Reading the Japanese Mind: The Realities Behind Their Thoughts and Actions

by Robert M. March

Who are the Japanese? This question has tantalized and bewildered the West ever since Japan opened its borders to the world in the last century. Are the Japanese really the guileless, polite, and hardworking people that they appear to be? Or do appearances mask a calculating, secretive interior? Can we ever understand their ways of thinking? Robert March - psychologist, management consultant, and long-term professor at a major Tokyo university - spent nearly twenty years living in Japan and, as the ultimate insider, offers fresh insights into these and other questions.
Deploying a wealth of sources, March delves behind the social mask that the Japanese present to the outside world to reveal their "inner culture." He highlights their modes of thinking and communication, the originality of their culture, the central role of social status, their ways of making friends and influencing others, and their addiction to perfection.
March also addresses two topics of prime significance to all students of modern Japan. He reflects on the "goodness" of the Japanese people and the ethical quality of their society and business practices. And in the final chapter, he discusses the social and political significance of Aum Shinrikyo, the bizarre cult responsible for the indiscriminate gas attacks that terrorized Tokyo in 1995.

Genres: Japan

209 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

While good on some basic aspects like tatemae and saving face and written in an interesting style, not too pedantic, in other words, this is a kind of "surface" book. It's good, I suppose, for knowing how the Japanese work if you want to do business with them, but I also think the way it is written can easily lead people to think that "all Japanese think this way/do things like this" Also, Japan has shifted culturally since the 90s (as all societies do) and American perceptions have shifted as well, at least in the academic field. Still, for what it is, it's not a particularly bad look at some aspects of the Japanese character.

[Dylan Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It offers a very cold analytical view of the social behavior of Japanese people. I have never met or interacted with a Japanese person so I can't verify the accuracy. The author seems to have a strong background on the feild. It was interesting to compare the authors thoughts on the Japanese culture with the western culture I am familiar with so there's value to that I suppose.

[Chi Pham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some surprisingly good parts, but mostly overgeneralization of Japanese society. A book of this scope is ambitious, but the author could not deliver. Furthermore, as the book is written for Caucasian audience, it becomes very painful for me to read.

But I will still treasure the book though ;))

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting.