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10 November 2010 3 Comments

Tourism in Japan: An Ethno-Semiotic Analysis

Author: Arthur Asa Berger
Publisher: Channel View Publications
ISBN: 9781845411336
Released: February 2010

My review of Arthur Asa Berger’s book Tourism in Japan: An Ethno-Semiotic Analysis is part of the 2010 Green Books Campaign. Today, two hundred bloggers are simultaneously publishing reviews of books printed on recycled paper or paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. By featuring books printed in a more eco-friendly manner, we hope to support and raise awareness of environmental issues surrounding book publishing and purchasing. The campaign is being sponsored and organized for the second time by Eco-Libris. For a complete list of participating blogs and links to reviews of “green” books, see the Green Books Campaign 2010 website. As for Berger’s Tourism in Japan, published by Channel View Publications in 2010, it’s printed on FSC mixed sources certified paper. The book is also part of an ongoing series called Tourism and Cultural Change. While I don’t have a particular interest in tourism, I do have an keen interest in Japan.

Tourism in Japan is divided into two major parts. “Part 1: Japan as a Tourist Destination” analyzes the facts and statistics surrounding Japan as a place and country with a particular focus on the tourism industry. This section contains an interesting review of literature which includes an analysis of tour and guide books, looking at people’s perceptions of Japan in general as well as a place to visit. In the second and longer “Part 2: Semiotic Japan,” Berger explores aspects of Japan that have often come to represent or symbolize the country to visitors and outsiders (such as sumo wrestlers, geisha, manga, high-tech toilets, and pachinko parlors, among others). He also investigates how tourism causes cultural change in Japan and recounts his personal experiences as a visitor to the country on a recent trip.

Personally, I don’t agree with some of Berger’s assumptions regarding manga, but I still think he provides valid interpretations. But because of this I also wonder about his interpretations of other subject areas I’m less familiar with. Regardless, his discussion of symbols and icons of Japan is fascinating, however it is important to remember he is basing his analysis mostly on the perspective of tourists and particularly American tourists. Stereotypes and assumptions, whether based on fact or fiction, inform tourists and others and impact how they approach and think about a country and its people and culture. For me, it was Berger’s exploration of these topics that was the most interesting part of the book. Some of his research materials and resources did seem to be a little outdated, but it was interesting to see how Western perceptions of Japan have changed over a relatively short period of time.

If there was one thing that confused me about Tourism in Japan, it’s that I’m not sure who the intended audience is meant to be. The work for the most part is very approachable and certainly doesn’t require the reader to have an advanced degree. Often I was reminded of my undergraduate anthropology and sociology courses while reading the book (not at all a bad thing) but I think that anyone interested in Japan and Japanese culture will enjoy aspects of Tourism in Japan. Occasionally Berger is a bit repetitive and seems overly fond of charts and tables, but these do allow him to get across ideas and concepts quickly and clearly. The book also includes a nice list of resource and a useful index. Tourism in Japan is relatively short and isn’t a comprehensive investigation into the symbolic interpretations of Japanese culture and tourism, but it is a decent, interesting, and accessible introduction and overview of the subject.

Thank you to Channel View Publications for providing a copy of Tourism in Japan for review.

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29 June 2010 Leave a Comment

Mishima: A Biography

Author: John Nathan
Publisher: Perseus
ISBN: 9780306809774
Released: April 2000
Original release: 1974

After finishing Yukio Mishima’s The Sea of Fertility tetralogy, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the author, a major figure in Japanese literature. The one thing that I was vaguely aware of was Mishima’s ritual suicide in 1970, but beyond that I knew very little about his life. There are two main biographies of Yukio Mishima written in English: John Nathan’s Mishima: A Biography and Henry Scott Stokes’ The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima. I decided to at least start with Nathan’s biography for several reasons. It seemed at first glance to be the more academic of the two. Nathan also received assistance from Mishima’s wife, friends, and family in the writing of his biography. In addition, Nathan also knew Mishima personally and served as the translator for the English edition of Mishima’s novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea. Mishima: A Biography was originally published in 1974 by Little, Brown and the 2000 Da Capo edition includes a new preface by Nathan.

