The Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books) [Paperback]

Sahoko Kaji (Author), Noriko Hama (Author), Jonathan Rice (Author)

Book Description

Series: Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books | Publication Date: August 1999

Highlights the unique character and behavior of the nation. Frank, irreverent, funny--almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Short, aphoristic, seriously funny, not that xenophobic and almost entirely apt guide, perfect homework for the fortunate on ferry or plane."
--The Observer

"A brief pen portrait of a nation and its people and even the odd humorous dig at their subject without being politically incorrect."
--Lancashire Evening Telegraph

From the Back Cover

The Japanese are trained throughout their lives to read each others' minds. This means it is not necessary to have or to express an opinion. In fact for a Japanese woman to be called opinionated is worse than being called ugly. To call a man decisive is just as bad.
Xenophobia is an irrational fear of foreigners, probably justified, always understandable.
Xenophobe's Guides - an irreverent look at the beliefs and foibles of nations, almost guaranteed to cure Xenophobia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Oval Books (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902825365
• ISBN-13: 978-1902825366
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,645,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get Culture Shock: Japan intstead., April 22, 2002

By 

"tanakiel" (Smyrna, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books) (Paperback)

Thsi book was disappointing. I've read others in the Xenophobes series, and they were informative and humorous, though not particularly practical as travel guides. However, the Japan guide was neither. Having already read Culture Shock: Japan, I was very disappointed in this book. It has less information -- and less humor -- than Culture Shock. In fact, the Xenophobes guide had exactly 2 facts not mentioned in Culture Shock. Whether you are interested in travelling to Japan, or just looking for multicultural humor, I do not recommend this particular Xenophobes Guide.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars were we reading the same book?, July 13, 2003

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books) (Paperback)

I've been living in japan for about two years now, and while you can learn more by going through several longer, more extensive books, for a single guide that offers an irreverant explanation of a very difficult country to understand, the Xenophobes Guide to the Japanese is solid. Like the reviewer above, I read the Culture Shock guide to japan, and while I found it interesting too and learned more about culture shock, altogether for a short, funny book I don't consider it as informative or comprehensive.
If you want to read more of these kinds of books on japan, check out Hokkaido Highway Blues, by Will Ferguson, an former english teacher that hitchiked across the country during his stay. People that have already lived out here a while always find it a lot funnier than people that havent yet, but for what its worth it gives a really accurate depiction of what its like to be a westerner living out here.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars this is such a disgrace for Japanese women!, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Xenophobe's Guide to the Japanese (Xenophobe's Guides - Oval Books) (Paperback)

Although this book gave a fair view of characteristic of Japanese in general, this book degraded Japanese women by depicting them almost like old stereotypic view of Japanese women being geisha. I was infuriated since I am Japanese and I can't believe that the author is Japanese as well (and also female)!! Skip the part about description of Japanese women near the beginning of the book. The description is totally incorrect and I have never heard of anyone who paints her chest to make it look attractive for men.