What do you think?
Rate this book
The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture
In The Japanese Mind, Roger Davies offers Westerners an invaluable key to the unique aspects of Japanese culture. Readers of this book will gain a clear understanding of what really makes the Japanese, and their society, tick. Among the topics explored: aimai (ambiguity), amae (dependence upon others' benevolence), amakudari (the nation's descent from heaven), chinmoku (silence in communication), gambari (perseverence), giri (social obligation), haragei (literally, "belly art"; implicit, unspoken communication), kenkyo (the appearance of modesty), sempai-kohai (seniority), wabi-sabi (simplicity and elegance), and zoto (gift giving), as well as discussions of childrearing, personal space, and the roles of women in Japanese society. Includes discussion topics and questions after each chapter.
280 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2002
628 people are currently reading
3458 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 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 12, 2017
This was a nice little introductory book to the functions of Japanese society. The questions formulated at the end of each chapter are particularly good for sparking interesting thoughts and conversations.
However, I had a few problems with it. The author projects the moral biases of the liberal west onto Japan and constantly criticizes them for not being egalitarian and globalized enough. I think the authors should have thought about these criticisms more critically and evaluated the hierarchical nature of Japanese society better. But then again, I guess the work of evaluating whether an idea is right or wrong is not the objective of a cultural anthropologist, but rather of a philosopher. So what I'm really saying is that the author should have just stayed within his bounds. Instead of criticizing 4,000+ year old Japanese social norms according to the standards of egalitarian social norms (which are maybe a few hundred years old, at best), he should just keep trying to describe Japan neutrally and objectively.
However, I had a few problems with it. The author projects the moral biases of the liberal west onto Japan and constantly criticizes them for not being egalitarian and globalized enough. I think the authors should have thought about these criticisms more critically and evaluated the hierarchical nature of Japanese society better. But then again, I guess the work of evaluating whether an idea is right or wrong is not the objective of a cultural anthropologist, but rather of a philosopher. So what I'm really saying is that the author should have just stayed within his bounds. Instead of criticizing 4,000+ year old Japanese social norms according to the standards of egalitarian social norms (which are maybe a few hundred years old, at best), he should just keep trying to describe Japan neutrally and objectively.
March 8, 2020
This collection of 28 essays can serve as a text in cross-cultural communication. The writers are senior seminar students at Ehime University in Matsuyama, Japan in a cross-cultural class.
Each essay covers a different theme and is named by the Japanese word for the custom or cultural value. The word is explained with context and examples; Research is cited. All essays are followed by discussion questions. Some essays have case studies and some present topics for further exploration.
Harmony is shown to be an important value in Japanese life. It infuses almost all of the customs in these essays from the value of silence to seniority in personal and business relationships. Some of the essays define communication and customs that are universal, such as gift giving, showing how they play out in Japan. The longest chapter is on funerary customs which is very detailed (as are the customs themselves). Most of the essays speak to a diminished standing of the custom in modern Japan.
As with any collection of essays some are of more interest than others. I found the essays on Aimai (ambiguity) and Amae (dependence) most helpful. The description of Wabi-Sabi was very good for helping to understand the simplicity and elegance in Japanese art.
While this book is of interest to those who travel to Japan or work with Japanese people, its better use is as a text for cross-cultural studies.
Each essay covers a different theme and is named by the Japanese word for the custom or cultural value. The word is explained with context and examples; Research is cited. All essays are followed by discussion questions. Some essays have case studies and some present topics for further exploration.
Harmony is shown to be an important value in Japanese life. It infuses almost all of the customs in these essays from the value of silence to seniority in personal and business relationships. Some of the essays define communication and customs that are universal, such as gift giving, showing how they play out in Japan. The longest chapter is on funerary customs which is very detailed (as are the customs themselves). Most of the essays speak to a diminished standing of the custom in modern Japan.
As with any collection of essays some are of more interest than others. I found the essays on Aimai (ambiguity) and Amae (dependence) most helpful. The description of Wabi-Sabi was very good for helping to understand the simplicity and elegance in Japanese art.
While this book is of interest to those who travel to Japan or work with Japanese people, its better use is as a text for cross-cultural studies.
July 3, 2019
While somewhat dry and academic I found all of these essays quite enjoyable, especially as an accompaniment / insight to all the Japanese literature I've been reading lately. It says in the introduction that this collection was developed for two audiences: university students participating in Japanese studies programs and Japanese students of English who wish to explain and discuss their culture - but I assure you it applies to more / anyone with a deeper than surface level interest in Japan.
My favorite was definitely the essay on Wabi-Sabi and I promise you'll start seeing this everywhere soon enough. This aesthetic is going to be the new hygge of interior design.
