Culture Shock! Japan (Culture Shock! Guides) [Paperback]

P. Sean Bramble (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Series: Culture Shock! Guides

With over three million copies in print, CultureShock! is a bestselling series of culture and etiquette guides covering countless destinations around the world. For anyone at risk of culture shock, whether a tourist or a long-term resident, CultureShock! provides a sympathetic and fun-filled crash course on the do's and don'ts in foreign cultures. Fully updated and sporting a fresh new look, the revised editions of these books enlighten and inform through such topics as language, food and entertaining, social customs, festivals, relationships, and business tips. CultureShock! books are packed with useful details on transportation, taxes, finances, accommodation, health, food and drink, clothes, shopping, festivals, and much, much more.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

P Sean Bramble is a Marshall Cavendish author. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558688528
• ISBN-13: 978-1558688520
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insider's true advice, December 12, 2005

By 

J. Jazzforce (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Culture Shock! Japan (Culture Shock! Guides) (Paperback)

As an administrator in a ESL school, where 10% of our students come from Japan, and at least 10% of our ESL teachers trainees plan on going to Japan to teach English, Culture Shock Japan was an wonderful discovery for me! P. Sean Bramble unveiled the cultural mystery step by step from every aspect of life. It's a great reference book for anyone, no matter whether you are planning a trip to Japan, moving to Japan for a long period of time, your work involves dealing with Japanese culture like mine, or you are simply curious about this modern and ancient eastern country. One of my favorite things about the book are the hilarious little stories that Bramble collected from his own 12 years of experience living and working in Japan, which gave me many giggles through out the reading.

Those stories are particularly funny to me, because they often echo my own experience of of culture shock when I first immigrated to the United States from China 7 years ago. Although, I am completely annoyed when people get confused between Japan and China, there are after all lots of similarities when it comes to clashes between Asian and western cultures.

I also admire the fact that the author was willing to take the risk of being accused as negative or judgmental to honestly point out the frustrating reality of living and dealing with a new culture in a tongue in cheek manner. Unlike promotional travel books, which only portray the wonders of a destination, this book gives unvarnished insight into a country where modernity meets ancient traditions, efficiency is created by rules but also destroyed by rules. It gives insider's advices on how a new comer can be prepared to begin understanding, embracing, and even having a bit of fun with the culture he is about to clash into. As I closed the book, I felt as if I had just finished a tour lead by an experienced open heart with a true sense of humor. I am now much more ready for a real trip to Japan.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Filled with Ex-pat vitriole and luddism, December 16, 2009

By 

Ryan D. Yokley "Roll Initiative" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: CultureShock! Japan: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Cultureshock Japan: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) (Paperback)

It certainly seems that the author would rather we not visit Japan, and perhaps he'd rather not live there. He seems to focus entirely on the struggles a Westerner will experience, and focuses very little on the daily interaction and culture of a country with several thousand years of cultural history. But hey, if you're a business-person planning on spending six months working in Japan, Culture Shock Japan might be able to tell you how not to embarrass yourself in very specific corporate interactions...but maybe you might just want to skip the experience altogether.

Also, with Tokyo being the nexus of technological advancement, the author too often editorializes with a "kids these days" sort of attitude regarding technology and entertainment. I can just picture the typewriter he used when writing the first draft.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I've cut down a lot of my "ugly American" acts because I have more insight..., May 28, 2007

By 

R. Fonseca - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Culture Shock! Japan (Culture Shock! Guides) (Paperback)

I was stationed overseas for about 1 1/2 years before I read the book. Many questions I had were answered. This book explains a lot of the everyday things you'll see/notice in Japan. Not much of a history book (which wasn't what I was looking for @ the time) but a very modern explanation of all the strange things Japanese people do.

I highly recommend this book for anyone that is going to live in Japan for an extended period of time.