Japan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

I bought this as a present for my son and was worried about how useful it would actually be as he is already very familiar with Japanese culture. However, he loved it, said it is very useful and definitely recommends it to anyone thinking of travelling to Japan

An enjoyable and informative introduction to the quirks and idiosyncrasies of life and culture in Japan. My favourite chapter in the book was the chapter on values and attitudes because it gave me a real sense of what's important to Japanese people today and the attitudes that newcomers need to be aware of. It explores local concepts like "Honei" and "Tatemai" (the very different spheres of public and private life), "Giri" (the all-important concept of face, how it operates and it's consequences across Japanese society), and "Haregai" ("Belly talk"), among others. I also really enjoyed the introduction to Japan's food and drink culture and the necessary etiquette involved with that, as well as the descriptions of the different customs and festivals celebrated throughout the year.According to his bio, the author is intimately familiar with life in Japan, has his own Japan-focused publishing imprint and has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government for his efforts, so he's no amateur.Overall, an enjoyable and authoritative primer that I would recommend to anyone interested in Japanese culture and/or travelling to Japan.

Bought as a present for a Grandson. When he thanks me, I'll let you know!

The next step up from a travel guide. This wee book packs so much information into it. Whether you plan to visit Japan or just learn more about the way things are done, you’ll enjoy this book.

The advert for the book includes beautiful illustrations in colour,however in the book they're all black and white which I find is quite misleading. I bought it as a gift,hopefully content will make up for the disappointment.

This was bought as a leaving gift for a teacher. The item has come in a state I can not gift it to anyone. Considering I have to give this on Thursday, I am so disappointed with the product. Waste of money

If you know me, you’ll know that I love Japanese culture. I have been fortunate enough to visit Tokyo and surrounding areas twice and it is such a smorgasbord of traditional and modern culture and customs from one street to the next. I am by no means an expert but I think the more knowledge you know before you visit Japan, the more immersed you can become in the experience.What I love about the Culture Smart guides is how they differ from most. Rather than telling you about places to visit, eat and spend time it gives you a more in-depth but easy to reference guide to the customs and cultures that you will likely come across when visiting Japan, or may just be curious about. Japanese culture are very big on etiquette in some areas and it’s important to know little things such as removing shoes on entry to a lot of homes and restaurants, or how to display your chopsticks during a meal without being rude.The chapters include; Land and People, values and Attitudes, Religion, Customs and Traditions, The Japanese at Home, Time Out, gift Giving, Food and Drink, Living in Japan, Business Briefing and Language and Communications.I love the layout which is a mix of information, photographs and easy to reference bullet points/charts. It’s easy to find the information you need using the contents/index and the information is written in an informative and easy to read way without being overwhelming or too wordy.This is a great guide to read before travelling to Japan or if you have an interest in the customs and traditions of Japan.