And to counter all the reviews that claim that these essays are some crusty old white man's interpretation of Japan - the intro also says that all the essays were written by Japanese students studying in the English department at the Ehime University: "all of the student-authors who contributed to this book were enrolled in programs in cross-cultural communication and/or English second language education, and the readings are the result of a multiyear writing program that culminated in a senior seminar in cross-cultural communication, where these essays were written."
My favorite was definitely the essay on Wabi-Sabi and I promise you'll start seeing this everywhere soon enough. This aesthetic is going to be the new hygge of interior design.
And to counter all the reviews that claim that these essays are some crusty old white man's interpretation of Japan - the intro also says that all the essays were written by Japanese students studying in the English department at the Ehime University: "all of the student-authors who contributed to this book were enrolled in programs in cross-cultural communication and/or English second language education, and the readings are the result of a multiyear writing program that culminated in a senior seminar in cross-cultural communication, where these essays were written."
Read
March 14, 2016This book is actually impossible to rate - it is a set of essays on different Japanese expressions and key-words. First of all, it is impossible to be equally interested in all of them, but that is not the main issue. The issue is that the quality is very, very uneven. Some of the essays reads as something a bored student has handed in, written the night before without any afterthought at all. And some of them are really great (I would especially like to mention the chapters Gambari, Hedataru no Najimu, Chinmoku and Soushiki).
So if you are interested in social studies focused on Japan it is well worth picking up - but you might want to skip some of the chapters.
So if you are interested in social studies focused on Japan it is well worth picking up - but you might want to skip some of the chapters.
July 20, 2024
I can’t decide if it deserves a 3 or a 4. Some chapters are very dry, others are captivating. My dad bought this book when he moved to Japan and it helped him immensely in his work and to understand Japanese society and mindsets. For someone who needs a primer on, generalised but fairly accurate Japanese society, it’s pretty good. I read it to see if there’s extra information to add to my thesis. For someone wanting to go deeper into history and reasons why things are the way they are, it won’t satiate that need. For curiosity and a good, quick read, it was not bad. 🫡
February 3, 2016
I picked this up out of curiosity after seeing it in a pile of books at a friends house. I suppose I could have done a little more research into similar books on the market as in the end I'm not quite the target audience of the book. It has several very short chapters on different topics that do provide interesting insights but I think 50% of the book is discussion topics and without anyone to discuss with I felt it fall a bit flat based on my own isolated knowledge, since the discussions were where the essay information would have really come alive.
May 7, 2018
Read this while in Japan, and it was illuminating. American and Japanese culture are extremely different, so having aspects of Japanese worldview explained felt necessary. As a Korean-American, I found aspects of Japanese culture that resonated with my parents' and grandparents' ways and worldviews as well.
If I were Japanese, I'd probably raise more of an eyebrow, but on the whole I found this hugely helpful in understanding the culture. I recommend reading it before, during, or after a trip to Japan.
If I were Japanese, I'd probably raise more of an eyebrow, but on the whole I found this hugely helpful in understanding the culture. I recommend reading it before, during, or after a trip to Japan.
February 20, 2016
Well, that was disappointing. Davies and Ikeno edited a book about modern Japanese culture, but it felt like it was a half-inch deep and a mile wide. I suppose that's inevitable given how they're trying to discuss an entire culture - but what's annoying is that they really don't discuss the entire culture.
Instead, the book focuses on individualized aspects of Japanese culture. There are 28 chapters, each focusing on some aspect of Japanese belief or practice. That might sound nice in theory, but in reality it's like trying to read a book on the history of the US that gives a brief account of the history of 30 of the more important states - rarely with any sense of how the overall nation affects the state. A typical chapter is about 8 pages long - and that includes 2-3 pages at the end of discussion questions; so the heart of the chapter is about 6 pages or so. So you get only the barest and briefest understanding about the chapter's subject, and no bigger picture. Also, each chapter is more about WHAT goes on than HOW/WHY. Yes, knowing the what matters, but in a book titled "Understanding Japanese Culture" I'd like a bit more depth.
So it's unfair to say it's a half-inch deep and a mile wide. It's a half-inch deep, but just covered scattered bits of ground haphazardly covering portions of a mile's worth of ground.
I was hoping for a worthy successor to Ruth Benedict's WWII book on Japanese culture. That's a classic, but increasingly outdated. This? Well, it does give a sense of how things have changed over the last 70 years, but it's just not that good.
