Japan - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture [Paperback]

Paul Norbury (Author)

Book Description

Series: Culture Smart! | Publication Date: September 5, 2006

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Editorial Reviews

Review

Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers, Sunday Times Travel - ...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries, Global Travel - ...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas, Observer - ...as useful as they are entertaining, Easy Jet Magazine - ...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world, New York Times.

About the Author

PAUL NORBURY has been closely associated with Japan as publisher, editor, and author since the early 1970s, when he launched the award-winning Tsuru magazine for Japan Airlines, the best of which was published in book form as Introducing Japan. He also co-edited with Geoffrey Bownas Business in Japan: A Guide to Japanese Business Practice and Procedure. In the 1980s he published Euro-Asia Business Review for the Euro-Asia Centre, INSEAD, Fontainebleau, and established the Japan Library. In 1990 he founded the quarterly Japan Digest, and in 1996 a new imprint, Global Oriental.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857333098
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333091
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #838,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Customs & Traditions

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A different approach to Japanese culture, March 2, 2010

By 

Melodie L.J. Soleil "Nora" (Hendersonville, TN, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Japan - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

This book seemed a little more balanced than most in its approach to discussing and explaining the ins and outs of Japanese culture.
At first, I thought it seemed negative and even possibly sarcastic at times. I was annoyed and almost offended. I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading. But I was finding things in it that I hadn't learned from discussions, animes, online information, or the other books I had read such as "The Japanese Way" and "Japanese Cultural Encounters."

It didn't include personal stories nor was it academic-style. It is easy to read and easy to find what you're looking for. It's worth reading, re-reading, and keeping as a reference. It contains some useful information, including dos and don'ts and some of the not so glamorous realities of Japanese life, culture, economy. I did find some typos, which was surprising, but not anything big. The writing style was less personal and has a "unique" style compared to other Japanese culture books.

I liked it a lot and found it a good addition to my collection of books to understand the Japanese mind and way of life.
I recommend adding it even if you have other culture books.

I will note that it seems aimed at probably Americans or Europeans who have not lived in Japan, who do not speak Japanese, and who have not traveled to Japan. It's not extremely in-depth, but more a small, compact guidebook to get out when you need it and a quick, handy read overall.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful overview-, May 20, 2009

By 

Michelle Koons (Williamsport, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Japan - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

On a recent trip to Japan, my travel companion had this book. I referenced it almost nightly to understand some of the things we were seeing and read it thoroughly on my return. I should have had it first, but in any case it was perfect for what I wanted-which was a quick understanding of the customs and some of the 'different' things that we saw-I would definitely recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Japan- Culture Smart, January 9, 2011

By 

Spider Monkey (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Japan - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

This book is a short, yet thoroughly fascinating look at the etiquette and cultural conventions of Japan. It is invaluable if you intend to visit Japan and don't wish to commit a social faux pas, but is also interesting to read in it's own right.

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