"The Japanese Mind" by Roger Davies and Osamu Ikeno – Understanding Japanese Culture & Traditions

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"The Japanese Mind" offers a multifaceted exploration of contemporary Japanese culture. The book examines various aspects of Japanese society, including communication styles like ambiguity (aimai) and nonverbal understanding (haragei), social concepts such as dependence (amae) and group consciousness (shūdan isshiki), and traditional practices like arranged marriage (omiai) and gift-giving (zōtō). It also investigates historical and philosophical influences, such as Bushido, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism, and their impact on modern values like diligence (gambari) and aesthetics (wabi-sabi). Furthermore, the text touches upon social structures and issues, including seniority systems (sempai-kōhai), the "good wife, wise mother" ideal (ryōsaikenbo), and unique customs like bureaucratic post-retirement placement (amakudari). Ultimately, the work seeks to clarify often complex Japanese concepts for readers, frequently contrasting them with Western perspectives.