These book reviews are from students studying language and culture at OMFs Japanese Language Centre.

Index of titles

Japanese Society
Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan
Ugly Japanese Ugly Americans みにくい日本人みにくいアメリカ人
Chasing the Cherry Blossom
The Cambridge Companion to Modern Japanese Culture
The Inscrutable Japanese
I am a cat
The Samurai
Education in Contemporary Japan Inequality and Diversity
Wonderful Fool
Click on a title to see a specifc review.

Japanese Society

Nakane Chie, Pelican, 1970

Written by one of Japan’s most famous anthropologists this book has enjoyed over 40 years of popularity. It serves the reader with a helpful insight into the structure of Japanese society. Her primary focus is on the formation and function of groups within society. Nakane argues that groups are an intrinsic part of everyday life and that every Japanese has a sense of group belonging. It also puts forth an interesting perspective on how Japanese form relationships, and how they feel most comfortable doing so.

Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan

Herbert Bix, HarperCollins, 2000

This Pulitzer Prize winning book examines the life of the Showa Emperor from the cradle to the grave. Bix's controversial thesis is that, contrary to our usual assumptions fuelled by the propaganda of General MacArthur’s postwar regime, Hirohito was fully involved in all aspects of the wartime operations having been groomed to be Japan's Supreme Commander in the fullest sense. The book offers an insight into Japanese Contemporary history from Hirohito's vantage point, although the post occupation period receives much less attention. Bix's analysis of how the Emperor could at the same time both be above the political process and an integral element of it, penetrates some way into the bewildering area of Japanese decision making.

Ugly Japanese Ugly Americans みにくい日本人みにくいアメリカ人

Min Byoung-chul & Nevitt Reagan, BCM Publishers, 1994

Ugly Japanese Ugly Americans is divided into two sections: with the first half showing possible American reactions to Japanese culture; and the second half about Japanese reactions to American culture. The author also aims to give insights into the ways in which American and Japanese can misunderstand one another. Altogether over 100 illustrations are used.
This book is bi-lingual (Japanese and English), with one illustration and cartoon per page, which makes it interesting and easy to read. The illustrations are brief and I recognize some of them from my own experience. This is a good book for those who are not much of a reader.
I read this book with my Japanese teacher, which meant I could ask further questions about Japanese culture, which was very helpful. My teacher was able to discuss with me what she thought was or wasn’t true, as well as explaining why certain behaviours exist in Japan. Reading this book helped me have a better idea about appropriate social behavior in Japan. However, I found some illustrations quite subjective and generalized Japanese and Americans. In addition, the book doesn’t tell you why Japanese and Americans do things in the way they do. So, while I think this book is a good starting point for someone new to Japanese culture, it requires more work to understand the culture in depth.

Chasing the Cherry Blossom

Lowell Sheppard
This book helps to set in context much of what I have read before in books that say 'the Japanese think/do/believe X' by showing how it works out in everyday life. It certainly provided some examples of the kind of difficult issues one might face as a Christian in Japan, such as having to make very rapid decisions about handling an invitation to be the guest of honour in something rather Shinto-sounding. The author's theology of 'redeeming' idolatrous traditional practices may be a little suspect, but otherwise provides a thoughtful Christian perspective on much of what he sees. At the same time he paints a vivid and entertaining picture of his journey, the places he visited and people he met. Overall, this is a fairly light but still informative read.
Illustrated “Salaryman” in Japan 1988 by Japan Bureau, Inc. (JTB’s Illustrated Book Series)
This book consists of the following six sections:
A day of a Salaryman
The life of a Salaryman
The work of a Salaryman
The lifestyle of Salarymen
The manners of Salarymen
Business related phrases and terminology

The book was put together by many “salarymen” who generously shared their time and thoughts with members of Japan Bureau staff. A brief explanation referring to “Japanese management and the Salaryman” is also attached at the end of the book. You can read this book in any order you like. For those tired of fragmentary or over intellectual reports, “Salaryman in Japan” is for you! Take a stimulating journey into the practical daily routine work world of the salaryman, a journey guaranteed to deepen your understanding and enjoyment of Japan.
This book helped me to understand more about how a salaryman’s work life can affect his ‘normal’ social relationships with his family and friends, which also results in the lack of men in churches.

