The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society [Paperback]

Michihiro Matsumoto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1988

The key to success in Japan is a thorough understanding of the workings of "haragei" - an idea affecting language, social interaction, and business dealings in particular. This volume examines the idea of "haragei".

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha Amer Inc; 1st edition (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870118897
• ISBN-13: 978-0870118890
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brief Comment, June 28, 2000

By 

F.J.O'Brien (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society (Paperback)

This book is an absolutely facinating confirmation of many phenomena that anyone who has had deep exposure to Japanese society has come to appreciate mentally but did not know the words with which to describe. The book can only truly be appreciated by those who have lived and worked in Japan through the Japanese language and as such it will never be a huge bestseller. However, for those who understand its contents, it is breathtakingly revealing.The book describes aspects of what makes up the Japanese psyche that took me years of direct exposure to even begin to appreciate, and which no Japanese would ever describe in person to a foreignor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME! DEMYSTIFIES ESOTERICS OF JAPANESE COMMUNICATION, September 10, 2006

By 

Y. NOJIMA "FIVE" (JAPAN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society (Paperback)

In this book, Michihiro Matsumoto, a seasoned simultaneous interpreter, gives perspicacious insights on the esoteric fundamentals of Japnese communication.

Arguably many a foreigner gets perplexed or discombobulated at the mysterious ways of Japenese communication. This book 'haragei' is meant to help those non-Japanese novices in Japanese communication to get the gist of traditional Japanese communication, which is a bit too difficult for non-Japanese to absorb by osmosis. Therefore you would best read this book.

This is a must-read book for foreign professionals aspiring to get savvy about the Japanese ways of communication. It's high time Harvard Business School started using Matsumoto-sensei's Haragei as a cross-cultural business negotiation textbook. This book will make a world of difference to your communication abilities in Japan.

4.0 out of 5 stars A balanced approach, January 16, 2012

By 

Joseph Hunter - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society (Paperback)

I have seen some conflicting views on this book, some believe it is a work of art, a masterpiece while others think it is a little more than nonsense that has no application to modern life or place in contemporary Japanese society. I kind of fall in between these two ideas. I think it is worthy of a read despite some glaring flaws and while not entirely applicable, certainly there are aspects worthy of contemplation and utilization.

Hara-gei shares some strong connections with both Zen Buddhism as well as Shintoism which surprised me in a way. There are some great fundamental lessons about both taught within this book which I found to be one of its strongest points. It actually validates hara-gei in my opinion transcending it from "pseudo-science" to a way of life.

While it may not really have a place in Japanese society to day, according to several people I have talked to, I still think the underpinning of this philosophy ring true, and there are still concepts buried within that can be applicable to anyone's life no matter what culture they are in. I recommend anyone interested in Zen, Shintoism, Japanese culture, or even just alternative life styles to take a look at this book.