Yukio Mishima, born as Kimitake Hiraoka in 1925, stunned the world in 1970 when he and his follower Masakatsu Morita committed seppuku after addressing Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in Ichigaya. Most of his friends and family were caught unawares. Mishima was a tremendous personality: author, playwright, poet, stage director, actor, body builder, lecturer, and ultimately, political activist. These are only a few aspects of a very complex and charismatic man. Nathan examines Mishima’s life and works from his precocious youth until his death, delving into his writings and speaking with those closest to him throughout his tumultuous life. Mishima baffled many but he was respected for his work both in Japan and worldwide, even being considered for a Nobel on multiple occasions.

Nathan frequently includes excerpts of Mishima’s published works and surviving personal papers in Mishima: A Biography, often translating the materials himself. Although Nathan offers context and interpretation of the passages, to some extent he allows Mishima to speak for himself. Regrettably, the works quoted are not always cited as clearly as they could be. Granted, some of this material has never been published before, let alone been translated into English. Throughout Mishima: A Biography, Nathan explores the concepts of Beauty, Ecstasy, and Death—elements that permeate Mishima’s work—and Mishima’s pursuit of these, his ideals.

Mishima: A Biography reads very easily and at times even seems novel-like; I never once found it to be dry and it held my attention throughout. Although technically a biography about Yukio Mishima, the book understandably has quite a bit to say about the state of Japanese literature during his lifetime, too. Nathan makes extensive use and interpretations of Mishima’s work within the biography. Occasionally Nathan seemed more concerned with the writings than with the man himself, but Mishima often included autobiographical elements in his writing. In addition to a very useful index and a nice selection of photographs, the book also includes a list of Mishima’s major novels and plays, indicating which have also been translated into English. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a more complete bibliography or at least the inclusion of all the works mentioned by Nathan and/or all of Mishima’s materials available in English. Overall, I think Nathan’s biography of Yukio Mishima is very successful—he remains as objective as he can and shows respect for all those involved. Mishima: A Biography was a fine place to start learning about Yukio Mishima and is particularly valuable for its insights into his writings.

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20 February 2010 Leave a Comment

Everyday Life in Traditional Japan

Author: Charles J. Dunn
Publisher: Tuttle
ISBN: 9784805310052
Released: August 2008

I know very little about Japanese history beyond what I learned about World War II in high school. Well, that’s not entirely true. In regards to the “traditional” Japan of samurai epics, I’ve actually managed to pick up quite a bit from some of my favorite manga and anime (I’m particularly thinking of Blade of the Immortal and Samurai Champloo here). Perhaps not the most academic of sources, but I mange to hold my own pretty well among my history major friends—just don’t ask me for specific dates. However, I knew there was a lot that I was missing and so I turned to the LibraryThing community to ask for book recommendations about day to day life in Japan during the Edo/Tokugawa period. It didn’t take long for someone to suggest Charles J. Dunn’s Everyday Life in Traditional Japan which was pretty much exactly what I was looking for.

During the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868), the Emperor became more of a figurehead while the majority of the power lay with the Shogun who was basically a military dictator. At this point in history, Japanese society was rigidly divided into a hierarchical class system and was mostly isolated from the rest of the world. In his book, Dunn provides an overview of the era, beginning with a brief introduction to the state of the land, people, and government when Tokugawa Ieyasu took power in chapter one, “A Country in Isolation.” Over the next four chapters, Dunn examines each of the four main classes of Japanese society separately: the samurai, the farmers, the craftsmen, and the merchants. Those who lived mostly outside of the class system are dealt with in chapter six, “Courtiers, Priests, Doctors, and Intellectuals” and in chapter seven, “Actors and Outcasts.” The final chapter, “Everyday Life in Edo” explores the typical issues encountered living in the capital city from day to day that aren’t necessarily limited to one particular group.

It’s quite impressive how much information Dunn is able to pack into under 200 pages, though the treatment is somewhat uneven. At times his approach is very generalized, making broad sweeping statements while at other times he is very specific focusing closely on an individual person family or event. He also has a tendency to wander a bit from topic to topic. Some issues, like education and schooling, receive little attention. He does include suggestions for further reading, but doesn’t really include much of anything in the way of citations or bibliography. I can only assume that the information remains accurate since the book continues to be published unchanged since its first printing in 1972.

Everyday Life in Traditional Japan turned out to be a great place to start learning about Edo/Tokugawa era Japan. I can tell by his phrasing that the book was written in the sixties and his style can be a bit dry at times. But, because I was so interested in the topic and because the book was so concise, I didn’t mind that much. The book includes as small index which is unfortunately not as comprehensive as it could be. The numerous illustrations, prints, and photographs are marvelous additions although they are not always conveniently placed. