings.

Corresponding Japanese and English commentaries appear on opposing pages.

A hundred and seventy-one different items are discussed in this (second) edition, published for general distribution.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Language, Japanese Literature

422 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1978

Reviews

[^ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I acquired this little book before the internet changed our lives. It’s utterly fascinating.

I still find it useful today for devising quiz questions which floor most competitors (for example, Q: “When was the first Japanese-language typewriter invented?” A: 1915 (p.197). Such typewriters normally possessed three thousand keys! Considerable skill was required in order to use one. The Japanese educational system was set up after World War II by the Americans, with English being taught to children when they entered Junior High School at age 9 (p.145). How many of us have ever given much thought as to how the victor in War receives the opportunity to shape the future administration and culture of the defeated nation; and in the case of World War, to pay an awful lot of £ and $ for it. How many of us have asked “Why are Japanese bad at foreign languages?” (see p.153). The succinct section (p.113-121) on five characteristics of business management is concise, ordered and informative; at first sight a model of clear-headedness. Yet one needs to read other books, such as Niall Murtagh's "The Blue-Eyed Salaryman", [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...], in order to begin to more fully appreciate some of the advantages and disadvantages of Japanese corporate structures during the early 1980s.

It has to be said that in places this book is also a good aid to getting to sleep. To read, “Imports: There has been a rapid increase in Japanese imports from 4.5 billion dollars in 1960 to 136 billion dollars in 1980” (p.111) is an excellent aid to dropping off, as is reading a little further on to discover what percentages of material goods were being imported from where.

By contrast, further on (pp.227-228) the history of Japanese sword making is laid out; as is useful advice on Japanese manners is given (no kissing in public! (p.275)), how to play Go, Shogi and Mah-jong (pp279-283), how to travel as cheaply as possible in Japan (p.321), and an awful lot more.

Overall, what is on first glance is not a book one might naturally pick up and buy, actually turns out to be a deeply fascinating, comprehensive, and detailed exposition of Japanese business and culture: a real ice-breaker recommended (in conjunction with more recently published guides) for anyone learning the language. visiting the country, or entertaining Japanese guests.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dual-language book was made for English-speaking employees of the Nippon Steel Corporation in the 70's to explain Japan and its culture. I have no idea what the Japanese side says since Japanese people presumably don't need information about their own country. Mostly the book is facts and figures, with a few interesting notes on culture that are certainly outdated (I have the updated edition from 1984) but gives you a good idea of industrialized Japan with a thriving middle class.

One very notable feature: Despite a considerable attention to history, World War II is not mentioned in any way, shape, or form, except to refer to things as "pre-war" and "post-war" and generically refer to the American occupation when explaining changes in government policy. The small section on nuclear energy mentions that the Japanese don't like anything nuclear, but doesn't say why. Huh.

Can't really recommend this book except for people interested in historical snapshots.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class I took about Japanese culture and history, it is packed with info about Japan - history, government, economy, traditions, etc. It's a good quick reference for those of us living here temporarily or those interested in the country. To read it straight through or for leisure would be a bit of a task, is it very dry with lots of info packed into little pages.

[GD · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of an interesting book in theory, this was originally published by the Nippon Steel Company in 1977 and given to its employees to use when they are abroad on business and are asked about Japan. That might seem kind of needless, but considering the English level of most Japanese, even the highly educated ones who work abroad, it kind of makes sense. It's in Japanese and English, with facing page translation, but the content is kind of funny. Of course, it's been updated a several times, the edition I read was last done in 2002 or 2003 I think. It's basically a summary of everything Japanese; business, politics, geography, history, science, religion, culture, bonsai trees, etc. But it spent too much time, for my taste on tedioius details of economics and the political system, and there were some really funny passages, like "A number of reasons can be given for this lack of religious feeling. For one thing, the Japanese people are by nature optimistic and concerned mainly about worldly affairs. Inhabitants of a country blessed with the beauty of nature and a moderate four-season climate, the Japanese have for many generations led an easygoing existence free from the threat of extreme natural disaters and the invasion of enemies. Perhaps becuase of this, they have not developed any deep religious yearning." HAHAHA!!!! Optimistic? Japan, the land of the death poem, "death, light as a feather," the country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world and their own word for dying of overwork. Free from extreme natural disasters? The world's highest concentration of earthquakes, the second highest number of tsunamis, and a gigantic active volcano right in the middle of the country. Enemies? Let's not forget that Japan is a US-friendly rich capitalist nation right next door to North Korea, China, and Russia. And the mention of Japan having four seasons is one of my pet peeves. It's done twice in this book. Most of the world has four seasons...

[David Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nippon The Land and Its People delivered a historic and accurate detail to the country's culture, demographic, past and present, and its lifestyle and relationship towards itself and other nations. All sorts of known data of Japan are fully explained in a specific and direct form. And the beauty of it is that the book includes English and Japanese Kanji text; a thrill for every Japan enthusiast!

I gave the 1980s edition of the book two stars because even if the details are in every page, it is now either less or irrelevant to the modern years.

If you need to know everything Japan, I would like to consider you read this and the following editions of this book.