Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rewarding look at the unrewarded, September 11, 1998
I lived in Japan for two and a half years, and cannot speak highly enough of The Nobility of Failure.In TNOF, Ivan Morris provides a much-needed look at - to most westerners, anyway - one of the oddest aspects of Japanese culture - the self-immolating hero. TNOF offers a rundown of Japanese populist heroes from the past 2,000 years - all of whom are doomed to complete and utter failure - and provides a convincing analysis of why Japanese culture produces such men, and why their failures actually raise their status in the eyes of many of their fellow citizens. Morris was perhaps the leading Japan scholar of his day, but even he finds many of his subjects bizaare. He deftly, though not necessarily disrespectfully, pokes fun at the absurdity of many of their situations. Not many scholars can make you laugh while they make you think.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating study of Japanese history via its failed heroes, December 6, 1996
By A Customer
An engrossing, very well written book detailing the somewhat
peculiar nature of the Japanese "failed hero." In contrast
to the Western ideal, the Japanese do not seem to require
their heroes to "win" or "succeed." Ten chapters describe
ten different historical figures (or groups) throughout
Japanese history who fit this oxymoronic label. Anyone
interested in Japanese history would find this book at once
fascinating, inciteful, and educational.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Rewarding Look at the Unrewarded, May 20, 2005
I lived in Japan for two and a half years, have visited the country several times since, and cannot speak highly enough of this book.
In TNOF, Ivan Morris provides a much-needed look at - to most westerners, anyway - one of the oddest aspects of Japanese culture, the self-immolating hero. TNOF offers a rundown of Japanese populist heroes from the past 2,000 years - all of whom are doomed to complete and utter failure - and provides a convincing analysis of why Japanese culture produces such men, and why their failures actually raise their status in the eyes of many of their fellow citizens.
Morris was perhaps the leading Japan scholar of his day, but even he finds many of his subjects bizaare. He deftly, though not necessarily disrespectfully, pokes fun at the absurdity of many of their situations. Not many scholars can make you laugh while they make you think.
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