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Donald Richie

A Lateral View: Essays on Culture and Style in Contemporary Japan Paperback – June 1, 1992

by Donald Richie (Author)

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A masterfully written collection of short essays by the recognized Western expert on Japanese culture and film and the man Time magazine calls "the dean of art critics in Japan." Spanning more than thirty years, Richie interprets his adopted home's creative accomplishments during its rise to economic and cultural power.

Print length

245 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Stone Bridge Press
Publication date

June 1, 1992
Dimensions

5 x 0.5 x 7 inches
ISBN-10

0962813745
ISBN-13

978-0962813740
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Richie has long been one of the most insightful Western commentators on Japanese culture. His particular field is film criticism, but he has also written fiction and travel accounts, as well as essays on general culture. This current work, which was originally published in a slightly shorter version in Japan in 1987, collects 28 of his essays on a wide range of topics. There are descriptions of life in contemporary Tokyo, treatments of various aspects of Japanese popular culture, and a number of pieces on traditional Japanese theater and the cinema. Whatever the subject, the author's graceful style and understanding of his material shine through. This work serves as an excellent introduction to life in contemporary Japan as well as to its author, and should be acquired by most libraries.
- Scott Wright, Univ. of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Masterful writing." -Asahi Evening News -- -Asahi Evening News

"Masterful writing." -Asahi Evening News -- Review

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stone Bridge Press; Reprint edition (June 1, 1992)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 245 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0962813745
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0962813740
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.5 x 7 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,671,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #836 in General Japan Travel Guides
- #2,822 in Japanese History (Books)
- #7,532 in Essays (Books)

Customer Reviews:
7 ratings

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Derek Anderson

A Lateral (and Fascinating) View

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

A quick and engaging read.

One person found this helpful

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Dr. RJ

Reads like a New Yorker article

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

Reads like a New Yorker article. Entertaining and informative. His "Tractate" on Japanese aesthetics is better in some ways, though.

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David Chute

Donald Ritchie was essential, the godfather of Japanese cinema explicators...

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

... and this is one of his best collections of essays. Nothing more needs to be said. This is the best.

One person found this helpful

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Justin Harris

A new perspective on Japan.

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2003

This is a good collection of short essays under the umbrella term `Japan`, but divided into handy categories such as Cinema, Tokyo and Popular culture. As the title suggests, these are often from a `lateral` viewpoint. The author doesn`t just tell you that the average family home is small and (relatively) uncomfortable to live in, he theorizes on the reason why this is, in this case (apart from the obvious space constraints in urban Japan) Richie argues that traditionally, the man of the house has many different `homes`, the office, the bar, the apartment etc and therefore doesn`t place so much importance on the Western concept of 'home'. The book does shed light on a lot of questions that those who live in Japan, or even those who just visit, may be wondering about. Such as, why do most Japanese TV news shows have an anchorman who is invariably supported by a `yes-woman`, and why do `yes-people` appear in small boxes at the top corner of the screen nodding to indicate agreement when agreement is needed and vice-versa. The only drawback to this collection is that some of the essays are old, with the latest being written in about 1989, so you`re not going to get any post-bubble commentary and the essays on `popular-culture` may be a little redundant now. There is also an essay written in the 1970`s on the problems of putting Japanese script onto paper with a typewriter and wondering what the future holds with the possibilities of the personal computer. However, the rest is a wonderful introduction to thinking about Japan differently, and while sometimes a little critical, shows a true love for the place.

6 people found this helpful

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Michiko French

Lucid, precise, irreverent---this is a must-read!

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2000

Anyone interested in Japan, the arts, cultural criticism or the art of the essay should read this book. Donald Richie is the preeminent Japan scholar of our time, beloved in Japan and honored in the rest of the world. Time Magazine has called him "the dean of arts critics in Japan."
But forget the cliche of Japanese temples and cherry blossoms... Richie isn't one of those old-fashioned Western Japanophiles nostalgic for some ancient version of "the Far East." He's interested in Japan here & now. Better yet, he's a fabulous writer--lucid, precise, irreverent, and never jaded.
These essays are a great way to "get to know" Donald Richie--you get his essays on everything from Tokyo Disneyland to traditional Noh theatre, from contemporary Japanese film to tattoos. My personal favorite is the disturbing but amazing essay on Japanese "eroduction."
And if you're a film buff, Richie is also the man who introduced modern Japanese film--Kurosawa, Ozu--to the West. Look for his perceptive essays about these artists. (Did you know he was the film curator at the NYC MOMA?)
This is a must-read and a great way to introduce yourself to Donald Richie's work and to Japan!

7 people found this helpful

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