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By David Matsumoto. Yarmouth (Maine): Intercultural Press, Inc. (in association with Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London). 2002. xvii, 236 pp. (Graphs, tables.) US$29.95, paper. ISBN 1-877864-93-5.
The author challenges a century of Japanese and Western scholars concerning their cultural theories about Japan. All of them, he claims, have painted the same picture and stereotypic images and perceptions of Japan: "These Japanologists have characterized Japanese society and culture as homogeneous, centered on a few core values, personality traits, and moral virtues. These views have been promulgated by Japanese and non-Japanese alike, in academic and non-academic circles" (p. 3). Even today, in academic circles, Japanese culture and people are portrayed in a fashion similar to the way they were described in the writings of Hearn, Benedict, Dore, Morris, Nakane, Nitobe, Reischauer and other leading Japanologists (p. 16). The fundamental hypothesis of this book is to show that these stereotypic images are not compatible anymore with the NEW JAPAN, where drastic cultural and societal changes are occurring. With some minor restrictions, this reviewer agrees with the substance of this book and strongly believes that this book can be very useful in understanding the new and changing Japan.
The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1, "Japanese Culture, Past and Present", looks at classic and contemporary views of Japanese culture. In the second chapter, which is the most important of the book...