Japan Unmasked: The Character and Culture of the Japanese

Description

An exploration of the social, cultural and psychological characteristics responsible for Japan's unique character. Contents Preface Aspects of the Real Japan 1 Dispelling the Enigma Myth of Japan 2 The Challenge of Being Japanese 3 The Challenge of Speaking Japanese 4 A Japanese Dilemma: Policies vs. Principles 5 Beware of Using Logic in Japan 6 Can the Japanese Really Tap in to Cosmic Energy? 7 Cultural and Extralegal Barriers Facing Foreigners in Japan 8 Dealing with “Godless” Japan 9 Doing Business on Japan’s Permanently Tilted Playing Field 10 How the Inept and Mediocre Rise to the Top in Japan 11 How the Japanese Perceive and Use Knowledge vs.The Western Way 12 Japan’s “Moral Hazard” Syndrome 13 Japan’s Victim Mentality and Avoiding Responsibility 14 Japan’s Inferior-Superior System 15 “Soft” Management vs.“Hard” Management 16 Japan’s Suicide Syndrome 17 Japanese Culture vs. Scientific Management 18 The Japanese Corporation of the Future 19 The Eight Golden Rules of Japanese Management: Are They Doomed? 20 The Japanese “Allergy” to Westerners 21 The Japanese Obsession with Becoming “Un-Japanese” 22 The Mindset of Japanese Bureaucrats 23 Why Actions in Japan Speak Louder Than Words 24 Yakuza: The Story Behind Japan’s “Honorable Gangsters” 25 Zen’s Contribution to Japan’s Economic Power 26 How Japan Became an Economic Superpower 27 How the “Black-Mark” System Rules Japan 28 Ijime: Terrorism in Japan’s Schools 29 Japan’s “Hell” Schools 30 More on the Crisis in Japanese Management 31 Nihonteki: One of the Secrets of Japan’s Success 32 Selling Sex in a Glass: Japan’s Pleasure Trades 33 The Japanese Way of Striving for Perfection 34 Japan’s Myth of Internationalization 35 Tuning in to Japan’s Cultural Telepathy 36 The West’s Why/Because vs. Japan’s Wa/Sa Approach 37 Understanding the Japanese Business Mind 38 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Japanese