Japan: A Reinterpretation (Paperback)

by Patrick Smith (Author) "IN FACT THE whole of Japan is a pure invention," Oscar Wilde wrote in 1889..." (more)
Key Phrases: omote nihon, ura nihon, public individuality, Patrick Smith, Cold War, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
For years westerners have viewed Japan as a nation of democratic, hard-working, unabashedly pro-Western people, a viewpoint promulgated mainly by a group of postwar scholars known as the Chrysanthemum Club. Journalist Patrick Smith takes a hard, fresh look at Japan and its relations with the West--particularly the United States--in Japan: A Reinterpretation. Smith asserts that the economic miracle we in the West have long admired was achieved at the expense of true political reform, creating a corporation instead of a democracy. Now that the miracle has collapsed, the Japanese are in a state of cultural, political, and social malaise.

Smith approaches Japan from many different directions: first by reinterpreting the country's postwar history as presented by the Chrysanthemum Club, then by delving into the lives of ordinary Japanese. From the overworked salarymen to the upper echelons of Japanese politicians, Patrick Smith paints a bold new picture of a nation suffering from overdevelopment. In addition, Japan: A Reinterpretation focuses on infrequently examined topics such as Japan's educators and writers. Though some of Smith's statements may seem a bit hyperbolic, his book is solidly researched and impeccably presented. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
Smith, a journalist (New York Times, International Herald Tribune), attacks the view of Japan held by most Americans. Articulated best by Edwin O. Reischauer (The Japanese, 1977; updated as The Japanese Today, LJ 1/88), it sees the Japanese as "our hard-working, uncomplicated, compliant friends." This view, argues Smith, glosses over many unattractive things about Japan, including the subservient position of women, violence in the educational system, poverty in rural areas, and undue stress in the workplace. Smith believes that by acting as apologists for Japan, Reischauer and others in what has become known as the Chrysanthemum Club have failed to allow the Japanese their own past. After examining Japanese history, society, and culture, Smith sees the Japanese "re-creating themselves, making themselves anew." This will allow them to see themselves as they actually are. A thoughtful work; highly recommended.?William L. Wuerch, Micronesian Area Research Ctr., Univ. of Guam
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage Books Ed edition (September 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679745114
• ISBN-13: 978-0679745112
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #864,454 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars flawed but readable, March 1, 1999

By A Customer

The apparent inscrutability of Japan and the Japanese to foreigners has spawned a legion of books ever since the Meiji Restoration. Smith's contribution to this vast literature is a popular book, but while the writing itself is good, the organization and content of _Japan: A Reinterpretation_ are unfocused, as points are made early in the book but never built upon, chapters wander from topic to topic, and occasionally the book turns into a not-too-original criticism (some would say "bashing") of Japan and Japanse culture.

Early on Smith makes a valuable point, that during the Occupation the United States essentially put the deposed rulers back in power and developed Japan in its own image and for its own purposes. Smith seems to think a lot of this, and it is certainly not orthodox history as they teach it in high schools, but it is never followed up completely, and the middle chapters consist of a wandering, dull, anecdotal criticism of Japanese society with little or no consideration for where the various strands of culture emerged. Smith seems never to have taken an anthropology course in college, since his criticisms are unabashedly Western-oriented. The standards of U.S. culture are implicitly held up as the measuring block for all of Smith's analyses. Put another way, Smith seems a bit culturally myopic, and doesn't have a very good idea of just what his ramblings mean, as interesting as they are to some degree.

Further, while it may be true that the average Japanese has a rough time of it compared to Americans, the usual depiction of the Japanese as oppressed, neurotic, and depressed is not only overstated as usual, but Smith never tries to come to grips with the cultural and political structure that brings about this situation.

On the other hand, I for one was relieved that Smith, like me, is no Japanophile. For orientalists, all aspects of Asian society, even Indian society, are routinely subjected to mystification and worship that defies common sense. To admire Japanese art, music, and so on for its own sake is one thing (and I happen to love Japanese chamber music), but to systematically glorify them is something else altogether. Of course, Smith's indifference sometimes goes to the other extreme, including some statements about Japanese art that are simply a little too subjective to be taken seriously, but at least he doesn't judge Japan based on aesthetic factors, as many people do.

