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Originally Posted by Nyororin
No. That book was accurate, and was about the real problems in Japan. They were presented realistically, not with a big scoop of the author`s personal dislike of things.
In other words - there is a difference between critiquing problems in social structure (governmental in the case of Dogs and Demons)... And just negatively poking at every aspect of normal Japanese life.
It is indeed VERY different. I`m sure that you would feel different about reading a book talking about the shortcomings of the US government and why they ended up this way than, say, a book looking at every aspect of American life and culture with derision. One of those books points out a problem which can potentially be solved. The other points out something(everything?) the author found irritating, and bashes them. In the process the book drags down everyone else who reads it.
I read Culture Shock originally because three different people told me that after reading it, there was no way they could imagine staying in Japan long term. They couldn`t understand how I could deal with it, and were glad they`d be out before things in the book "kicked in". So of course, I was curious what they were talking about.
My opinion is that it`s a book written by one of the long term foreigners who live in Japan for financial reasons and possibly family reasons, but does not like it. Does not want to be here. The type who picks apart aspects of culture and compares them to the "superior" culture they grew up with.
I`m all for presenting the reality of Japan - but this book wraps it in so much negative emotion that it`s impossible to simply see it as culture, instead you`re asked to see it as a flaw. That is unfair, and would be unfair to do to any culture. The only way to "fix" the cultural "flaws" would be to get rid of the culture itself.
The author presents information with a heavy bias. Of course, if you`re already negatively biased against Japan and Japanese culture, this book will likely support you and seem "neutral". It`s not.
While I respect you and your opinions, Paul11, things you`ve said in the past about long termers in Japan lead me to believe that you fall into that group.
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Not biased. I have too much time, education and personal things invested in Japan to be biased against Japan. I don't remember all the negative things the book said about Japan, it was too long ago. But I remember, as someone educated in anthropology and the study of culture, the book really helped me understand the trends a person experiences with culture shock. It helped me recognize when my autonomic cues were expressing stress, what is was and how to deal with it. There's culture shock for any foreigner in Japan and it comes in waves at somewhat regular intervals. That awareness is a huge thing to take away from the book whether one agrees with the authors specific likes/dislikes about Japan.