New Japan: Debunking Seven Cultural Stereotypes

The New Japan by David Matsumoto sets out to describe the anxiety and unrest that plague current Japanese society, the rift between the older, more traditional generations and the younger, more cosmopolitan and Westernized generations. The author draws upon a wealth pf Japanese and Western sources to compile a thourough exploration of both classis and contemporary views of Japanese culture.Citing academic studies and surveys, Matsumoto debunks seven common stereotypes of Japanese culture: collectivism, consciousness of others, perceptions of self, emotionality, the salaryman, education and lifetime employment, and marriage. Matsumoto also explores the reasons behimnd tumultous upheavals, the meaning of the shifting cultural patterns in the workplace, education, sports, and everyday life.ContentsFigures and TablesAcknowledgmentsForeword1 Japanese Culture, Past and Present2 Seven Stereotypes about Japanese Culture and Their Reality3 Why Did Japanese Culture Change?4 The Meaning of Changing Japanese Culture in Everyday Life5 Visions of a New Japan in the FutureAppendixReferencesIndex