NTC's Dictionary of Japan's Cultural Code Words

by Boyé Lafayette de Mente

Book Overview

Japanologist Boye Lafayetette De Mente discusses the change of psychology of the social and political system that evolved over the centuries. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0844283916
• ISBN13: 9780844283913
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A Tolerable Distraction

The word "Complete" in this book's subtitle is of course an empty boast; but it does present 230 useful words or short phrases, and explain how each one offers insight to a different facet of Japanese culture and thought. It is all very interesting, and a tolerable way to pass some hours. However, I would offer two cautions to the prospective reader: 1 - As with any other group of people, not all Japanese have the same attitudes. The information presented in this book may be *generally* true of the Japanese people as a whole; but it is NOT necessarily true of every individual Japanese person. Imagine a book that claimed to encapsulate "How Americans Think, Communicate and Behave," and ask yourself whether its contents could possibly be universally accurate of every American -- and bear the obvious answer *NO* in mind when judging this book. 2 - While the information presented in this book is certainly interesting, very little of it will be of any real help in dealing with real Japanese people. Do not expect too much from the book. It's just some light reading -- NOT a "Complete Guide" by any means at all, no matter what the cover says.

Very interesting

I'm reading this book from beginning to end, and I must say it is very interesting. It has improved my understanding of Japanese people and how they think in general; why Japanese often tend to respond to situations the way they do, differences between the Japanese' way of thinking and the western etc.Highly recommended; I'm glad I chose to buy this book.

Gain insights into the Japanese psyche and culture

Is there a more comprehensive and well laid out guide into how the Japanese think and, more importantly, what their emotional turn on and off buttons are than this? The book should, however, be read more as a guide to Japanese root words, idioms, and philosophical expressions. For instance, WA meaning HOLY HARMONY is not commonly used. It would be like saying BENE means GOOD in English when it is a root for many words that have something to do with good - like benevolent, benefit, benediction ect... . But WA can be found in HEIWA (peace) and WAFU (Japanese style) amoung others. The book is full of stereo-types, both good and bad, which should not be taken too seriously or read like a Bible. Japan is a complex country undergoing constant change and it is full a wide variety of individuals with varied interests and talents and prejudices. But the book contains some general insights that one can explore on their own and judge for oneself whether they agree or not with it. Some of the expressions are not popularly used and if one were to say them to Joe Yamamoto on the street they would have no clue what you were talking about. But again, however, the roots, or part of what is being said in the book, can be found in other expressions. You would need the help of a native speaker to truly make good use of this book, a dictionary would do some good.I find that many Japanese people I know are interested in the expressions contained in the book, as they are deep and abstract in nature, important, but not always thought about. I find it lends to people helping me learn Japanese as they also have something interesting to explore, and many Japanese enjoy talking to me about these terms and ideas. It serves as a great ice breaker. If you are just interested in the world of ideas, or how language helps formulate or reflect those ideas and the sources by which they came, then the book could serve as something of value and interest. Again, is there a better book? The book gives a Japanese expression, or word, and then discuses, in English, the significance of it and how it reflects the Japanese psyche and sometimes how it can be found in other words. The author writes in a mature style and has a world of knowledge and experience about and in Japan.