Customer Reviews

Culture Smart! Japan: A Quick Guide to Customs & Etiquette

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I bought this book prior to traveling to Japan earlier this year. While it provided some good historical background on the country, and gave valid sightseeing pointers, its value as an aid to modern customs and etiquette was a disappointment. As a matter of fact, the book contained some advice precisely opposite what I found to be true during my visit in Japan. I would not recommend that a person depend on this book for guidance on these points. As a tourist who speaks no Japanese, I say that hiring a local guide and interpreter would be much more valuable than buying this book.

This was a great resource. It was easy to read, and I finished the whole book in a couple of hours on the plane to Japan. It had a lot of helpful tips about things that would be rude. Since it is easy to break social rules but the Japanese people will never tell you that you are being rude, it is pretty nice to have this info in your pocket.

I thought some of the info was a little out of date, especially considering it was published recently. I didn't think this would be a problem, since a common assumption about Japanese culture is that it doesn't change much over time. Many of the things that I found incorrect had to do with gender and how women are treated. However, we spent most of our trip in Tokyo, so it may be that the culture there is considerably more dynamic and Westernized.

All in all, I would definitely pick this book up if you are going to Japan for travel or business. It gives good advice, and shares enough Japanese history to explain many of the cultural values and etiquette.