Japanese Politeness An Enquiry Although the Japanese language is one of the most quoted examples in politeness research extant publications focus on particular areas of politeness and very few of them enquire into the varied aspects of Japanese politeness. In this book Yasuko Obana provides an integrated account of what signifies Japanese politeness. By examining how far previous assumptions can apply to Japanese Obana exposes a variety of characteristics of Japanese politeness. By taking a diachronic approach she probes into what constitutes politeness extracts key elements of the term ‘polite’ in Japanese and demonstrates how modern honorifics’ apparent diverse divergent uses and effects can be integrated into a systematic matrix. Furthermore by quoting traditional Japanese language scholars’ (kokugo gakusha) studies Obana brings different views into the open. She also carves out politeness strategies in Japanese that have not been adequately explored to date and which often conform to the way in which honorifi cs behave because they refl ect social indexicality. This book is a good reference for scholars in pragmatics particularly for those who are working on politeness. It is useful for Japanese language teachers who want to know how to teach Japanese politeness to non-native learners. Postgraduate students of Japanese or pragmatics may also find this book useful for self-study. | Japanese Politeness An Enquiry GBP 46.99 1
Japanese Contemporary Politics In the postwar period Japanese politics has evolved considerably with issues of gender representation and household economics becoming increasingly salient. Meanwhile since the end of the Cold War Japan has joined other developed states in the process of decentralization and deindustrialization. Yet its restructuring has come at a slower pace as the Japanese bureaucracy attempts to retain a more traditional approach. This book a translated and updated version of the author's 2010 monograph Nihon seijiron traces these developments in Japanese politics from the end of the Asia Pacific wars to the present day. Examining each of the key stages of transition it looks at four aspects of Japanese politics: high politics interest-centered politics life-centered politics and globalization. It also provides up-to-date analysis of contemporary themes including the Abe administration’s challenge to international politics and coverage of nuclear issues. Written by an experienced Japanese scholar this book ultimately demonstrates how globalization has transformed the nature of local politics as well as national security. However as seen in the recent triple disaster of 2011 (a chapter on which has been added) Japanese politics retains traditional practices that have led to corruption scandal and political mistrust among the electorate. Offering a comprehensive introduction to Japanese politics this book will be invaluable reading for students and scholars of Japanese politics and comparative and Asia politics in general. | Japanese Contemporary Politics GBP 38.99 1
Japanese Gardens Symbolism and Design The unique beauty of the Japanese garden stems from its spirituality and rich symbolism yet most discussions on this kind of garden rarely provide more than a superficial overview. This book takes a thorough look at the process of designing a Japanese garden placing it in a historical and philosophical context. Goto and Naka both academic experts in Japanese garden history and design explore: The themes and usage of the Japanese garden Common garden types such as tea and Zen gardens Key maintenance techniques and issues. Featuring beautiful full-colour images and a glossary of essential Japanese terms this book will dramatically transform your understanding of the Japanese garden as a cultural treasure. | Japanese Gardens Symbolism and Design GBP 175.00 1
Contemporary Japanese Economy This title was first published in 1984 | Contemporary Japanese Economy GBP 39.99 1
Japanese–English Translation An Advanced Guide This volume is a textbook for aspiring translators of Japanese into English as well as a reference work for professional Japanese–English translators and for translator educators. Underpinned by sound theoretical principles it provides a solid foundation in the practice of Japanese–English translation then extends this to more advanced levels. Features include: 13 thematic chapters with subsections that explore common pitfalls and challenges facing Japanese–English translators and the pros and cons of different procedures exercises after many of these subsections abundant examples drawn from a variety of text types and genres and translated by many different translators This is an essential resource for postgraduate students of Japanese–English translation and Japanese language professional Japanese–English translators and translator educators. It will also be of use and interest to advanced undergraduates studying Japanese. | Japanese–English Translation An Advanced Guide GBP 39.99 1
Understanding Japanese Society In this welcome brand new fifth edition of the bestselling textbook Understanding Japanese Society Joy Hendry takes the reader into the heart of Japanese life. Providing a clear and accessible introduction to Japanese ways of thinking which does not require any previous knowledge of the country this book explores Japanese society through the worlds of home work play religion and ritual covering a full range of life experiences from childhood to old age. It also examines the diversity of people living in Japan the effects of a growing number of new immigrants and role of the longest-standing Japanese prime-minister Shinzo Abe. Fully updated revised and expanded the fifth edition contains new material on: the continued effects of the earthquake tsunami and nuclear disasters of 2011 local examples of care for nature and the environment new perspectives on the role of women Japan’s place in the context of globalisation . Each chapter in this new edition also includes an exciting insert from scholars in the field based on new and emerging research. This book will be invaluable to all students studying Japan. It will also enlighten those travellers and business people wishing to gain an understanding of Japanese people. GBP 35.99 1
