Salaryman in Japan (Japan in Your Pocket Series, Vol 8) (No. 8) (Paperback)

~ Japan Travel Bureau (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Japan Travel Bureau; 1st edition (March 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4533006655
• ISBN-13: 978-4533006654
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #452,609 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #72 in

  Books > Business & Investing > Job Hunting & Careers > Job Markets & Advice

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great insight into some Japanese business practices, May 11, 2001

By A Customer

A Japanese friend gave me this book, and I couldn't put it down. I learned how to present and receive a business card, what a karaoke bar is like (you'll be surprised), and what a salaryman's day is like. I found the most interesting parts to be how the mixed feelings about the role of women were reflected. In one part, women were criticized for wanting to stay in the workplace rather than marry. In another part, women were criticized for spending their days shopping, not having meals ready when their husbands come home, and having affairs. If you are planning a trip to Japan, this book will give you some insight into what the Japanese feel is important for Westerners to know.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insight and Humor, November 30, 2003

By	therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

The book is criminally humorous as it describes the life, times, trials and tribulations of the 1980s Salaryman. The book is still in print in Japan, though it's relevance to today is diminishing.

On the very surface it is a sympathetic appeal to what the salaryman has to put up with. Like many things Japanese, it is an onion, and a level beneath it really pokes fun at the salarymen. One more level and you get a lesson on what it's like to be a businessman in Japan.

High wisdom? No. But it's still worth a read for any Japanophile.

4.0 out of 5 stars A pocket sized guide, full of cultural insights., April 1, 2009

By	Peter Hanami - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Salaryman in Japan can be best described as a picture dictionary that covers six main topics including, day of a salaryman, life of a salaryman, work of a salaryman, lifestyle of salarymen, the manners of salarymen, business related phrases and terminology. It also includes expatriate views of salarymen.

The book is written in English with Japanese words shown in romaji. For those who want to pick up new Japanese words, headings show Chinese characters (Kanji) and Katakana (foreign words) for major topics.

The compact size is small, light and fits easily into a suit jacket pocket, backpack, briefcase or handbag. Allowing you to access it quickly and easily. The cross sections of daily life are very interesting.

It is clearly written with simple explanations and pictures. To overcome misconceptions of Japanese culture and society a wide variety of topics are covered. It is more like a cultural dictionary that explains Japanese culture to western readers.

In some instances the book states many concepts but unfortunately without further explanation to their background. For example: "some employees put in as much as 100 hours of overtime a month meaning they spend the majority of their time at the company", page 26.

It is full of practical tips, for example: "how to fold a broadsheet newspaper" so that you can read it while commuting in a crowded train. An excellent tip for those who visit Tokyo. The book is a personal tour into the daily life of a Japanese salaryman & is a useful reference for anyone doing business with Japan.

Peter Hanami, CEO, JapaneseCustomer.com