Japan: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

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