Japanese Management International perspectives This book provides a new understanding of the constellations of logics in Japanese management practices in Asia and the West. Through comparative ethnographic case studies in a Japanese multinational corporation (MNC) the book explores the cultural meanings of family corporation market and religion logics at each subsidiary’s site in Thailand Taiwan Belgium and the United States. In doing so the book defines cultural space through an institutional logic approach. It argues that logics are culturally interpreted which can impose a serious limitation on the institutional logic approach based on the analysis of Western society. It reveals that Japanese ‘family’ logics and Theravada Buddhism in Asia are strengthening each other and this directly supports the presupposition of amplification. It further elaborates on the ongoing constellations of logics that are continuously formed in relation to geographical contexts. The book also explains that the boundaries of organisational communities are not automatically formed by Japanese expatriates but constructed through actors’ profiles which in turn raises their importance. Therefore this book is a must-read for researchers managers and anyone interested in Japanese MNCs. | Japanese Management International perspectives GBP 39.99 1
Japanese Culture Through Videogames Examining a wide range of Japanese videogames including arcade fighting games PC-based strategy games and console JRPGs this book assesses their cultural significance and shows how gameplay and context can be analyzed together to understand videogames as a dynamic mode of artistic expression. Well-known titles such as Final Fantasy Metal Gear Solid Street Fighter and Katamari Damacy are evaluated in detail showing how ideology and critique are conveyed through game narrative and character design as well as user interface cabinet art and peripherals. This book also considers how ‘Japan’ has been packaged for domestic and overseas consumers and how Japanese designers have used the medium to express ideas about home and nation nuclear energy war and historical memory social breakdown and bioethics. Placing each title in its historical context Hutchinson ultimately shows that videogames are a relatively recent but significant site where cultural identity is played out in modern Japan. Comparing Japanese videogames with their American counterparts as well as other media forms such as film manga and anime Japanese Culture Through Videogames will be useful to students and scholars of Japanese culture and society as well as Game Studies Media Studies and Japanese Studies more generally. GBP 39.99 1
Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction This book provides a comprehensive introduction to ikebana and other forms of Japanese flower culture. Unlike other books on the subject which focus on practice the book provides both an academic discussion of the subject and an introduction to practice. It examines ikebana and flower culture from anthropological and sociological perspectives analyses Japanese aesthetics customs and rituals related to flower arrangements and outlines ikebana history and the Grand Master Iemoto system. It considers how the traditional arts are taught in Japan and links traditional arts to current issues in today’s society such as gender and class. This book also covers how to prepare ikebana utensils preserve flowers and branches and how to appreciate arrangements placing an emphasis on acknowledging our five senses throughout each stage of the process. The book will be of interest to a wide range of people interested in Japanese flower culture – university professors and students tourists and people interested in traditional Japanese arts. | Japanese Flower Culture – An Introduction GBP 36.99 1
The Constructed Other: Japanese Architecture in the Western Mind The Constructed Other argues that the assumed otherness of Japanese architecture has made it both a testbed for Western architectural theories and a source of inspiration for Western designers. The book traces three recurring themes in Western accounts of Japanese architecture from the reopening of Japan in the mid-nineteenth century to the present day: a wish to see Western architectural theories reflected in Japanese buildings; efforts to integrate elements of Japanese architecture into Western buildings; and a desire to connect contemporary Japanese architecture with Japanese tradition. It is suggested that together these narratives have had the effect of creating what amounts to a mythical version of Japanese architecture often at odds with historical fact but which has exercised a powerful influence on the development of building design internationally. | The Constructed Other: Japanese Architecture in the Western Mind GBP 34.99 1
Japanese Adult Videos in Taiwan This book explores the debate between those who argue that globalisation is leading to worldwide cultural homogeneity with American cultural good predominating and those who argue that cultural goods are always adapted and contextualised in the particular setting in which they are used. Based on extensive original research on how Japanese adult videos are consumed in Taiwan it presents a rich picture of how Japanese adult videos are transformed into something Taiwanese and how they are incorporated into both male and female Taiwanese sexual culture. | Japanese Adult Videos in Taiwan GBP 44.99 1