The Cambridge Companion to Modern Japanese Culture

Ed. Yoshio Sugimoto, CUP, 2009

This is an academic volume but I think it’s worth dipping into, because of the topics covered. Chapters include family, work, music, popular leisure, buraku, manga, anime and visual art culture, religious culture and food culture. Also, twelve of the 19 chapters are written by Japanese scholars, so you’re not simply getting an outside perspective.
I found reading some of these essays a worthwhile experience, mainly because it reminded me that Japan is actually more diverse than most westerners commonly believe. The book rejects a mono-cultural model of Japanese culture and favours a ‘multicultural model’ instead.

I found the chapter on ‘Concepts of Japan, Japanese culture and the Japanese’ a useful overview of how much both Japan’s presentation of itself, and the way Japan has been viewed from outside, has changed over time. This chapter should help us to let go of romantic views of what Japan is, and to remember that Japan and its culture(s) is extremely varied. This chapter in particular, was a reminder that as Christians serving God in Japan we are called to recognize His image in all those we meet in Japan, whatever their background. If you want some serious reading and are willing to put in the effort, some of these essays will probably be rewarding.

The Inscrutable Japanese

Kagawa Hiroshi

This book by a Japanese author was written with two aims in mind:
To help foreigners understand Japanese people’s behaviour and so prepare for interaction with them.
To help Japanese people explain to foreigners why Japanese people act as they do.
The book is divided into four sections:
Japanese ambiguity
Japanese modesty and pride
The Japanese work place
Japanese social phenomena

Within these sections, the chapters are very short and begin with a question that foreigners often ask about Japanese culture, such as 'Why do Japanese husbands avoid praising their wives?' Kagawa then explains how Japanese behaviour differs from Western behaviour in this area, why this is and how each side could modify their behaviour in order to promote good relationships.
This is a very practical book that shows how Japanese beliefs and history affect the way people behave today and it has some helpful suggestions on how we can more easily make Japanese friends. It doesn't provide a lot of detail, but it's a good book for people who are new to Japan, or for anyone who is mystified by a particular aspect of Japanese culture.
The version I read was printed in Taiwan so everything is written in English and Chinese. The English is a little stilted and the cartoons are only in Chinese, but otherwise it's very readable.

I am a cat

Soseki Natsume

The New Yorker rightly summarises this book by saying that it, “is a nonchalant string of anecdotes and wisecracks, told by a fellow who doesn’t have a name, has never caught a mouse and isn’t much good at anything except watching human beings in action.”

The narrator of this book is this very cat without a name. Lest the reader be confused, this is not a cute story about a cat, but is very tongue in cheek look at Japanese society of the early 1900s. While the story does follow a chronological order, it is not a plot driven story and can easily be picked up and put down at any point in the story.

Readers beware: even native English speakers armed with an English translation should be prepared to have a dictionary on ready. The book includes many uncommon words and English expressions that may make it quite difficult at times for someone less comfortable with the English language.

The Samurai

Endo Shusaku

“One of Endo’s finest works”, this novel is based on a true story set in the turbulent early 1600s. The Samurai is sent on a political mission to encourage trade with Mexico, taking him as far as Europe. Their interpreter, a Catholic missionary priest, convinces them that they have no chance of trade unless they become Christians. The Samurai’s baptism is reluctant, yet transforming (like Endo’s own baptism). They return to a Japan of increased persecution and martyrdoms.

A seemingly favourite theme of Endo’s is the hardness of Japanese soil. This is explained by their group mentality and ancestral ties. How could an individual become a Christian and go against their family, village and ancestors? It’s unthinkable!
Another favourite theme, Jesus is portrayed as a wretched, suffering man. The Samurai often wonders why anyone would want to worship such a mangy dog of a man. In the end, he realises that people who are suffering, long for someone who understands their pain and will always be with them. The ‘real Jesus’ is found, not in the grand cathedrals of Europe, but among the ordinary people who are suffering. This book is rather depressing, but well written in the slow, descriptive Japanese style.

