Recommended Reading List: Japan

I. General Background

Learning to Bow, Bruce S. Feiler. Ticknor & Fields, 1991. In this enjoyable book, Feiler recounts his experiences working as a young English teacher in a Japanese public school. His insights into life in Japan are valuable to anyone who is trying to understand Japanese culture. The Japanese, Edwin O. Reischauer. Harvard University Press, 1977 and 1981. An excellent introduction to the history and culture of Japan by the former Ambassador to Japan. Reischauer, who recently passed away, was raised in Japan and for nearly four decades was one of the leading American experts on Japan.

II. Business

Books:

Cracking the Japanese Market, J. Morgan. MacMillan and Co., 1991. This account, written by the CEO of a Silicon Valley company that successfully penetrated the Japanese market, offers many insights into the difficulties and potential rewards of operating in Japan. Direct Marketing in Japan, Keiko Komori. The Japan Times, 1995. Ms. Komori is an experienced manager who runs a Japanese direct-marketing firm. Her insights will be useful for readers interested in general marketing strategy, as well as those specifically in the direct-marketing business. Engineering in Japan: Japanese Technology-Management Practices, ed. Jeffrey K. Liker, John E. Ettlie, John C. Campbell. Oxford University Press, 1995. This is a book designed for readers interested in Japanese engineering systems. Written by Japan specialists from a wide range of academic disciplines, the volume analyzes many aspect of modern Japanese engineering, and gives several case-histories from successful firms. Going Global: Structural Reforms in Japan's Economic and Business Systems, ed. Kiyoshi Nakamura. The Japan Times, 1996. This excellent book is a compilation of essays by executives, mostly Japanese, on recent changes in Japanese business systems. It provides a very useful overview for Westerners. Industrial Groupings in Japan: The Changing Face of Kerietsu, 14th Edition (2001), contact: Brown & Company LTD. This is a periodical compilation of information on Japanese keiretsu. The volume lists all industrial groups, the members of each group, and reams of data about each. An invaluable resource for firms interested in tracking/checking the affiliations of customers, partners, and competitors. Can be purchased through Brown & Company Ltd. in Tokyo: Tel. 011-813-3470-6786. Fax 011-813-3470-7741. URL: www.brownandcoltd.com/accueil1.html Inside the Kaisha: Demystifying Japanese Business Behavior, Noboru Yoshimura and Philip Anderson, Harvard Business School Press, 1997. This book is an excellent description of Japanese business practices, told in a clear, uncomplicated manner. It closely mirrors the approach that Ionis International applies to our training courses. Japan Business: The Portable Encyclopedia for Doing Business With the Japanese, Edward G. Hinkelman (editor), World Trade Press, 1994. This book is an excellent, up-to-date reference guide on the technical aspects of Japanese business, from taxes to trade fairs. Japan Company Handbook, Keizai Koho Center. This handbook lists the major shareholders, current business prospects, number and average age of employees, stock value, and sales and profit history for every company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Separate volumes are printed for the 1st and 2nd Sections of the Exchange. The handbooks, updated each quarter, are easily purchased in Tokyo, but are difficult to find in the United States. Japanese Management, Arthur M. Whitehill. Routledge, 1991. This is an excellent book. It takes the reader through the historical and cultural development of Japanese business systems, and explains the main characteristics of decision making and management in a clear and concise manner. Japanese Market Culture, George Fields. The Japan Times, 1989 (2nd edition). Mr. Fields lives in Tokyo and manages a marketing research and consulting group. His book is the culmination of decades of experience marketing in Japan. Kaisha: The Japanese Corporation, James C. Abegglen and George Stalk, Jr. Harper & Row, 1985. This book provides an excellent description of how Japanese companies operate, including decision making, marketing, and personnel management. It also discusses how Japanese firms compete, both against one another and against international companies. Negotiating with the Japanese, Robert M. March. Kodansha, 1988. Written by a scholar of Japanese business with first-hand negotiating experience, this book describes the strategies and systems that Japanese negotiators use. The Rice-Paper Ceiling: Breaking Through Japanese Corporate Culture, Rochelle Kopp. Stone Bridge Press, 1994. This new work is a balanced, well-written analysis of the cross-cultural challenges faced by both Americans in Japanese-owned firms. With Respect to the Japanese: A Guide for Americans, John C. Condon. Intercultural Press, 1984. This ninety-page book is an excellent summary of Japanese cultural values and how they affect business communication between Americans and Japanese. Working for a Japanese Company: Insights into the Multicultural Workplace, Robert M. March. Kodansha, 1992. This is another excellent book by March, who has lived and worked in Japan for over twenty years. Yankee Samurai: American Managers Speak Out About What its Like to Work for Japanese Companies in the United States, Dennis Laurie. HarperCollins, 1992. This volume is a compilation of interviews with Americans who work for Japanese firms, and is interesting reading for anyone working with the Japanese.

