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dogsbody70 06-28-2010 11:57 AM

Books About Japan
 
Job Hunting In Japan -- Things To Read


this is interesting site with reviews of some books about JAPAN.

Some one may find it useful.

dogsbody70 07-11-2010 01:20 PM

this from the JAPAN TIMES- RE
 
Pearl Harbor: setting history straight | The Japan Times Online



Pearl Harbour setting history straight.By STEPHEN MANSFIELD
DEMYSTIFYING PEARL HARBOR: A New Perspective From Japan, by Iguchi Takeo.

Nippoman 07-14-2010 11:21 PM

Interesting link, thanks ! Dogs & Demons is a classic now. But it won't make you fall in love with the country.

dogsbody70 07-15-2010 10:55 AM

I have a copy of dogs and demons. I wonder what japanese residents would think about it. I am unsure if it was printed in Japanese or not.

I have another book called "THE JAPANESE" by Joe Joseph. Published 1993.

I asked my japanese friend if much of the statements in that book are true-- and she agreed that they are. Especially the exchange of gifts and the Group system.

as we are now in 2010 I wonder if the younger generation are changing from that Pattern.

Now there is probably a lot more contact with the outside world Will they be content with the way things have been in the past.

sebastian66 07-16-2010 06:25 AM

Japan by Rail, by Ramsey Zarifeh is the best book i ever read. If you are planning to go japan then get rail pass first and then get this book you will have a great trip.

dogsbody70 07-16-2010 10:09 AM

thnaks very much sebastian I will get that book.

Ellandrae 07-17-2010 12:03 AM

If you're really interested in Japanese history and/or society, I would pick up The Making of Modern Japan by Kenneth B. Pyle, it starts all the way back from the Warring States Period (1467) and although it is definitely condensed at 280 pages, there is a lot of good information packed into it. I'd also recommend Chie Nakane's Japanese Society, a professor of mine once described it as a "must read" for anyone interested in Japan, and I have to agree.

Sashimister 07-17-2010 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellandrae (Post 820206)
I'd also recommend Chie Nakane's Japanese Society, a professor of mine once described it as a "must read" for anyone interested in Japan, and I have to agree.

What's the original title of that book? I ask because Nakane has never published a book with as broad a title as 'Japanese Society'. All her books have much more unique titles to them than that in Japanese.

WingsToDiscovery 07-17-2010 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sashimister (Post 820211)
What's the original title of that book? I ask because Nakane has never published a book with as broad a title as 'Japanese Society'. All her books have much more unique titles to them than that in Japanese.

Amazon.com: Japanese Society (Center for Japanese and Korean Studies) (9780520021549): Chie Nakane: Books

dogsbody70 07-17-2010 02:29 PM

I have quite a collection of books about Japan and its people but my japanese friend is not too happy with me. She says there are books about Japanese strange customs but often a reason is not given.

I have read quite a few books re the Pacific war.


One book talks about Japanese Spirit which seems special.

I keep looking for something that is written recently as times change.


The fact that Japan was isolated for a very long period must have affected the population a great deal.

I have not teally looked at any MAnga-- one of our Borders Shop did hold lots of Manga comics but they were all printed in English.


I would be interested to know how MANGa and anime came into being.

There is so much art from centuries before-- Japan maybe is innovative with its Manga. Possibly as a way of teaching?

Also I find Cosplay fascinating. It is like a different world being able to fantasize or role play from Comic books.

I have only attended one japanese festival here in UK but there were quite a few cosplay enthusiasts. I admire them, wonder if it will become world wide in popularity. I also love the art of calligraphy. It is so beautiful.

willgoestocollege 07-17-2010 08:31 PM

Lonely Planet do very good travel guides if you are traveling to Japan.

dogsbody70 07-18-2010 02:13 PM

thanks for suggestions everyone.

Ellandrae 07-19-2010 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sashimister (Post 820211)
What's the original title of that book? I ask because Nakane has never published a book with as broad a title as 'Japanese Society'. All her books have much more unique titles to them than that in Japanese.

It is『タテ社会の人間関係』. The professor that introduced the book to me was sure to give me the original title, specifically because he felt so strongly that the translation took away from the title too much.

Sashimister 07-19-2010 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellandrae (Post 820467)
It is『タテ社会の人間関係』. The professor that introduced the book to me was sure to give me the original title, specifically because he felt so strongly that the translation took away from the title too much.

Thanks for replying; That solves the mystery for me.
_________

仙台での留学の成功を祈ります。住みやすい町だと思い ます。少なくとも牛タンは確実にウマい!

東京のタテ社会人間より・・・

dogsbody70 07-19-2010 11:06 AM

I have some copied sheets from a book about the japanese culture that is very interesting-- I have searched for it on the NET but cannot find it

Its called the "COUNTRY OF JAPAN" but I do not know the author.

Have any of you come across this book?


It is primarily to do with the culture-- at least these extracts are.

