Customer Reviews

Japan's Cultural Code Words: 233 Key Terms That Explain the Attitudes and Behavior of the Japanese

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having lived in Japan for over 22 years I found this book was able to give me further invaluable insight and allowed me to go much deeper into the psychology of the Japanese than without it. Anyone who has ever has anything to do with the Japanese, or are simply interested in gaining a deeper understanding of this truly unique culture will not be disappointed in this important book.

After spending a decade in Japan, I can only say that I wish I had read De Mente's work PRIOR to moving to Japan because it simply takes the lid off the Japanese psyche and allows the reader an intimate peer within. De Mente is a true pro and Japanese expert. His deft ability to weave a startling picture of what occurs inside the Japanese mind is simply par excellence!

Not a book to be read multiple pages at a time, each section needs to be digested on its own. There is no need to read it page by page, I was thrilled to move throughout the book according to my interests.

Have a great read and enjoy trekking through the Japanese mind!

A very useful book that gives insights into Japanese business practices and cultural traditions. It explains why normal Western business behavior may put you at a disadvantage. Because the book is organized by Japanese words rather than topic, it takes a while to grasp the big picture. Well worth the money.

In "Japan's Cultural Code Words", American author Boye Lafayette De Mente seeks to provide businessmen dealing with Japan a primer on negotiations, by using key concepts in Japanese society and psychology as a window into their behavior. The book works as a traveling companion, one you dip into now and again, but likely fails in its mission to act as a guide.

The 200-plus expressions are arranged alphabetically, from ageashi ("tripping on your tongue") to zanrei ("breaking the molds of the past"). Mr De Mente explains the origins of each term in light of Japan's more-Orwell-than-Orwell feudal past or atomic defeat in World War II, then suggests ways foreigners can accommodate or adapt to each.

Mr De Mente's book offers a kind of cut-away diagram into the Japanese soul, and there are insights here even for experienced Japan-watchers. However, he does at times appear removed from the grittier aspect of Japanese society--for example, he claims "Freetas" (from the English for freelancer, used in Japan to describe anyone working on freelance or short-term contract work rather than in a permanent position) are envied for their freedom, when in fact the growing number of people unable to find stable employment is considered a serious social ill.

Mr De Mente is generally balanced and fair in his description of Japanese behavior. He praises their virtues, but pulls no punches with what he sees are their fundamental faults, especially their enduring parochialism and the strange mix of smugness and envy that lace their dealings with the West. Those whose exposure to Japanese culture is limited to the occasional California roll at a Korean deli will doubtless find him overly critical, but experience teaches that his criticism is usually justified. (Full disclosure: I have lived and worked for the past 10 years in Japan).

The book is aimed squarely at the business community, and Mr De Mente attempts whenever possible to proffer potential negotiators with advice on how to handle their Japanese counterparts. This raises the book above the level of mere catalogue, even if the advice often boils down to "deal with it".

Unfortunately, organizing the terms alphabetically rather undermines this effort. It's a garage sale of sociology, a dusty attic with unorganized memorabilia, a primer that is 90 percent tertiary information. There are some shiny new ideas and sparkling insights, but finding them requires considerable hunting. The books offers no bulleted list of things to do, no consistent rules to follow; nothing, in short, that your would-be entrepreneur to wrap their brain around. Some of the information is highly abstract and esoteric, and likely wouldn't be much use to negotiators even if it was put in an easier-to-digest format.

More to the point, the book begs the question why outsiders should go out of their way to accommodate the Japanese rather than vice versa. Particularly given Japan's 20 years of stagnant growth and its rapidly-disappearing lead over competitors in fields such as household electronics and automobiles, it's getting harder and harder to justify the extra effort it takes to do business with the Japanese. The demand to be treated on their own terms might have been justifiable when they lead the world; this position grows increasingly untenable the farther they fall behind their neighbors.

If a reader is patient and thorough, this reference guide will doubtless help them navigate the notoriously difficult business climate in Japan. It's harder to say why anyone should still care to try.

I find it interesting because I was an exchange student in Japan for a year.
Most of the terms are still used in their culture today.
Its great. I highly recommend buying it. =]

This was a very negatively written book. The author might have spent a long time in Japan but I get the feeling he really doesn't care about or appreciate the culture, much less speak the language. If he did, he wouldn't make so many ridiculous assertions. After a few pages, the author's superior attitude turned me off so much I decided I could not use the book in my lessons after all. If you are bitter about Japan for whatever reason, go ahead and read this book. You will probably enjoy the old-fashioned, Japan-bashing. However, if you have more of an open mind you will probably tire after the author has described how 'devious' the Japanese are after the fiftieth time. I would recommend skipping this one.

This book is absurdly insensitive and unsophisticated. I spent two years living in Japan and am now married to a Japanese person, and I couldn't have been more disappointed in this book. I would have given it a 1 if I didn't think that the book provided a decent list of interesting concepts. Unfortunately, if you're looking for insight, analysis, or accuracy, you're going to have to look elsewhere.

The problem with this book is that it is full of ridiculous and judgmental assertions like, "The prevailing system still requires its members to conform to age-old behavioral patterns that gloss over or totally ignore their feelings and their personal welfare. Few adults in contemporary Japan can escape the obligation to conform to the demands for a cooperative attitude and harmonious behavior, regardless of how unpleasant or harmful such behavior might be." The author has clearly read a primer covering all of the basic stereotypes of the Japanese, and each of his entries relies heavily on these assumptions. And like all those who stereotype, he paints the Japanese in broad strokes that are inexcusable, especially given the length and purported purpose of the book in this case. Rather than analyzing, qualifying, or even considering the strength of his assertions, he simply asserts a series of bold, ignorant, and insensitive claims that serve only to alienate Anglo businesspeople from the Japanese people they are aiming to understand.

Not only are many of the statements false and disrespectful in their generality, the author frequently contradicts himself. He also fails to cite even a single source to back up his historical and cultural claims.

Not only is the book riddled with intellectually lazy tripe, you get to read each ridiculous assertion over and over because the author repeats himself like crazy. The book could have been one-third the length without providing any less content. I can't count the number of times I read about the Japanese demand for high-quality products, the Japanese need to Japanize everything, and the fact that we "Westerners" are just going to have to "put up with" the frustrations of Japanese culture because it's not going to change in the future. Profound, huh?

This book is painfully general, dangerously inaccurate, intellectually lazy, and utterly lacking in credibility. If you feel the need to understand the Japanese, scan the table of contents for the buzzwords, write them down, and look them up elsewhere. Venturing any further into this book would be a waste of your time, assuming you consider yourself an intelligent, thoughtful, and culturally sensitive person. In fact, it would probably be dangerous to read this, as it would lead you to an inaccurate and patronizing attitude toward an entire country of people.