Periodicals:

Asia, Inc., published monthly in Hong Kong. This slick new magazine covers all of Asia, and contains many articles on Japan. Subcriptions are $79 annually, and can be obtained by writing to Asia, Inc., 31/F Citicorp Centre, 18 Whitfield Rd., Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, or faxing (852) 566-7471 in Hong Kong. Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, published by Dow Jones. This Asian edition of the famous New York newspaper has many articles on Japan and Asia, as well as financial reports for regional stock markets. Subscriptions are $245 per year for 52 issues. Call 1-800-622-ASIA to subscribe. Far Eastern Economic Review, published weekly in Hong Kong. The Review is the Economist of Asia, and an excellent source for business information in the region. Because of the importance of Japan, many articles focus on Japanese company and government activity. Subscriptions are about $110 per year (52 issues), and can be obtained from: Far Eastern Economic Review, P.O. Box 160, General Post Office, Hong Kong. Understanding Japan, published monthly by Sogo Way (303) 292-3001. This monthly newsletter, written in English by Japanese, is an excellent source of information about trends in Japanese business and society. Subscriptions are $30 per year.

Some Interesting Articles:

Harvard Business Review "Capitalism in Japan: Cartels and Keiretsu," Robert L. Cutts. July-August 1992, pp. 48-55. --------------------"Japan's Dark Side of Time," George Stalk, Jr., and Alan M. Webber. July-August 1993, pp. 93-102. -------------------- "Fixing Japan's White Collar Economy: A Personal View," Shintaro Hori. November - December, 1993, pp. 157-172.

III. History
Unfortunately, the vast majority of books on Japanese history are dry, narrow, and written not for the general public but for the academic community. Often the best way to get a sense of Japan's historical tradition is to read literature instead.

IV. Politics

Politics in Japan, Bradley M. Richardson and Scott C. Flanagan. Little, Brown and Co., 1984. This is an informative book about the nature and mechanics of Japanese politics. It was written as a textbook, however, and therefore is a bit dry. It offers an excellent overview of the Japanese political system, however, and will be of interest to anyone interested in discovering how decision-making is accomplished in Japan. Election Campaigning Japanese Style, Gerald L. Curtis. Kodansha, 1971. During the 1960's, Professor Curtis of Columbia University traveled to Japan and lived with a politician running for a seat in the National Diet, the Japanese Parliament. This book is a description of that election, and is the first insider's guide to Japanese politics. It is easy to read, well written, and interesting. For those who can't stomach the thought of plowing through a textbook, but who still want to learn something of Japanese politics, this is for you. The Japanese Way of Politics, Gerald L. Curtis, 1988. The latest book by Dr. Curtis, this one is more of an overview of Japanese politics, and more up to date than the book mentioned above. This is written as more of a textbook, however, and is slower reading than Election Campaigning Japanese Style.

