Japan: A ReinterpretationThe Japanese are in the process of re-creating themselves--an endeavor they have undertaken at intervals throughout history, always prompted by a combination of domestic and global forces. In this landmark book, Patrick Smith asserts that a variety of forces--the achievement of material affluence, the Cold War's end, and the death of Emperor Hirohito--are now spurring Japan once again toward a fundamental redefinition of itself. As Smith argues, this requires of the West an equally thorough reevaluation of the picture we have held of Japan over the past half-century. He reveals how economic overdevelopment conceals profound political, social, and psychological under-development. And by refocusing on "internal history" and the Japanese character, Smith offers a new framework for understanding Japan and the Japanese as they really are. The Japanese, he says, are now seeking to alter the very thing we believe distinguishes them: the relationship between the individual and society. Timely, measured, and authoritative, this book illuminates a new Japan, a nation preparing to drop the mask it holds up to the West and to steer a course of its own in the world. Jacket image: The Great Wave of Kanagawa, from 36 Views of Mount Fuji (detail) by Katsushika Hokusai. Private collection. |
From inside the book
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Page 67
... better off without Commodore Perry's black ships , it might have been better off without the occupation — at least as it turned out . Americans opened the door again , as it were , in 1945. But with the reverse course they closed it ...
... better off without Commodore Perry's black ships , it might have been better off without the occupation — at least as it turned out . Americans opened the door again , as it were , in 1945. But with the reverse course they closed it ...
Page 81
... better prepared than their American coun- terparts . By any measure the Japanese student is more literate and more numerate than the American schoolchild . But how and why do Japanese pupils become so notably disciplined— and to what ...
... better prepared than their American coun- terparts . By any measure the Japanese student is more literate and more numerate than the American schoolchild . But how and why do Japanese pupils become so notably disciplined— and to what ...
Page 309
... better . Required to answer for itself and suffer the consequences , Japan would no doubt be more responsive in matters such as trade and the global environment . Its psychologically fraught relations with the rest of Asia would ...
... better . Required to answer for itself and suffer the consequences , Japan would no doubt be more responsive in matters such as trade and the global environment . Its psychologically fraught relations with the rest of Asia would ...
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accepted American appeared arrived asked became become began begin building called century considered constitution corporate course culture democratic described early economic emperor enter essential explained face feel finally followed foreign half Hirohito human hundred idea imperial important individual industrial Japan Japanese kind known late later learned less Liberal live look matter mean Meiji military modern named nationalists nature never official once ordinary past period political postwar problem produced published question remains rest samurai scholars seemed simply social society spirit term things thought thousand tion Tokyo told took tradition true turned understand University village wanted West Western women wrote York young