Customer Rating: 
Summary: That's why the Japanese succeed
Comment: This great book about the Japan's continuity and changing is filled with amazing information and knowledge about the depth and myth of the Japanese sociey, Japanese people, Japanese ways, Japanese history, etc... which mixed together to explain why Japan is gaining its position in the international system from ruins after 1945, and more importantly, why Japan is now the big brother of Asian countries that no one can get higher in terms of business as well as politics.
In order to create "a greater democracy and more economic opportunity", I think that countries should adopt Western models of governance. Focusing on Asian countries, I suppose adopting Western models of governance is a most suitable process to achieve a more democratic society as well as fair economic opportunity because in fact, Western styles of governance had developed before the political development of most Asian countries. When people talk about the equality, which is the most important thing in discussing democracy, everyone can recognize that almost Asian traditions contrast with the concept of equality in the modern world. The hierarchy in Asia is one problem that has a negative affect in these aspects of democracy: majority rule, minority rights, and basic human rights. The "interrelationships" between people and the family ties which create all kinds of corruptions are huge obstacles in the process of making a democratic society and government. I think these problems are "effective" enough for everybody to acknowledge the necessity of adopting Western styles of governance to make a greater democracy.
Actually a lot of Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, China, etc...have been trying to learn Western ways of governance, but they have been facing a lot of difficulties. Looking at some facts, we can clearly see what those difficulties are. To learn and to adopt Western ways, a lot of Asian people had to move overseas to developed countries to study. But a lot of people don't want to go back to their countries because these people demand a better life and they don't want to come back or at least they don't want to wait for the change of their countries. On the other hand, to adopt the Western styles, young people have had to choose either Western norms and standards or Eastern traditional values. That's why traditional values in some Asian countries can hardly survive.
It is impossible to adopt an absolute Western style of governance in Asia. Asian countries need some kind of alternative political systems. Of course there are some kinds of political systems existing in the contemporary world. I think Japanese political system is a good example for an alternative political system which is running vigorously. Although Westerners don't think Japanese politics is that impressive, Japan's political way is still a remarkable phenomenon for most of other Asian countries. In general, the root of democracy in Japan has been following the American type of democracy in the macroscopic range. But in the microcosmic range, I can see there are still a lot of differences in Japanese politics in order to serve traditional values and traditional ways of governance. I would say the "Japanese democracy" appears with a specific characteristic: attaching special importance to "personal restraint" which means that the personalities are put into the interest of the mass and the society. In terms of policy making, the Japanese people perform this process from the bottom. This activity derives from an Asian tradition which is reporting and referring to higher level. The advantage of this activity is that when the Minister makes the last decision, normally no one objects. Other rules like that are also called the "Consensus social" phenomenon. People's activities are judged not only by the law but also by Asian regulations in terms of morality, hierarchy, etc... Besides, if we look at the gap between the poor people and the rich people, ninety percent of the population define themselves the middle class. Measuring other standards, we can see that equality has been built more successfully than in the West. However, Japanese governance has just focused better on the equality in opportunity than the real equality.
This book is indispensible for ones who need to research on Japan and even in other domains such as Int' politics, Asian business ways, and etc...
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Essential text for Understanding Japan
Comment: A prime reference for Sheffield University School of East Asian Studies (SEAS). A good book for finding out about politics, and socioeconomics in Japan, without a nihonjinron （æ-¥æœ¬äººè«-）attitude.
Used ar SEAS for every lecture in the undergraduate module Understanding Japan and the post graduate module Contemporary Japan.
Wide ranging and clear although biases are often visible.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best single source on Japan and the Japanese.
Comment: I highly recommend this book to students, business people, and anyone who needs information on Japan and the Japanese. I have yet to find any single volume work on the subject of contemporary Japan as comprehensive as "The Japanese Today." I found the volume well organized and easy to read.
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