Instead, the book focuses on individualized aspects of Japanese culture. There are 28 chapters, each focusing on some aspect of Japanese belief or practice. That might sound nice in theory, but in reality it's like trying to read a book on the history of the US that gives a brief account of the history of 30 of the more important states - rarely with any sense of how the overall nation affects the state. A typical chapter is about 8 pages long - and that includes 2-3 pages at the end of discussion questions; so the heart of the chapter is about 6 pages or so. So you get only the barest and briefest understanding about the chapter's subject, and no bigger picture. Also, each chapter is more about WHAT goes on than HOW/WHY. Yes, knowing the what matters, but in a book titled "Understanding Japanese Culture" I'd like a bit more depth.
So it's unfair to say it's a half-inch deep and a mile wide. It's a half-inch deep, but just covered scattered bits of ground haphazardly covering portions of a mile's worth of ground.
I was hoping for a worthy successor to Ruth Benedict's WWII book on Japanese culture. That's a classic, but increasingly outdated. This? Well, it does give a sense of how things have changed over the last 70 years, but it's just not that good.
December 16, 2017
Maybe I have read too many journals on East Asian culture because this felt extremely disappointing which is a shame. Ironically the place it was written (students) is not that far away (Matsuyama) from where I live (Takamatsu).
The majority of the book is split into various topics of modern Japan that gloss over finer points and for the most point give such a superficial description of Japanese culture it leaves the reader wanting more.
I have issue with Tuttle books in general because I know that it’s geared towards the general public but a lot of it presupposes that you have absolutely zero knowledge of Japan and for me that is extremely frustrating.
The majority of the book is split into various topics of modern Japan that gloss over finer points and for the most point give such a superficial description of Japanese culture it leaves the reader wanting more.
I have issue with Tuttle books in general because I know that it’s geared towards the general public but a lot of it presupposes that you have absolutely zero knowledge of Japan and for me that is extremely frustrating.
September 21, 2021
I think this book is a wonderful introduction into Japanese culture, religious beliefs and philosophies, but I was looking for a book with more depth on the subject. You only really get snippets of these major topics, which is great for people first reading about Japan and it’s culture, but not the deep dive I was looking for. I was hoping (since the title mentioned contemporary) that we would get more of the practices in Japanese daily life, like house altars, Kamidana, Obon, memorial observances of death, ie the everyday customs. Unfortunately it’s really only briefly touched on in the last chapter, and more in the broad strokes of Japanese culture rather than nuanced details.
June 30, 2021
Sometimes repetitive, lack of information.
I was expecting more. Good introduction to Japanese culture but the people who want to dig more into the culture and history this is not for you.
I was expecting more. Good introduction to Japanese culture but the people who want to dig more into the culture and history this is not for you.
October 21, 2015
Wish I could give 5.5 for this book.
This is a thorough essays about Japanese cultures that for centuries has built up Japanese characters.
I really wish I had read it sooner, at least before I tried to learn kanji. Because this book gives me insight of the Japanese life, why the say or do the way they say/do. It is a kind of book that has a chain reaction on me. It makes me want to read books on Japanese cultures and history, and short stories, and manga. Well, in fact just anything related to Japan.
This is a thorough essays about Japanese cultures that for centuries has built up Japanese characters.
I really wish I had read it sooner, at least before I tried to learn kanji. Because this book gives me insight of the Japanese life, why the say or do the way they say/do. It is a kind of book that has a chain reaction on me. It makes me want to read books on Japanese cultures and history, and short stories, and manga. Well, in fact just anything related to Japan.
December 1, 2021
A disappointing book, which comprises a series of short, quasi-academic pieces on concepts including giri and wabi-sabi, but written by students for students, with discussion topics for each. Disappointing because the quality of the pieces is very variable, from useful to low-grade 1st year undergraduate essay.
June 6, 2018
Good introduction to Japanese culture and society.
March 16, 2021
On aeg, kui värske muru annab endast juba esimesi märke. Võtsin minagi end siis uuesti kätte ja hakkasin lugema vana võlga, valides oriendi järgi omale lugemiseks raamatu jaapanlastest. Seda soovitas mulle üks juhututtav, aga kuna see tundus tõesti huvitav, tellisin selle omale ära. Lugedes mõtlesin, et kumb see siis nüüd on: teadus või ajalugu? Lõpuks panen selle ajaloo alla nagu algselt plaanisin, sest kuigi peamiselt on juttu kultuurist, siis ajalool on selle puhul täiesti vastuvaidlematult vältimatu koht - sellest ei saa eraldi rääkida.
Milline on teie kujutus kaasaegsest jaapanlasest ja tema mõttemaailmast? Minu jaoks on nad üks lõputu peavalu ja mõistatus, sest ma lihtsalt ei saa neist aru. Juba peaaegu kaks aastat kooseksisteerimist ja ikka veel! Tõelise arusaamiseni ei jõua me üksteise osas ilmselt mitte kunagi, aga seni, kuni ma selle osas veel lootust pole kaotanud... loen ma neist ikka ja jälle edasi.
