Customer Reviews

Culture Shock! Japan (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm a Japanese living in Japan. I bought this book to check if it worth recommending to my friends. Yes, I recommend this book. It'll tell you real-size Japan and Japanese without exaggeration. It covers usual life of ordinary Japanese people. It's a fair book.

This book was a lifesaver for anyone wanting to fit in and not make a fool of themselves. I felt confident that I would not insult anyone and that I knew how to handle different situations. This book is an absolute must for anyone visiting Japan for the purpose of Business or official matters. For that matter, most tourists should indulge as well. If you wish to enjoy all that Japan has to offer, fit in and be comfortable - Buy this book!

I was so disappointed (actually outraged at the time) with this book that I packed it up to ship back. When I travel I am always looking for insights into other cultures. This book was not the place to look. The tone of this book lacks the sensitivity to offer any understanding or insight.

It is written with the perspective of someone from outside of the Japanese culture. While this type of perspective may be reassuring to some, I'd be wary of the stereotypes this book reinforces. Any useful practical content is found only after stripping away layers of opinion based upon superficial observations. The writer also manages to criticize the Japanese culture and be condescending to the reader in each chapter.

The culture and people represented here does not reflect the Japan I visited, or the people I came to know. If you want to visit Japan as an outsider and stay one, this is what the book will guide you towards. Otherwise, I recommend relying on publications with higher journalistic standards, like Fodor's or Lonely Planet. You are less likely to embarass yourself.

I read this book prior to spending a month working in Japan (as did another of my collegues who joined me there). Based on the information in the book we were extremely worried about what we would encounter in the work and social environment in Japan. We did not encounter the majority of the situations mentioned in the book although we were working very closely with a traditional Japanese company.

As a female going to work in Japan, I only found 1 paragraph in the whole book which was relevant to this situation (the book focused on businessmen and their non-working wives traveling with them).

The book does provide an interesting background but it is unlikely that you will encounter even half of the culture shocks mentioned.

"Culture Shock - Japan" is a book written during a specific time period for a specific target audience. Realistically, this is a guide for businessmen who found themselves transferred to Japan during the "Bubble Economy." At least, the book assumes that the reader is moving to Japan semi-permanently. The author makes it pretty clear that this is not intended to be a tourists guide.

With that in mind, however, you can mine some good advice from "Culture Shock - Japan." The most useful chapters focused on social customs like gift giving, house visits, riding the subway and other day-to-day encounters. Social customs of this sort are more common, and less affected by the fading economy. You will definitely be able to avoid some embarrassing situations if you follow the advice. I skipped several chapters that did not relate to my situation, such as "Doing Business with the Japanese," and the chapter on buying a house.

One the plus side, the book is a quick read (especially if you skip chapters like I did) and will help prepare you for oncoming culture shock. It gives an important message in that Japan is going to be far more different that you expect, and that you should prepare yourself.

Recommended, with reservation. If you are going to Japan for a long-term stay, I think that this is a useful book. It just should not be your only book on Japanese culture and expectations.

On the eve of moving to Japan for a year, I read Culture Shock! Japan, and wow, did it get my heart beating fast. It portrays Japan as a minefield of devastating cultural faux pas that will leave us either completely ostracized from society or deported.

But, upon arrival, it was quickly evident that the culture gap isn't nearly as big as the book claimed. Nor were the social consequences of making a slip-up.

It's true this book was probably written for American business men trying to close some big deal, and I guess it does contain a quite a bit of valuable information about Japan, but trust me: that info can be found elsewhere, and in a book that won't give you second thoughts about going.

Steer clear of Culture Shock! Japan.

I picked this book up before doing a one-year study abroad in Japan. It was an extremely helpful primer on many of the mannerisms and attitudes of the Japanese. Niceties and body language are well-described; essential, considering how different Japanese politeness and body language can be from Western customs!

An informative book that not only tells you what to- or not-to-do, but also WHY. A step that will take you a lot closer to understanding Japanese habits, instead of just mimicking them.

The language section is skimpy, and I don't really understand why they even included it. This is, after all, a book on culture, not a phrase book (I mean, it's a trade paperback - it will never fit in your pocket while you tour Tokyo!). However, that is just one minor complaint of an otherwise helpful and essential guide to life or travel in Japan.

The only reason this book gets one star is because there are some useful lists in the back of the book about food, vocabulary, etc. But that information does not make it worth it to buy this book. The same information can be found in MANY books out there, preferably something without the negative slant this author seems to take towards Japan.

Instead of simply showing the readers the differences between American and Japanese cultures, he insists on adding his own close-minded two cents. Though not overt, the author seems to look down on the Japanese people and culture, mostly because it is different from what he is used to. While there are many people out there who choose to believe a culture is wrong simply because it is different from what they are used to, I would prefer to read cultural books written by those that take a less judgmental approach.

I've been living in Japan for 5 years now and just few weeks ago I came across this book. I finished reading it and I must say it's pretty entertaining for somebody who knows what the author is talking about and most of it is very much true. As I've been both studying and working in Japan, had many encounters with Japanese people (business, private) I think the book describes the reality very well. It's the reality you'll notice not after 3weeks holiday here, neither after 1year stay, but after few years and most of all understanding the language, too.
It's important to remember that Japanese tend to behave differently to tourists, people who come here for few months and people who come here for several years or forever. And they behave differently to somebody speaking English and somebody speaking Japanese.
I think the book is best for people who want to stay here longer and for businessmen.
the only shortcoming of the book - could be deeper explanation given to the behavior described, why is it like that, what historical or cultural reasons are there for the behavior in question

The book was a real page turner for me. It combined anecdotes, history and humor to explain the fascinating Japanese culture. Not only do we learn what certain traditions mean, but we also learn the history behind them. Here's an excerpt that exemplifies the type of writing you'll find in this book:

"My particular favorite (nonverbal communication), is the expression of "what you ask is absolutely impossible, but I can't directly admit as much." It's the sound of air inhaled through the mouth, sucking up the teeth -- the more incredible your request, the more oxygen will be drained from the room.

You'll find funny explanations of customs like this on every page in the book. If you do not find this funny and educational, than the book is probably not for you.