Luckkiss 07-19-2010 05:00 PM

The Essence of Shinto- Japan's Spiritual Heart by Yamakage Motohisa Amazon.com: The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heart (9784770030443): Motohisa Yamakage…

JamboP26 07-19-2010 06:22 PM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DK-Eyewitnes...9563315&sr=1-1

I have this book. Its a travel guide, but is extensive at 414 pages long. It give tips on every city & town in Japan, & the places in between, & has hundreds upon hundreds of pictures. It also has 150 pages (of the 414) that briefly, but well, explains the history of Japan, as well as, accommodation, eating out, etiquette, customs and key phrases & words. I really recommend this book.

Ellandrae 07-20-2010 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sashimister (Post 820468)
Thanks for replying; That solves the mystery for me.
_________

仙台での留学の成功を祈ります。住みやすい町だと思い ます。少なくとも牛タンは確実にウマい!

東京のタテ社会人間より・・・

You're welcome, it was no problem at all.

ありがとうございます!牛タンを食べてみたいですけど 、ちょっと・・・

Sashimister 07-20-2010 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellandrae (Post 820620)
You're welcome, it was no problem at all.

ありがとうございます!牛タンを食べてみたいですけど 、ちょっと・・・

「ちょっと・・・・」なんて言ってないで、食べる!こ れは宿題です!
なんで知らないおっさんから宿題出されなきゃいけない の・・・とか言わない!
___________

The best book on Japan I've ever read in English would be:

The Japanese by Edwin O. Reischauer.

bELyVIS 07-20-2010 10:40 AM

This is a good book for anyone moving, or thinking of moving to Japan. It is by a friend of mine.
Japan Lights And Shadows

dogsbody70 07-27-2010 12:28 PM

New book published by Prime Minister Kan's wife
 
Kan's wife criticizes him in new book

I am amazed at the timing of the release of this book.

What is its real purpose?

Japania 08-03-2010 09:24 PM

I’m interested in Japanese Psychology (the way they see life, face problems, the prevalence of anxiety and depression…). Could anyone recommend a book to me about it?

dogsbody70 11-30-2010 08:53 PM

The real Tenko.
 
I am reading a book called: the REAL TENKO" by Mark Felton.

Its pretty gory-- and upsetting the way the Japanese soldiers treated civilians. and hospitals and wounded. doctors and nurses being shot or bayoneted and raped. Apparently it was soon after the rape of NANKING-- so the soldiers carried on behaving as they had in CHINA.

It is shocking.

steven 12-01-2010 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Japania (Post 822536)
I’m interested in Japanese Psychology (the way they see life, face problems, the prevalence of anxiety and depression…). Could anyone recommend a book to me about it?

I have a couple of recommendations.

Communicative Styles of Japanese and Americans (Barnlund)
Even if you're not American it will still shed plenty of light on Japanese

Japanese Cultural Encounters (Kataoka)
Read the reviews on Amazon. I think they will give you an idea of what this is about. I'll try to explain it anyways. It's basically a "choose your own adventure" style book. You'll have paragraph describing a situation... then you'll have four answers each providing an explanation or a way to deal with it. If you have done a decent amount of studying on Japanese culture a lot of the stuff may seem obvious with a couple of shockers here or there. At any rate, at the end of each answer there is a page number written. If you go to that page it will tell you if your answer is correct or not and give a short explanation on why. It's a very interactive book and a really good approach, but you could probably read it in a day. I recommend reading it in conjunction with some other books so you can suplement some of the info in it with some longer and more general concepts. I think it will sink in better that way.

Both of these books might not go into great detail about what you want to know. They might brush over it a bit though (I'm thinking specifically of the anxiety and depression part). They'll certainly provide you with some great general information which could assist you in getting a lot closer to understand what it is you're looking for though.

Dogsbody, that sounds like an interesting read. You might be interested in a book titled "Confession of a Mask" (Kamen no Kokuhaku) by Yukio Mishima. I think it's a more abstract look at the era through a character who struggls to fit in.
Confessions of a Mask - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I think the wikipedia article gives a nice preview of it, if not going slightly too much into detail.

I'd like to check out the REAL TENKO though. It sounds really interesting.

Barone1551 12-01-2010 06:14 AM

As a huge fan of baseball in both Japan and the US, I would suggest the book Gotta have Wa. It is a very interesting read. Japanese baseball reflects Japanese culture in almost every way.

dogsbody70 12-02-2010 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogsbody70 (Post 839892)
I am reading a book called: the REAL TENKO" by Mark Felton.

Its pretty gory-- and upsetting the way the Japanese soldiers treated civilians. and hospitals and wounded. doctors and nurses being shot or bayoneted and raped. Apparently it was soon after the rape of NANKING-- so the soldiers carried on behaving as they had in CHINA.

It is shocking.


This book really should be read for anyone wanting to know how low some human beings can go-----------Japanese people should know what their soldiers did to so many women. Appalling. ALso shows the courage of many of those women. How easy it seems to be that human beings turn into bestial cruel sadistic beasts.


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