See raamat räägib jaapanlastest, tänapäeva jaapanlastest, kes elavad pisikestes korterites, töötavad hommikust hilisõhtuni firmas või farmis ja kelle elurütmi dikteerib see neile omane grupitunne, kogukonda kuulumine, mida vist peaaegu kõik jaapanlastega seostavad. Aga mis on tänapäeva teksasid kandvatel jaapanlastel ühist oma rahvuskaaslastega minevikust?
"The Japanese Mind" koosneb 28 peatükist, mis selgitavad erinevaid jaapani kultuuris esinevaid nähtusi nii nende algses kui ka tänapäevases kontekstis. Muu hulgas tuleb juttu Jaapani neljast aastaajast, ühiskondlikest kohustustest ja välismaalastest... Mujal neid ei ole, eks? Tegelikult ma toongi need just välja sellepärast, et jaapanlased ei tea ise ka enam oma kultuurist eriti palju - nad on kohutavalt uhked oma nelja ainulaadse aastaaja üle (kui mõtlema hakata, siis võib siin eristada isegi kuute aastaaega) ja minu jaoks on see kohutavalt suur probleem, sest ma olen viimase pooleteise aasta jooksul seletanud ilmselt juba mitusada korda, et teate, tegelikult on maailmas veel väga palju riike, kus on ka kevad ja suvi ja sügis ja talv täiesti olemas. (Kui te arvate, et ma teen nalja, siis te eksite!)
Aga kas siis jaapanlastel pole midagi tõeliselt unikaalset, mille üle uhke olla? Ikka on. Nende kultuur ja iseloom on kasvanud välja sellest maast, kus nad on kasvanud juba sadu aastaid. See on karm maa: maavärinad, taifuunid, vulkaanid. Kõige sellega kohanemine ei olnud lihtne.
Minu jaoks oli see raamat väga loetav, eelkõige tänu sellele, et see on rohkem nagu õpik, mille iga peatüki lõpus on küsimused ja arutlusteemad, mis aitasid selle sisu enda jaoks mõtestada. Sisu ise oli tegelikult päris lihtne ja üldine, aga algajale on see minu arust sissejuhatuseks väga hea raamat. Kindlasti võib väita, et see raamat on aegunud, kuid siinkohal sõltub ka sellest, millise Jaapani osaga on tegu - Tokyos on inimestel rohkem kontakte läänemaailmaga, maakohtades tehakse aga palju asju veel vanade traditsioonide järgi.
Kindlasti jääb see raamat mu riiulisse, et vajadusel sellega konsulteerida, ja ostan omale koju ka järgmise osa.
Milline on teie kujutus kaasaegsest jaapanlasest ja tema mõttemaailmast? Minu jaoks on nad üks lõputu peavalu ja mõistatus, sest ma lihtsalt ei saa neist aru. Juba peaaegu kaks aastat kooseksisteerimist ja ikka veel! Tõelise arusaamiseni ei jõua me üksteise osas ilmselt mitte kunagi, aga seni, kuni ma selle osas veel lootust pole kaotanud... loen ma neist ikka ja jälle edasi.
See raamat räägib jaapanlastest, tänapäeva jaapanlastest, kes elavad pisikestes korterites, töötavad hommikust hilisõhtuni firmas või farmis ja kelle elurütmi dikteerib see neile omane grupitunne, kogukonda kuulumine, mida vist peaaegu kõik jaapanlastega seostavad. Aga mis on tänapäeva teksasid kandvatel jaapanlastel ühist oma rahvuskaaslastega minevikust?
"The Japanese Mind" koosneb 28 peatükist, mis selgitavad erinevaid jaapani kultuuris esinevaid nähtusi nii nende algses kui ka tänapäevases kontekstis. Muu hulgas tuleb juttu Jaapani neljast aastaajast, ühiskondlikest kohustustest ja välismaalastest... Mujal neid ei ole, eks? Tegelikult ma toongi need just välja sellepärast, et jaapanlased ei tea ise ka enam oma kultuurist eriti palju - nad on kohutavalt uhked oma nelja ainulaadse aastaaja üle (kui mõtlema hakata, siis võib siin eristada isegi kuute aastaaega) ja minu jaoks on see kohutavalt suur probleem, sest ma olen viimase pooleteise aasta jooksul seletanud ilmselt juba mitusada korda, et teate, tegelikult on maailmas veel väga palju riike, kus on ka kevad ja suvi ja sügis ja talv täiesti olemas. (Kui te arvate, et ma teen nalja, siis te eksite!)