V. Culture and Society

Japanese Culture: A Short History, H. Paul Varley. Holt, Reinhart and Winston, 1973, 1977. A good overview of Japanese culture and art history from prehistory to the present. A bit dry, but contains some good photographs and lots of useful information. Japanese Society, Chie Nakane. Penguin Books, 1970. This is another of the 'landmark' books about Japan, this time by a sociologist. Professor Nakane argues that modern Japanese society is built upon social traditions centuries old. She discusses the psychology of Japanese social interaction and behavior. The work is short and easily read. The Anatomy of Dependence, Takeo Doi. Kodansha, 1973. This book, written by one of Japan's leading psychiatrists, seeks to explain Japanese social behavior by arguing that Japanese society is built on the fundamental concept of dependence. The book gets technical at times, and in some people's opinion offers a grossly oversimplified interpretation of Japanese social behavior. The thesis is interesting, however, and the book has been enormously successful in Japan. Shinohata: A Portrait of a Japanese Village, Ronald P. Dore. Pantheon Books, 1978. A fascinating book by a leading Japanese sociologist about life in a small, out-of-the-way village. Delightful reading. Japanese High School, Thomas Rohlen, University of California, 1984. This is probably the best book in English about modern Japanese education. Dr. Rohlen, now a professor at Stanford University, presents an accurate picture of the state of education in Japan. Among his more startling conclusions is that the typical high school graduate in Japan possesses the same level of education as a typical college graduate in the United States. For anyone interested in education, this book is a must.

VI. Travel Guides

General: There are hundreds of guide books to Japan, and some are better than others. Generally, they cater to either the middle-class or the upper-class traveler. Most have extensive sections on Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and the heavily touristed parks and monuments, and little information-- often none at all-- on the rest of the country. Here are two that we prefer:

Japan: A Travel Survival Kit , Robert Strauss, Chris Taylor, Tony Wheeler. Lonely Planet Publications, 1991. This is one of a series of guide books designed for budget travelers. It provides good information on how to get around Japan on your own, how to ride the trains, what types of places to stay, etc. The book contains only sketchy cultural information, however, and is best used for orientation purposes in different cities and parks rather than a tour guide for that area. This is, however, one of the only guide books that doesn't totally ignore Tohoku, the northern part of the main island. Gateway to Japan, June Kinoshita and Nicholas Palevsky. Kodansha International, 1990. This is an excellent guide to the cultural side of travel in Japan, and has excellent maps and ratings of local sights and events. Of particular value is the synopsis of Japanese history, and the description of Buddhism and temple, castle, and garden architecture and design. For people who will be with a Japanese-speaking guide, or who will not be venturing beyond Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, this book is all you will need. The Anatomy of Dependence, Takeo Doi. Kodansha, 1973. This book, written by one of Japan's leading psychiatrists, seeks to explain Japanese social behavior by arguing that Japanese society is built on the fundamental concept of dependence. The book gets technical at times, and in some people's opinion offers a grossly oversimplified interpretation of Japanese social behavior. The thesis is interesting, however, and the book has been enormously successful in Japan. Shinohata: A Portrait of a Japanese Village, Ronald P. Dore. Pantheon Books, 1978. A fascinating book by a leading Japanese sociologist about life in a small, out-of-the-way village. Delightful reading. Japanese High School, Thomas Rohlen, University of California, 1984. This is probably the best book in English about modern Japanese education. Dr. Rohlen, now a professor at Stanford University, presents an accurate picture of the state of education in Japan. Among his more startling conclusions is that the typical high school graduate in Japan possesses the same level of education as a typical college graduate in the United States. For anyone interested in education, this book is a must.

Local Guides:

Tokyo City Guide, Judith Connor and Mayumi Yoshida. Ryuko Tsushin Co., 1984. This is perhaps the best all-around guide to Tokyo. It covers all of the bases: accomodations, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, eating, and entertainment. The authors have located some of the most interesting craft shops and restaurants in the city. For a person who plans to spend a few days exploring Tokyo, this guide will prove extremely helpful. Kyoto: A Contemplative Guide, Gouverneur Mosher. Tuttle Books, 1964, 1984. This guide is designed solely to help the foreign visitor understand the many temples and shrines of Kyoto and the history of the city. It does not include information on places to stay, eat, etc. but is the only guide that provides enough historical and cultural information to allow a non-Japanese to understand and enjoy the ancient sights of the old capital. It is very well-written. It might serve as a nice complement to a small, more traditional guide book.

VII. Literature
Japan has a rich and varied literary tradition that offers perhaps the most enjoyable way to learn about Japanese history, sociology, and culture. Here are some of the best works: