Culture Smart! Japan will guide you through modern Japan's shifting social and cultural maze. It provides invaluable insights into people's attitudes and behavior, and practical tips to help make your visit to this complex, rich, and dynamic society a mutually rewarding experience. Today Japan is at a crossroads. The postwar economic miracle is over and the balance of power in Asia is shifting as new players enter the field. The bedrock of traditional Japanese culture—its remarkable resilience, coherence, and consensus-based philosophy, underpinned by many protocols—until recently regarded by some as a hindrance, is starting to look like a virtue in a world of accelerating change. Japan remains the world's third-largest economy and one of the most attractive and secure destinations for investment. The younger generation is outward-looking, Japanese women have a new confidence, and the country's technical and scientific research capability is as good as it gets. Japan continues to excel at innovation in technology and the "new" sciences, and is among the world's largest funders in research as a percentage of GDP.
Author(s): Paul Norbury
Series: Culture Smart!
Edition: 3
Publisher: Kuperard
Year: 2017
Language: English
Pages: 169
Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 2
Copyright......Page 3
About the Author......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Map of Japan......Page 8
Introduction......Page 9
Key Facts......Page 11
• Location......Page 13
• The Land......Page 14
• Climate and Seasons......Page 15
• Rice and Fish......Page 17
• “Connecting” Japan......Page 19
• The Japanese People: A Brief History......Page 20
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki......Page 30
• Chronology......Page 36
Chapter 2: Values and Attitudes......Page 41
• “I” and “We”......Page 42
• The Work Ethic......Page 43
• Face......Page 44
• Giri......Page 45
• Subtlety, “Soft Talk,” and “Space”......Page 46
• “Inside” and “Outside”......Page 47
• Giving Thanks......Page 48
• Attitudes Toward Foreigners......Page 49
• Shinto......Page 53
• The Principal Festivals (Matsuri)......Page 54
• Buddhism......Page 59
• New Religious Movements......Page 62
• Religion and the Rites of Passage......Page 63
• Aspects of Traditional Culture......Page 65
Chapter 4: The Japanese at Home......Page 67
• Visiting a Japanese Home......Page 69
• The Japanese Bath......Page 71
• Decline of the Extended Family......Page 73
• Children and Family Life......Page 74
• The Pursuit of Leisure......Page 77
• Social Life......Page 78
• Geisha and the World of Entertainment......Page 80
• Leisure and Work......Page 82
• Cultural Life......Page 84
• Sports......Page 85
• Wining and Dining......Page 87
• The Public Transportation System......Page 90
• Visitors and the Police......Page 94
Chapter 6: Gift Giving......Page 97
• Key Guidelines for Gift Giving......Page 99
• Before Departure......Page 102
Chapter 7: Food and Drink......Page 107
• The Tea Ceremony......Page 110
• “Beautiful” Food......Page 112
• Fish Dishes......Page 114
• Food Etiquette......Page 115
• Using Chopsticks......Page 117
• Something About Saké......Page 118
• The Japanese Cookery Basket......Page 120
• Some Language Tips on Eating Out......Page 122
Chapter 8: Living in Japan......Page 123
• “Where is the Wretched Place?”......Page 128
• “In Japan, Nothing Changes”......Page 129
• Entry Requirements......Page 130
• Some “Housekeeping” Information......Page 131
• Driving in Japan......Page 132
• Everyday Life......Page 135
• The Japanese Economy......Page 139
• Some Introductory “Essentials”......Page 141
• Aspects of Communication......Page 143
• Women in Business......Page 148
• Understanding “No”......Page 150
• Consensus......Page 152
• Other Dos and Don’ts......Page 155
Chapter 10: Language and Communication......Page 157
• Structure of the Language......Page 158
• Pronunciation......Page 161
• Some “Imported” Words......Page 162
• Conclusion......Page 163
Appendix: Some Useful Words and Phrases......Page 165
Further Reading......Page 166
Index......Page 167