Aga kas siis jaapanlastel pole midagi tõeliselt unikaalset, mille üle uhke olla? Ikka on. Nende kultuur ja iseloom on kasvanud välja sellest maast, kus nad on kasvanud juba sadu aastaid. See on karm maa: maavärinad, taifuunid, vulkaanid. Kõige sellega kohanemine ei olnud lihtne.
Minu jaoks oli see raamat väga loetav, eelkõige tänu sellele, et see on rohkem nagu õpik, mille iga peatüki lõpus on küsimused ja arutlusteemad, mis aitasid selle sisu enda jaoks mõtestada. Sisu ise oli tegelikult päris lihtne ja üldine, aga algajale on see minu arust sissejuhatuseks väga hea raamat. Kindlasti võib väita, et see raamat on aegunud, kuid siinkohal sõltub ka sellest, millise Jaapani osaga on tegu - Tokyos on inimestel rohkem kontakte läänemaailmaga, maakohtades tehakse aga palju asju veel vanade traditsioonide järgi.
Kindlasti jääb see raamat mu riiulisse, et vajadusel sellega konsulteerida, ja ostan omale koju ka järgmise osa.
November 11, 2020
2020.11.08–2020.11.11
Contents
Davies RJ & Ikeno O (eds.) (2002) (08:48) Japanese Mind, The - Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture
Japanese Chronology
Introduction
Acknowledgments
01. Aimai : Ambiguity and the Japanese
• The Origins of Aimai
• Examples of Ambiguity
• The Cross-Cultural Effects of Ambiguity
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
02. Amae : The Concept of Japanese Dependence
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
03. Amakudari : Descent from Heaven
• The Alliance between Government and Big Business
• Amakudari in Two Ministries
• Scandals: The Jūsen Debacle and Zenekon
• Repercussions for Japanese Society
• Solutions to the Problem
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
04. Bigaku : The Japanese Sense of Beauty
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
05. Bushidō : The Way of the Warrior
• The Origins of Bushidō: Zen Buddhism
• The Origins of Bushidō: Confucianism
• Loyalty
• Honor
• After the Collapse of the Samurai Class
• Bushidō in Modern Times
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
06. Chinmoku : Silence in Japanese Communication
• The Underlying Causes of Chinmoku
• The Function of Chinmoku
• The Role of Chinmoku on Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
07. Danjyo Kankei : Male and Female Relationships in Japan
• Historical Perspectives
• Japanese Expressions
• The Changing Consciousness of Men and Women in Relationships
• Husband and Wife Relationships in Japan
• Conclusions
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
08. The Dō Spirit of Japan
• The Origins of the Spirit of Dō: Taoism
• The Origins of the Spirit of Dō: Zen Buddhism
• Characteristics of the Traditional Japanese Arts
• Problems with the Spirit of Dō
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
09. Gambari : Japanese Patience and Determination
• The Background of Gambari
• The Meaning of Gambari
• Different Ways of Thinking
• The Deeper Causes of Gambari
• Problems with Gambari
• Changing Attitudes toward Gambari
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
10. Giri : Japanese Social Obligations
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
11. Haragei : An Implicit Way of Communicating in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
12. Hedataru to Najimu : Japanese Personal Space
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
13. Honne to Tatemae : Private vs. Public Stance in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
14. The Japanese Ie System
• The Foundations of Ie
• The System of Ie
• Ie and Class System
• Ie in Family Law
• Conclusion
15. Iitoko-Dori : Adopting Elements of Foreign Culture
• The Process of Iitoko-Dori
• The Consequences of Iitoko-Dori
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
16. Ikuji : Childrearing Practices in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
17. Kenkyo : The Japanese Virtue of Modesty
• The Vertical Society
• The Function of Keigo
• The Expression of Humility
• Self-Effacement
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
18. Kisetsu : The Japanese Sense of the Seasons
• Lifestyles
• Annual Events
• Literature
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
19. Nemawashi : Laying the Groundwork in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
20. Omiai : Arranged Marriage in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
21. Otogibanashi : Folktales of Japan
• The Japanese Sense of Beauty
• The Concept of Nature
• The Ideal of Perfect Human Beings
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
22. Ryōsaikenbo—“Good Wives and Wise Mothers”: The Social Expectations of Women in Japan
• Historical Background
• Children's Socialization
• Woman's Magazines as Conveyors of Sex Roles
• Conclusions
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
23. Sempai-Kōhai : Seniority Rules in Japanese Relations
• The History of Sempai-Kōhai
• Sempai-Kōhai and the Japanese Language
• The Current Style of Sempai-Kōhai
• Problems in Sempai-Kōhai System
