Japan : between myth and reality / Lee Khoon Choy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lee, Khoon Choy, 1924-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Japan--Civilization.

Japan.

Japan--Religious life and customs.

Japan--Politics and government--1945-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (312 p.)

Place of Publication:

Singapore ; New Jersey : World Scientific, 1995.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This work, written by an ex-Ambassador to Japan, is a first-hand account and observation of the various aspects of Japanese society - political, historical, social and economic. It introduces themes such as Japanese religions and the political system, as well as describing and explaining many of the country's rich traditions. The author's personal experiences of Japan are interspersed with historical tales and factual details, providing an insight into Japanese behavior, thinking and way of life. This book will be immensely useful to those who wish to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding

Contents:

Acknowledgement; Contents; Introduction; CHAPTER 1 Xu Fu and the Bittersweet Sino-Japanese Relations; CHAPTER 2 Emperor Hirohito; Hirohito - Hawk or Dove?; The American Occupation; CHAPTER 3 Sumo Wrestlers; CHAPTER 4 The Myth of Nihongo; A Myth Created; CHAPTER 5 The Utilitarian ""Gods""; The Man-God Emperor; Shintoism; The Impact of Buddhism; Kukai's Shingon Buddhism; Zen Buddhism; Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism; The Fate of the Christians; New Religions; Aum Shinrikyo; CHAPTER 6 Rich Country, Poor People-Japanese Characteristicsand Lifestyles; Sake and Alcoholism; Eating Habits

Geisha EntertainersSocial Clubs and Golf Clubs; Bars and Nightclubs; Pachinko; Wives Who Hold the Purse Strings; Tea Ceremony; Flower Arrangement; Cherry Blossom Mentality; Forget the Year Parties; The Distinction Between Culture and Civilisation; Japanese Behaviour and Manners; Tatemae and Honne; Nakama and Tanin; The Aging Society; CHAPTER 7 The Miracle of Japan's Economic Recovery; Rabbit Hutches; Group Commitment; The Samurai Spirit; Attitude Towards Work; Meritocracy in Japanese Corporate Culture; Government Support for Business; The Japanese Sogoshosha; The Shunto and Strikeless Society

CHAPTER 8 Corridors of PowerPressure Groups; The Rise and Fall of Tanaka; Factional Politics; Nakasone Faction; Takeshita Faction (A Split from the Tanaka Faction); Suzuki-Miyazawa Faction; Fukuda-Abe Faction; Komoto-Miki Faction; Money Politics; Koenkai; Election Campaigning; Status Position and Money More Important than Power; Opposition Parties- The Japan Socialist Party (JSP); Democratic Socialist Party (DSP); The Komeito (The Clean Government Party); Japan Communist Party (JCP); The Hosokawa Administration; The Hatta Government; The Socialist-LDP Coalition

CHAPTER 9 Japan's Defence and RearmamentThe Problems Facing Jieitai; The Vanguard of Japanese Rearmament; Japan's Lucky Stars; Textbooks and the Yasukuni Shrine; Ishihara's Ultra Nationalistic Views; Racial Discrimination; Burakumin - The Outcasts; The Danger of Rightist Fanatism; The National Council to Defend Japan; The Kuromaku of The Yakuza-Rightist Underworld; Index

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

981-283-172-X