Customer Reviews

Appreciation of Japanese Culture

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Despite this book's listing as 1991, it is actually a 2002 printing of a book first published in 1971. For Keene fans, and those wishing to delve a bit deeper into Japanese culture this book would be a good addition to your collection.

It is a collection of articles. They are well written and broadly ranging. My favorite is an article called _Confessions of a Specialist_ which originally appeared in the New York Times. In it, Keene describes his emotions as his colleagues roll their eyes and wonder why he's still translating dusty old Japanese scrolls.

Well, now its 2003 and Keene is still at it.

But this, his early work, has been eclipsed by his subsequent ouptput. At any rate, don't be fooled into thinking this consists of his recent writings.

It is undoubtedly a valuable book for anyone interested in Japanese culture, mainly its easthetics, with a lot of brilliant observations on the culture in general. For people who are more familiar with this topic it may sometimes seem overwhelmed with information on beginner's level but on the other hand it is extremely interesting for people who are not experts on this field.

Donald Keene is the foremost scholar of Japanese Culture. He could be considered a living national treasure, and I feel fortunate to be alive as his contemporary. His body of work is enormous, his influence immeasurable; his importance cannot be overstated.

Don't be put off by the copyright date of this book, which is 1971 (despite what the information states, this is probably a third edition of the book, but I believe all three editions are identical aside from the cover). The material is relevent and perennial. Historical Japan has not changed, and Keene's insights are every bit as valid now as they were when they were set down on paper (most of the material in this book actually predates the 1971 copyright). The suggested reading list at the back of the book is a superb springboard for further study, should a certain topic particularly amuse the reader, and the listed volumes are also excellent and continue to be highly relevent.

While a new edition is well-purchased at $22, an older edition can be had cheaply. I personally own the second edition and am quite pleased with it. I actually find myself here looking for a hardbound version, but, as one does not exist, I must make do with asserting my heartfelt opinion for this volume.

Basically amounting to an Anthology of Keene of sorts, a collection of some of his writings on Japan, it's an invaluable text. Were I to teach a general class in Japanese culture, this would surely be a book to include; perhaps it would be the only book necessary. Infinitely readable, inspirational, interesting, and difficult to put down, I couldn't recommend it more highly.

If my contributions to the study of Japan and the bridging of cultures amount to even a percentage of Keene's, my life will have been quite a productive one.

Another option to pursue is another collection of Keene's writings called, "The Blue-Eyed Taroukaja," and its copyright is much more recent. It's also highly recommended alongside this one.