Japanese Politics and Government The revised 2nd edition of this successful textbook explores Japanese politics in the postwar era from theoretical and comparative perspectives. After providing historical context it offers an in-depth exploration of postwar political institutions political reform in the 1990s the policymaking process and the politics of economic growth and stagnation. By delving into Japan’s international relations the book sheds light on Japan’s security and foreign policies and Japan’s role in Asia. The textbook concludes by addressing what has changed since party alternation in 2009 the triple disaster in March 2011 and the global Covid pandemic. Themes and questions addressed throughout the text include: How and why did Japan modernize so successfully when so many other countries fell prey to colonialism and authoritarianism? What explains the Japanese economic miracle and its subsequent economic stagnation? What accounts for Japan’s successful democratization? In the international realm why has Japan achieved economic superpower status without achieving political superpower status? What is the future trajectory of Japanese politics? Connecting Japan to larger themes in comparative politics and linking Japan’s history institutions policymaking process and international relations to experiences and structures in other countries this book is essential reading for students of Japanese or Asian Politics. | Japanese Politics and Government GBP 32.99 1
Introduction to Japanese Politics Introduction to Japanese Politics now in its fully updated sixth edition is a comprehensive and current review of political and public policy developments in Japan. Since the previous edition Japan’s economic policy has undergone significant change with a prolonged period of deflation having altered the dynamics of the Japanese economy. At the same time the Abe administration has expanded Japan’s international security participation previously limited by the constitution while China’s activities in the South China Sea have impinged upon Japan’s territorial claims. This classic introduction to the Japanese political system has been revised and fully updated in this sixth edition to take into account these widespread changes in the country's political life. Building on the structure and content of the previous edition this new edition covers: An overview of Japan's geographical setting and history Japan’s political institutions processes and actors Recent organizational ideological and policy changes in the LDP since its return to power The country's distinctive social order and its educational healthcare and public safety systems The increasingly contentious realm of foreign relations and security issues including China's expanding role and the effect of North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons. This broad-ranging textbook continues to be essential reading for students of Japanese politics international politics and Japanese studies. GBP 38.99 1
A Practical Guide for Scholarly Reading in Japanese A Practical Guide for Scholarly Reading in Japanese is an innovative textbook for students specializing in scholarly Japanese for Asian studies. This book is aimed at scholars in any Asian Studies field in which Japanese scholarship is extremely important. The book can be used as a textbook or self-study guide for scholars of Asian studies as well as students who need to learn to read scholarly Japanese. The book contains concise descriptions of grammar points essential for reading scholarly writings in Japanese and exercises based on excerpts taken from prominent Japanese scholarly texts. Each exercise reading provides a list of vocabulary and explanations of expressions. The reading materials provided mainly cover Chinese history comparative literature religion and culture. The book can be used as a textbook or self-study guide for scholars of Asian studies as well as students who have completed two years of basic language learning and need to learn to read scholarly Japanese. GBP 32.99 1
Understanding the Japanese Food and Agrimarket A Multifaceted Opportunity The contributing authors of Understanding the Japanese Food and Agrimarket discuss broad forces that affect markets in Japan and specific situations faced in marketing grain livestock and seafood products; fruits; vegetables; and wood products. Many of the contributors speak and read Japanese and have lived in Japan for extensive periods; they are able to give deep insights into how and why the Japanese consumption and distribution system behaves as it does. They draw on their expertise to fully explore various Japanese food and fiber markets. As they demystify the Japanese market they illustrate for readers several systematic approaches to mastering the Japanese food and fiber markets. Readers will discover that effective long-term marketing strategies in Japan must be based on sound analytical information. The contributors provide such needed material with chapters on items as diverse as wine grain products beef and fruits and vegetables. Some of the specific topics covered include:changes in Japanese food consumptionJapanese food distribution systemdemand for beef products in Japandemand for vegetables and vegetable seedsJapanese wine marketdemand for bakery productsnew food products for the Japanese marketdeveloping trade relations in wood productsExecutives of commodity associations or firms exporting foods to Japan will find the general sections most interesting as well as chapters specific to their products. Teachers and students exploring exporting to the Japanese market will be intrigued by the various dimensions of the “multifaceted” nature and opportunities of the Japanese market. | Understanding the Japanese Food and Agrimarket A Multifaceted Opportunity GBP 59.99 1