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
24. Shūdan Ishiki : Japanese Group Consciousness
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
25. Sōshiki : Japanese Funerals
• Shinto
• Buddhism
• Modern Customs during the Funeral
• • Deciding on the Date of the Funeral
• • Matsugo no Mizu to Yukan: The Water of the Time of Death and Cleaning the Deceased
• • Kyōkatabira to Shini Geshō: Clothes and Makeup for the Deceased
• • Laying out the Dead Person
• • Sakasa Goto: Upside-down Things
• • Makura Kazari: Pillowside Decoration
• • Kaimyō: A Posthumous Name
• • Hitsugi: The Coffin
• • Tsuya: The Wake
• • Sōshiki: The Funeral
• • Sōretsu : The Funeral Procession
• • Kasō: Cremation
• Modern Customs after the Funeral
• • Shijūku Nichi Hōyū: A Buddhist Memorial Service Taking Place Forty-Nine Days After Death
• • Butsudan: The Family Buddhist Altar
• • Haka: The Grave
• • Kamidana Fūji: Closing the Household Shinto Altar
• • Kōden Gaeshi: Presents in Return for a Monetary Offering
• • Fuku Mo: Mourning
• • Nenki Hōyō: The Buddhist Memorial Services on the Anniversaries of Death
• • O-Bon: The Bon Festival
• • O-Higan: The Equinoctial Week
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
26. Uchi to Soto : Dual Meanings in Japanese Human Relations
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
27. Wabi-Sabi : Simplicity and Elegance as Japanese Ideals of Beauty
• The Etymology of Wabi-Sabi
• Zen Buddhism and the Development of Wabi-Sabi
• Wabi-Sabi in the Traditional Arts
• Wabi-Sabi in Modern Japan
• Notes
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
28. Zōtō : The Japanese Custom of Gift Giving
• Seasonal Gifts
• Ceremonial Gifts
• Gifts for Other Occasions
• Continuity and Reciprocity
• Something for Daily Use—Practicality
• A Comparison with the West
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
References
Glossary
Contents
Davies RJ & Ikeno O (eds.) (2002) (08:48) Japanese Mind, The - Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture
Japanese Chronology
Introduction
Acknowledgments
01. Aimai : Ambiguity and the Japanese
• The Origins of Aimai
• Examples of Ambiguity
• The Cross-Cultural Effects of Ambiguity
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
02. Amae : The Concept of Japanese Dependence
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
03. Amakudari : Descent from Heaven
• The Alliance between Government and Big Business
• Amakudari in Two Ministries
• Scandals: The Jūsen Debacle and Zenekon
• Repercussions for Japanese Society
• Solutions to the Problem
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
04. Bigaku : The Japanese Sense of Beauty
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
05. Bushidō : The Way of the Warrior
• The Origins of Bushidō: Zen Buddhism
• The Origins of Bushidō: Confucianism
• Loyalty
• Honor
• After the Collapse of the Samurai Class
• Bushidō in Modern Times
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
06. Chinmoku : Silence in Japanese Communication
• The Underlying Causes of Chinmoku
• The Function of Chinmoku
• The Role of Chinmoku on Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
07. Danjyo Kankei : Male and Female Relationships in Japan
• Historical Perspectives
• Japanese Expressions
• The Changing Consciousness of Men and Women in Relationships
• Husband and Wife Relationships in Japan
• Conclusions
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
08. The Dō Spirit of Japan
• The Origins of the Spirit of Dō: Taoism
• The Origins of the Spirit of Dō: Zen Buddhism
• Characteristics of the Traditional Japanese Arts
• Problems with the Spirit of Dō
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
09. Gambari : Japanese Patience and Determination
• The Background of Gambari
• The Meaning of Gambari
• Different Ways of Thinking
• The Deeper Causes of Gambari
• Problems with Gambari
• Changing Attitudes toward Gambari
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
10. Giri : Japanese Social Obligations
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
11. Haragei : An Implicit Way of Communicating in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
12. Hedataru to Najimu : Japanese Personal Space
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
13. Honne to Tatemae : Private vs. Public Stance in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
14. The Japanese Ie System
• The Foundations of Ie
• The System of Ie
• Ie and Class System
• Ie in Family Law
• Conclusion
15. Iitoko-Dori : Adopting Elements of Foreign Culture
• The Process of Iitoko-Dori
• The Consequences of Iitoko-Dori
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
16. Ikuji : Childrearing Practices in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
17. Kenkyo : The Japanese Virtue of Modesty
• The Vertical Society
• The Function of Keigo
• The Expression of Humility
• Self-Effacement
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
18. Kisetsu : The Japanese Sense of the Seasons
• Lifestyles