As a popular book, one would not expect extensive footnotes or documentation for _Japan: A Reinterpretation_, and Smith purposely avoids making his book look too "scholarly." There are no raised numbers in the text itself to indicate when to flip to the back of the book, which seems to me pointless and confusing; instead of having the text indicate where the footnotes are, one must continually flip back and forth.

A final note: Smith lived in Japan for 20 years, but seems never to have learned Japanese! I base this on a few comments about people translating things to him (even anecdotes from the 90's) and his ignorance of even simple Japanese grammar. This is a serious blow, in my opinion, to the reliability and value of the dozens of anecdotes sprinkled throughout this book.

For those with a decent grasp of Japan's history, this book makes an interesting supplement. I would not recommend it for the lay reader, however, despite the (ironic) fact that this is intended as a popular book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good snapshot, May 8, 2001

By	Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

WHile Japan was viewed as The Economy to Emulate, a number of very bad books came out that exagerated and distorted what its corporations and government accomplished. In retrospect, these fawning books, such as Ezra Vogel's J as #1, appear ridiculous. Then, as fears of J's superiority mounted, there was a rash of "revisionist" books, which argued that Japan was competing unfairly rather than better.

Now that Japan has faded from the scene somewhat, more balanced perspectives are coming out. Smith's book is one of the better such ones. Not only does offer it praise of certain companies and their innovations, but it does not flinch when criticizing the grotesque underdevelopment of the political system as well as the stunted individuality - the neurotic underside - of the Japanese character. Smith demonstrates convincing that there is terrible sickness within, that the country suffers from a "culture of irresponsibility" and that the younger generation may be the one to make reforms - after the older one dies off.

It is deeply pessimistic, but for anyone who has lived in Japan, a welcome breath of fresh air: critical but not a polemic, empathic without scorn. Recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag, August 18, 2002

By	Todd Bass (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first two chapters of this book are excellent and a must read. Unfortunately the rest of the book doesn't live up to the early promise.

The first chapter makes a damning allegation that America is largely to blame for the current poor shape of Japan's political system. Mid-way throught the post-war occupation America sacrificed early efforts at political and economic liberalization and the democratization of Japanese society in order to turn the country into a bulwark against spreading Communism. Japan's Old Guard, politicians and industrialists from the pre-war era (including many war criminals), was resurrected in order to get Japan back on its feet economically and to assure that Japan stayed firmly in the capitalist camp. As in Vietnam, America "subverted democracy to save it." I found Smith's arguments here wholly novel and largely convincing. I was particularly shocked to learn of America's covert attempts to manipulate Japanese politics by providing monetary assistance to the LDP. Still, I felt Smith was unduly uncharitable to the Americans. The so-called "reverse course" is to be regretted but we must also acknowledge that the consequences of Japan having fallen into to communist control. It's hard to argue that the East Germans, North Koreans or Vietnamese had it better.

I also found the second chapter, "Hidden History' to be excellent review of Japan's transition from feudal society to modern state.

Unfortunately, I found the rest of the book comparatively stale and unconvincing. Smith spends considerable effort trying to explain the Japanese psyche. To do this he relies overly on references to a handful of Japanese literary works and artwork. He also has a habit of making sweeping generalizations based on his impressions from the interview of a single person. Also, Smith's command of economics seems to be tenuous, as when he apparently confuses "national debt" and "budget deficit" on p. 176. Too many of the author's assertions rely on personal impressions and opinions-- his own and those of interview subjects. There's very little supporting hard data.

The book succeeds as a strong rebuttal to the rosy view of Japan put forward by the Chrysanthemum Club (e.g., Reischauer) -- an earlier generation of Western Japan watchers who tended to be apologists for Japan. And, I agree with Smith that its time for Japan to steer its own course, independent from America in defense and foreign policy. But I'm not as sanguine as he is about the emergence of a new Japan ready to refashion a brighter future for themselves.