Routledge Handbook of Japanese Sociolinguistics Presenting new approaches and results previously inaccessible in English the Routledge Handbook of Japanese Sociolinguistics provides an insight into the language and society of contemporary Japan from a fresh perspective. While it was once believed that Japan was a linguistically homogenous country research over the past two decades has shown Japan to be a multilingual and sociolinguistically diversifying country. Building on this approach the contributors to this handbook take this further combining Japanese and western approaches alike and producing research which is relevant to twenty-first century societies. Organised into five parts the sections covered include:The languages and language varieties of Japan. The multilingual ecology. Variation style and interaction. Language problems and language planning. Research overviews. With contributions from across the field of Japanese sociolinguistics this handbook will prove very useful for students and scholars of Japanese Studies as well as sociolinguists more generally. GBP 42.99 1
Pragmatics in Korean and Japanese Translation This book explores how the greater amount of pragmatic information encoded in Korean and Japanese can result in pragmatic (in)visibility when translating between those languages and English. Pragmatic information must be added when translating from English to Korean or Japanese and is easily lost when translating in the other direction. This book offers an analysis of translations in Japanese and Korean of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and The Hobbit or There and Back Again to show how the translated versions crystallise the translators’ interpretations of relationships in the way characters address one another. This book discusses fan translations of Korean and Japanese to English of various popular media observing that the emotional meanings easily lost when translating in this direction are often deemed important enough to warrant the insertion of additional explanatory material. The book additionally discusses the role of fan translation in the construction of international online communities and a heightened communal commentary on translation. Western translation commentary has historically lacked sufficient emphasis on translation to and from East Asian languages and these case studies help to address a problem of central importance to translation to and from languages that encode interpersonal dynamics in dramatically different ways to English. This book will be of interest to students and researchers in translation studies particularly in Korean and Japanese translation. The book will also appeal to students and researchers of the Korean and Japanese languages. | Pragmatics in Korean and Japanese Translation GBP 35.99 1
The Japanese Restaurant Tasting the New Exotic in Australia This book explores the growth and operations of the Japanese restaurant in Australia since the early 2000s from perspectives of both restaurant workers and consumers. Through first-hand testimonies collected from chefs restaurateurs gourmets and casual diners it demonstrates how Japanese restaurants act as cultural hubs connecting a diverse community of migrants Australian citizens and international tourists while also disseminating knowledge of Japanese culinary cultures. The ethnographic evidence presented challenges the colonialist and essentialist understandings of the ‘exotic’ and ‘Japaneseness’ as the ‘inferior other’ to the West. In so doing the book highlights the complex manifestations of cross-cultural desires translating practices and the performative racial-ethnic mimesis of Japanese ethnicity. Featuring critical investigation into the fixed notions of otherness race ethnicity and authenticity this book will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of Japanese society and culture particularly Japanese food culture. | The Japanese Restaurant Tasting the New Exotic in Australia GBP 130.00 1
Operations Management in Japan The Efficiency of Japanese Manufacturing This book provides insights into Japanese production and operations management through the roles and human resource management of Japanese manufacturing engineers and how their roles contribute to efficient manufacturing. The book looks at six industries i. e. automobile electronics business machine industries of the parts processing and assembly sector steel chemical and pharmaceutical industries of the material processing sector and 13 Japanese leading multinational companies. It also compares Japanese automotive firms with their German French and American counterparts. The analysis reveals that many managers employees and scholars underappreciate the roles and contributions of manufacturing engineers in the United States. The book will offer invaluable lessons to management scholars interested in operations management and global supply chains especially in the context of the Japanese manufacturing industry. | Operations Management in Japan The Efficiency of Japanese Manufacturing GBP 38.99 1
Learning To Be Modern Japanese Political Discourse On Education In the increasingly global economy commentators often cite education as a key source of competitive advantage for nations locked in economic contention on the world stage. Byron Marshall examines the evolution of Japanese schools over the past 120 years. Emphasizing the political discourse and conflict that have surrounded Japanese education the | Learning To Be Modern Japanese Political Discourse On Education GBP 130.00 1
Routledge Handbook of Japanese Cinema The Routledge Handbook of Japanese Cinema provides a timely and expansive overview of Japanese cinema today through cutting-edge scholarship that reflects the hybridity of approaches defining the field. The volume’s twenty-one chapters represent work by authors with diverse backgrounds and expertise recasting traditional questions of authorship genre and industry in broad conceptual frameworks such as gender media theory archive studies and neoliberalism. The volume is divided into four parts each representing an emergent area of inquiry: Decentring Classical Cinema Questions of Industry Intermedia as an Approach The Object Life of Film This is the first anthology of Japanese cinema scholarship to span the temporal framework of 200 years from the vibrant magic lantern culture of the nineteenth century through to the formation of the film industry in the twentieth century and culminating in cinema’s migration to gaming surveillance video and other new media platforms of the twenty-first century. This handbook will prove a useful resource to students and scholars of Japanese studies film studies and cultural studies more broadly. GBP 42.99 1