• Annual Events
• Literature
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
19. Nemawashi : Laying the Groundwork in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
20. Omiai : Arranged Marriage in Japan
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
21. Otogibanashi : Folktales of Japan
• The Japanese Sense of Beauty
• The Concept of Nature
• The Ideal of Perfect Human Beings
• Conclusion
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
22. Ryōsaikenbo—“Good Wives and Wise Mothers”: The Social Expectations of Women in Japan
• Historical Background
• Children's Socialization
• Woman's Magazines as Conveyors of Sex Roles
• Conclusions
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
23. Sempai-Kōhai : Seniority Rules in Japanese Relations
• The History of Sempai-Kōhai
• Sempai-Kōhai and the Japanese Language
• The Current Style of Sempai-Kōhai
• Problems in Sempai-Kōhai System
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
24. Shūdan Ishiki : Japanese Group Consciousness
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
25. Sōshiki : Japanese Funerals
• Shinto
• Buddhism
• Modern Customs during the Funeral
• • Deciding on the Date of the Funeral
• • Matsugo no Mizu to Yukan: The Water of the Time of Death and Cleaning the Deceased
• • Kyōkatabira to Shini Geshō: Clothes and Makeup for the Deceased
• • Laying out the Dead Person
• • Sakasa Goto: Upside-down Things
• • Makura Kazari: Pillowside Decoration
• • Kaimyō: A Posthumous Name
• • Hitsugi: The Coffin
• • Tsuya: The Wake
• • Sōshiki: The Funeral
• • Sōretsu : The Funeral Procession
• • Kasō: Cremation
• Modern Customs after the Funeral
• • Shijūku Nichi Hōyū: A Buddhist Memorial Service Taking Place Forty-Nine Days After Death
• • Butsudan: The Family Buddhist Altar
• • Haka: The Grave
• • Kamidana Fūji: Closing the Household Shinto Altar
• • Kōden Gaeshi: Presents in Return for a Monetary Offering
• • Fuku Mo: Mourning
• • Nenki Hōyō: The Buddhist Memorial Services on the Anniversaries of Death
• • O-Bon: The Bon Festival
• • O-Higan: The Equinoctial Week
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
26. Uchi to Soto : Dual Meanings in Japanese Human Relations
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
27. Wabi-Sabi : Simplicity and Elegance as Japanese Ideals of Beauty
• The Etymology of Wabi-Sabi
• Zen Buddhism and the Development of Wabi-Sabi
• Wabi-Sabi in the Traditional Arts
• Wabi-Sabi in Modern Japan
• Notes
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
28. Zōtō : The Japanese Custom of Gift Giving
• Seasonal Gifts
• Ceremonial Gifts
• Gifts for Other Occasions
• Continuity and Reciprocity
• Something for Daily Use—Practicality
• A Comparison with the West
• Discussion Activities
• • Exploring Japanese Culture
• • Exploring Cross-Cultural Issues
References
Glossary
March 16, 2025
I loved this book as an introduction to common Japanese cultural concepts that many foreigners aren’t familiar with. Having lived in Japan for a couple of years, and having family that are permanent residents- this book provided insights for me of ideas I’d sensed but hadn’t been able to articulate. I recommend it to my friends traveling to Japan who want to get a sense of the cultural ideas common in Japan.
July 21, 2021
very interesting
Highly recommend for any westerners living / working in Japan. gives a great overview of some of the cultural oddities and intricacies that you may notice along the way, but never understood.
Thank you for opening my eyes to some of these interesting points :)
Highly recommend for any westerners living / working in Japan. gives a great overview of some of the cultural oddities and intricacies that you may notice along the way, but never understood.
Thank you for opening my eyes to some of these interesting points :)
April 20, 2023
the articles are written more than 20 years ago now, and I wonder how much has changed since then
January 28, 2024
an airport book fr
August 18, 2020
This is an excellent introduction to many of the unique aspects of Japanese culture. It covers a wide range of topics, and manages to achieve a satisfying level of depth without becoming overwhelming. There were a few typos (maybe half a dozen), but considering the fact that it was written and edited by Japanese university students and professors, I didn't find them detrimental to understanding and in fact I found the writing to be impressively academic and professional. And the fact that this book was written by Japanese people is the number one thing that makes it trustworthy and credible. No matter how much a Western writer may sympathize with, study, or love Japanese culture, it is impossible to fully suppress or erase their inherent cultural bias. It's not something they're doing wrong or purposefully, of course, but I want to learn about foreign culture from the people who have been raised in it and live it every day. I feel that's the only way to take meaningful steps toward true understanding.
