- Paperback: 504 pages
- Publisher: Vintage Books; 1st Vintage Books Ed edition (1 April 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0679728023
- ISBN-13: 978-0679728023
- Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 3 x 20.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 99,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
A full-scale examination of the inner workings of Japan's political and industrial system.
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First Sentence
Japan perplexes the world. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Japan perplexes the world. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a wonderful book and powerful argument that, at its center, no one in Japan is really in control and no one can be. Taking a long view of history, van Wolferen does a better job at demolishing Japanese myths and pretenses than most other writers. I read this book when I had just arrived in Japan in 1990 - when Japan was in the ascendant with an asset bubble that was far greater than the US one that just burst - and was enthralled and repelled from page one to the very end. Once I understood what he was saying, I saw how much it explained that hitherto I had found completely unfathomable.
Unfortunately, read at one go, it sounds excessively negative and pessimistic: the Japanese appear feckless and weak, unable to rise above a history of division and obfuscation, etc. Even worse, as subsequent events have borne out, it appears truer than ever. Van Wolferen weathered extremely bitter attacks and smears because of this book. All I can say is, for many who have never lived in Japan, the bitterness of foreign residents towards that myserious country is a puzzle to them: they wonder if it can really be "that bad," if the attacks and vitriol are "racist" and the like. To his credit, though he finds little to admire, van Wolferen never lets the tone of this book descend to the level of polemic.
While dated now - van Wolferen fretted that the Japanese juggernaut would take over the entire world economy - it is still a great read. Get it, if you are interested in Japan. You must know the argument, even if you stridently disagree.
Unfortunately, read at one go, it sounds excessively negative and pessimistic: the Japanese appear feckless and weak, unable to rise above a history of division and obfuscation, etc. Even worse, as subsequent events have borne out, it appears truer than ever. Van Wolferen weathered extremely bitter attacks and smears because of this book. All I can say is, for many who have never lived in Japan, the bitterness of foreign residents towards that myserious country is a puzzle to them: they wonder if it can really be "that bad," if the attacks and vitriol are "racist" and the like. To his credit, though he finds little to admire, van Wolferen never lets the tone of this book descend to the level of polemic.
While dated now - van Wolferen fretted that the Japanese juggernaut would take over the entire world economy - it is still a great read. Get it, if you are interested in Japan. You must know the argument, even if you stridently disagree.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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26 reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Amazingly Keen Perspectives to Our Culture.
11 May 1998
Format:Paperback
It is amazing that somebody who were not raised in our culture could see in such a considerable depth how Japanese culture and its system are operating. Mr. van Wolferen does have such a gift to have done this. A lot of people in my country see him as being highly critical of our culture, however, being as a Japanese myself, I believe that we could learn from him how we are, when measured by different value system. More importantly, we at least should know how much our innocently, or almost unconsciously, making divisions between "US" and "GAIJIN" could cause funny feelings outside of Japan. Cultures have an effect of brainwashing. When you are completely sunk in there since you were born, you tend not to see how much of your personality and behavior have been shaped by your culture. It is only when you encounter other cultures to compare that you could see this and doubt a little about your assumptions, bliefs, and judgements. I do agree with Mr. Wolferen that our country have the heritage from our previous period in large part; Feudalism. It is in every aspects of our society, much more than we think. I am not opposed to our current system though, I do appreciate my country for providing me with a safe place to grow up, and for giving me an equal opportunity to be educated enough to think and write like I am doing right now. However, what makes me sad is that today our country seems to be lost, not knowing where we should go. I believe what makes our society confusing in these days is the fact that the majority of Japanese, especially older people, are not aware of how much our thinking and conducts are influenced by feudalistic traditions, and are requiring our country to be democratic at the same time. Our goals and our conducts do not mix well. Mr. Wolferen's book is insightful for us to realize this conflicts, and I hope we have a courage to evaluate what he is saying, before labeling him as "GAIJIN" and assuming "GAIJIN can not unders! tand our way of doing the things," which is not true. Maturity comes from the strength to take critics and to accept diversities in opinions.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
All Encompassing, But Not Flawless
23 Jun 2000
Format:Paperback
I have lived in Japan for 10 years, and yes, much of the book is quite accurate in its explanation of "the system" in Japan (it is likely the best attempt so far). Yes, this book is a must read for anyone who wishes to gain further insight into how Japan really works.
But as with any text that attempts to be all encompassing in scope, it does have its flaws. My biggest problem with the book is how Van Wolferen sometimes uses isolated, rare or extreme incidents to explain his theories. Sure, most of the events listed are well documented (his footnotes alone take up about 57 pages!), but do they represent a complete scenario? A person reading this book with little direct knowledge of Japan beforehand may come away believing a more extreme scenario.
I will give you one example: the documentation showing how Dentsu (Japan's largest advertising agency) is an all powerful entity which determines the quality of Japan's daily entertainment, and intimidates large firms and the media by producing corporate scandals and hushing them up again. He provides us with a couple of fascinating examples of how Dentsu was able to apply pressure for the media not to report damaging information about their clients, but is it really safe to assume that this takes place on a daily or even yearly basis? Looking closely at Van Wolferen's sources, the most recent event or incident that he lists with regard to Dentsu is from 1971! If we are to believe that this is an ongoing practice, I would like to see more recent and consistent documentation.
I am not saying that there is no corruption going on at Dentsu, or that they do not wield enormous power, but he leverages old isolated incidents to prove his point and make things sound as though they are more severe than they really are. I can go on with other examples, but I just wanted to let everyone know that as with anything, please read this excellent book with a grain of salt.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
I have lived in Japan for 6 years. This book is accurate.
29 July 1999
Format:Paperback
I have given this book five stars because I can not give it six. Karel Van Wolferen's "The Enigma of Japanese Power" is a brilliant, if often infuriating and depressing, analysis of the way power is wielded in Japanese society. Having lived in Japan for six years now and having heard every conceivable interpretation of this culture by both westerners and Japanese, I have found nothing that even remotely approximates the accuracy of Van Wolferen's insights. I have seen the "the System" he describes at work, as it crushes the spirits of the good men and women of this country, demoralizing them until they meekly accept their "proper place." Van Wolferen's cool, clinical dissection of the central myths of Japanese society was so uncomfortably close to the mark that "the System" could not afford to let it go unchallenged. In fact, shortly after its publication a Japanese diplomat approached Clyde Prestowitz, an American expert on Japan, and through the use of an oblique threat, tried to enlist him in an effort to discredit Van Wolferen. For anyone who is interested in learning about how Japan really works this book is an excellent place to start.
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