One thousand paper cranes

Ishii Takayuki

This is the story of Sadako who was two years old, when, almost at the end of the Second World War, in August 1945, the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima. After the destruction and rebuilding of Sadako's family life, everything returned to normal again, until Sadako became ill ten years later. She developed leukemia as a result of radiation and finally died.

Because of Sadako’s death, her class mates started to think about building a peace statue for all the children who died as result of the atomic bomb, and began the tradition of folding paper cranes in Japan. In the end their dream became reality in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

100 last words of Miura Ayako 三浦綾子100の遺言

Komido Kazuhiro

This book in Japanese of 100 quotes from the writings of Miura Ayako is written by JECA pastor Komido Kazuhiro. Komido knew Miura personally & wrote telephone messages, “Miura Ayako’s words & the Bible”, for about 10 years. This book is an edited compilation of some of the messages written at that time.

Each chapter consists of a quotation, a reflection by Pastor Komido and a bible passage. The reflection is helpful in gaining insights into Japanese thinking and applies the thoughts of Miura Ayako in a contemporary way, while highlighting issues in Japanese society. However, because chapters are short, they can lack depth. Miura’s appeal lies in the fact that she suffered deeply in her life and so she is able to write on these issues and touch the hearts of many. Not only that, her Christian faith meant that the themes of hope, joy, love, strength undergirded much of her writings, thus encouraging & comforting her readers.

This book is easy to read because each chapter is short and stands alone, and because the vocabulary is not generally difficult. This book is an excellent resource for a friend who is seeking for ‘more’ in life. Used creatively, it provides great conversation starters & can provoke the reader to reflect on his or her life.

Education in Contemporary Japan Inequality and Diversity

Okano Kaori & Motonori Tsuchiya

The authors highly value academia and, to a large extent, see it as the saviour of society. This book covers the history behind schooling in Japan including things like:
tensions between attempts to copy the West, while also wanting to be distinctively Japanese,
tensions between education for the individual and education for the state’s benefit,
tensions between flexibility and uniformity
strong nationalistic thrust in schools, particularly before the 2nd World War
meritocratic nature of the education system
reforms after 2nd World War
issues like bullying and school phobia
recent reforms to address these issues

This book is helpful in beginning to understand the Japanese education system and it’s interesting to note the issues Japan is struggling with in educational terms. It shows what Japan values; in just the same way that how other countries educate their children shows their values. The parts about the disadvantaged (3rd generation Koreans, Buraku children, children of newcomers and girls) and their experiences are also interesting.
In terms of making decisions about your own children’s education, if you are considering putting your children in Japanese school then I this book MIGHT be helpful. However, it has summaries at the end of most chapters and a conclusion at the end so given that this book is quite boring, I would suggest you start with them and see how you get on!

Wonderful Fool

Endo Shusaku

What is it that brought Frenchman Gaston Bonaparte to visit his pen pal Takamori in Japan? This question puzzles not only the reader but also the other main characters of Endo Shusaku's novel Wonderful Fool. On discovering that he is a descendant of Napoleon, Takamori’s sister, Tomoe, dreams of marriage. However, although she decides early on that he is a ‘fool’ because of his unconscious offences; she still grows mesmerized by his way of looking at life. As ‘the Fool’ goes from bad - being beaten up in Tokyo's suburbs - to worse - being kidnapped by a notorious killer - she follows him and realizes: he's a ‘wonderful fool’, who unconsciously changes people around him. What drives him to continue to be kind to everyone even while encountering so much opposition?

This novel is fun to read, but challenging too. This story could take place anywhere in the world and it is about unmet expectations and disappointment, but also about liberations and changed hearts.
It shows what impact a personality can have and challenges the reader to think about their own personality & attitudes. If you are ready to be challenged anew by this story, and ready to think about it's impact on your personal life and your ministry, I strongly recommend you read this book Wonderful fool.