July 12, 2011
To many Westerners, the so called "Eastern mind" can be an enigma of seemingly conflicting ideologies and beliefs. However underlying this assumption is that there is any more of a common zeitgeist among Eastern peoples than there is among Western ones. This text will go even further to help clarify those ever elusive peculiarities in general East-West cross cultural understanding to tackle the unique facets of the Japanese cultural consciousness. Most importantly, however, is that this is a text which approaches its subject mater from a NATIVE Japanese viewpoint thanks to its collective authorship. Consequently, it remains largely free of the dangers of insensitive and uneducated generalization that many such culture critiques are prone to from their outside, often Western, writers. On the whole the format of this text makes it highly readable, and may just help anyone unfamiliar with Japanese culture better understand - and appreciate - its unique challenges and rewards.
September 4, 2013
I found this to be a mostly fascinating book regarding Japanese culture and why Japanese people do the things they do or think the way they think. I'm familiar with a lot of what is covered in the book but I wasn't aware of the reason why for most of it. Definitely recommended reading if you are planning on living/working in Japan or have close Japanese friends or relatives. I probably still won't change my views about how people should give gifts simply for the sake of giving and not expect anything in return, but at least I'll understand why I'm expected to reciprocate with a gift worth half of the original gift when I didn't even want a gift in the first place!
September 21, 2016
I started reading this book right before going for a month in Japan for a trip, and I must say it was very useful.
It's a collection of essays written by Japanese university students about various aspects of Japanese culture and mentality. It's very difficult to know if all the details provided are accurate (I was just for a month there), but based on some discussions I had with Japanese people, they seem to confirm what the book is saying.
Some repetition exists, but that is because each essay is self-standing and the chapters of the book can be read in any order. Still though, I think that one or two topics could be skipped or merged with others in the book.
It's a collection of essays written by Japanese university students about various aspects of Japanese culture and mentality. It's very difficult to know if all the details provided are accurate (I was just for a month there), but based on some discussions I had with Japanese people, they seem to confirm what the book is saying.
Some repetition exists, but that is because each essay is self-standing and the chapters of the book can be read in any order. Still though, I think that one or two topics could be skipped or merged with others in the book.
October 5, 2019
A super good introduction for anyone who wants to understand the japanese pattern of behaviour, I bought this book shortly after I made friends with japanese people at school, it was amazing seeing the parallels between what I read in this book and what they did. it helped make me feel less confused and less afraid that I was doing something wrong as a westerner trying to relate to them. It is an easy book to read, reducing very broad topics into concise essays, so Id say this book is best used as a starting point. it may not be so interesting to people who have already studied japanese society for some time.
April 19, 2011
Fairly well rounded and accurate - currently up to date as far as I'm aware, and very interesting from a historical point of view. It covered most subjects and talked of them in an easy-to-read fashion.
Probably not that interesting to those who already know quite a bit of Japan however, as it doesn't go quite in-depth, but it's very good for those who are just starting to have an interest in Japan.
Probably not that interesting to those who already know quite a bit of Japan however, as it doesn't go quite in-depth, but it's very good for those who are just starting to have an interest in Japan.
September 17, 2017
A neat compilation of student work on the culture of Japan. It's a good primer for people starting to get interested in Japanese culture, and reinforces a lot of what people that have lived in Japan already know. Still, you get to read about Japan from college students that have lived it their whole lives, and who better to tell you about the ins and outs of the system than them.
May 9, 2018
Informative, concise and refreshing. Borrowed it from a friend before my first trip to Japan and I think people with little to no knowledge of Japan will benefit the most from this collection of essays. In other words, it's a good crash course to understand Japanese history and culture. The text is also divided in each main concept, which makes it highly readable.
April 1, 2025
Me parecieron muy buenos los ensayos. Son una gran introducción a muchos conceptos centrales en la cultura japonesa. Algunos nunca los había escuchado.
Claramente hay una visión occidental del progreso "blanco" vs lo que sucede en Japón, creo que se deja entrever especialmente en las preguntas del final de cada capítulo. Pero no me logró arruinar la lectura.
Claramente hay una visión occidental del progreso "blanco" vs lo que sucede en Japón, creo que se deja entrever especialmente en las preguntas del final de cada capítulo. Pero no me logró arruinar la lectura.
June 30, 2016
I appreciate the in-depth nature of this book and the relevance of the topics it addresses. The assessments are accurate, and the questions at the end of each chapter are helpful in guiding deeper thought. The questions would best be used as a discussion topic in a cross-cultural group setting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews