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
Results 1-3 of 30
Page 21
... passed off as history . The author's most remarkable assertion occurs in the 1977 edition ( and is little altered in later printings ) . " Political corruption is not widespread in Japan , " he notes in passing . Reischauer then ...
... passed off as history . The author's most remarkable assertion occurs in the 1977 edition ( and is little altered in later printings ) . " Political corruption is not widespread in Japan , " he notes in passing . Reischauer then ...
Page 48
... passed away in 1996 at the age of eighty - two , was without question the most influential thinker Japan has produced in our century . In the great debate over shutai - sei he led a camp called the “ modernists , " who posited two kinds ...
... passed away in 1996 at the age of eighty - two , was without question the most influential thinker Japan has produced in our century . In the great debate over shutai - sei he led a camp called the “ modernists , " who posited two kinds ...
Page 280
... passing among other Japanese , the way some Koreans pass . Whether to pass or come out is now a source of deep anguish . What is the way to authentic self - acceptance ? To pass is to leave behind an empty distinction or does passing ...
... passing among other Japanese , the way some Koreans pass . Whether to pass or come out is now a source of deep anguish . What is the way to authentic self - acceptance ? To pass is to leave behind an empty distinction or does passing ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
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