Roger Davies is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Academic Director of the English Education Center at Ehime
University in Matsuyama, Japan.
Ikeno, Osamu : Ehime University in Matsuyama
Professor Osamu Ikeno is in the Education Department at Ehime University.
Summary
Westerners who come to Japan for the first time know immediately that everything is different, but understanding
how it is different is far more difficult. This book offers Westerners an invaluable key to understanding Japanese
culture from the inside out. A noted academic who teaches in Japan, Roger Davies explores the intellectual, spiritual,
and behavioral cornerstones of Japanese culture that can help foreigners understand the people, the politics, and
the lifestyle. These include such concepts as aimai (ambiguity); amae (dependence upon others� benevolence); amakudari
(the nation�s descent from heaven); chinmoku (silence in communication); gambari (perseverance); giri (social obligation);
kenkyo (the appearance of modesty); sempai-kohai (seniority); wabi-sabi (simplicity and elegance). Other topics
include the roles of women in Japanese society, personal space, and a discussion of childrearing and education
in Japan. The Japanese Mind is an illuminating book for travelers, students, and anyone interested in building
a familiarity with Japan.