The Japanese Tea Ceremony – An Introduction This book provides a comprehensive introduction to chado the Japanese tea ceremony. Unlike other books on the subject which focus on practice or historical background or specific issues this book considers the subject from multiple perspectives. It discusses Japanese aesthetics and philosophy outlines how the tea ceremony has developed emphasizing its strong links to Zen Buddhism and the impact of other religion influences and examines how chado reflects traditional gender and social status roles in Japan. It goes on to set out fully the practice of chado exploring dress utensils location – the garden and the tea house – and the tea itself and accompanying sweets. Throughout the book is illustrated both with images and with examples of practice. The book will be of interest to a wide range of people interested in chado – university professors and students tourists and people interested in traditional Japanese arts. | The Japanese Tea Ceremony – An Introduction GBP 36.99 1
Colloquial Japanese The Complete Course for Beginners Colloquial Japanese provides a step-by-step course in Japanese as it is written and spoken today. This new edition has been completely rewritten by experienced teachers; it combines an accessible approach with a thorough treatment of the language equipping learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Japanese in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Key features include: progressive coverage of speaking listening reading and writing skills jargon-free explanations of grammar with key structures presented through user-friendly diagrams Coverage of the different writing systems of Japanese: hiragana katakana and kanji an extensive range of focused and stimulating exercises realistic and entertaining dialogues covering a broad variety of scenarios useful vocabulary lists throughout the text additional resources available at the back of the book including a full answer key a grammar summary a verb/adjective list with conjugation aid bilingual glossaries and English translations of dialogues Balanced comprehensive and rewarding Colloquial Japanese will be an indispensable resource both for independent learners and for students taking courses in Japanese. Audio material to accompany the course is available to download free in MP3 format from www. routledge. com/cw/colloquials. Recorded by native speakers the audio material features the dialogues and texts from the book and will help develop your listening and pronunciation skills. Supplementary exercise sheets for hiragana katakana and kanji and two additional units can also be found here. These additonal units cover more advanced features of Japanese and incorporate a wide assortment of supporting exercises. By the end of this course you will be at Level B1 of the Common European Framework for Languages and at the Intermediate-Mid on the ACTFL proficiency scales. | Colloquial Japanese The Complete Course for Beginners GBP 130.00 1
Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese History The Routledge Handbook of Modern Japanese History is a concise overview of modern Japanese history from the middle of the nineteenth century until the end of the twentieth century. Written by a group of international historians each an authority in his or her field the book covers modern Japanese history in an accessible yet comprehensive manner. The subjects featured in the book range from the development of the political system and matters of international relations to social and economic history and gender issues to post-war discussions about modern Japan’s historical trajectory and its wartime past. Divided into thematic parts the sections include:Nation empire and bordersIdeologies and the political systemEconomy and societyHistorical legacies and memoryEach chapter outlines important historiographical debates and controversies summarizes the latest developments in the field and identifies research topics that have not yet received sufficient scholarly attention. As such the book will be useful to students and scholars of Japanese history Asian history and Asian Studies. GBP 42.99 1
Mothering Education and Ethnicity The Transformation of Japanese American Culture This postmodern feminist study explores changes in Japanese American women's perspectives on child rearing education and ethnicity across three generations-Nisei (second) Sansei (third) and Yonsei (fourth). Shifts in socio-political and cultural milieu have influenced the construction of racial and ethnic identities; Nisei women survived internment before relocating to the midwest Sansei women grew up in white suburban communities while Yonsei women grew up in a culture increasingly attuned toward multiculturalism. In contrast to the historical focus on Japanese American communities in California and Hawaii this study explores the transformation of ethnic culture in the midwest. Midwestern Japanese American women found themselves removed from large ethnic communities and the development of their identities and culture provides valuable insight into the experience of a group of Asian minorities in the heartland. The book explores central issues in studies of Japanese culture the Japanese sense of self and the Japanese family including amae (mother-child dependency relationship) gambare (perseverance) and gaman (endurance). | Mothering Education and Ethnicity The Transformation of Japanese American Culture GBP 38.99 1