Understanding Japanese Society

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 on: 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; and debates about the future of the Japanese constitution and the resurgence of nationalism and militarism.

ISBN 0415263832   Pages 288 ISBN13 9780415263832 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd   Weight (grammes) 398 Imprint Routledge   Published in London Format Paperback   Series title Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies Publication date 24 Apr 2003   Previous ISBN 9780415102599 Writer of preface Stockwin, J. A. A.   Height (mm) 216 Library of Congress HN723.5   Width (mm) 138 DEWEY 306.0952   Spine width (mm) 19 DEWEY edition DC21   Academic level General

		List of figures
		Series Editor's Preface
		Preface to the third edition
		Acknowledgements for the third edition
		Introduction		1
1		Sources of Japanese identity: historical and mythological foundations of Japan		5
2		The house and family system		25
3		Socialisation and classification		46
4		Community and neighbourhood		62
5		The education system		82
6		Status, hierarchy and ethnic diversity		101
7		Religious influences		126
8		Ritual and the life cycle		145
9		Careers and continuity: opportunities for working life		164
10		Arts, entertainment and leisure		187
11		Government and the craft of politics		212
12		The legal system and social control		231
		Conclusion		249
		Index		255

A comprehensive and coherent approach to understanding Japanese society ... It is a well-crafted introductory book on Japanese society with a strong emphasis on understanding through intimate observation ... this book should be prominent on many reading lists in its own right.' - Sociology 'As our contact with Japan increases, books like this one and the course that inspired it, serve a valuable role in opening up the barriers to understanding.' - - Times Higher Education Supplement "The author's competence and breadth of knowledge are impressive, and I would have been hard-pressed to find a more suitable guide to introduce me to life in Japan. The bibliography leaves nothing to be desired, and very much fits the metaphor of a branching tree, inviting the reader to explore any branch which he or she finds attractive. The author also convincingly states her case about some ingrained principles of Japanese society which can be glimpsed in all walks of life in Japan. The new edition is thoroughly revised, with references to works and studies as recent as 2002, and seems very up to date. ...To sum-up, I would recommend this book as a starting point for any particular subject you find interesting or intriguing about Japanese life, and as a quick yet thorough review of life in Japan." -- learnasecondlanguageguide.com

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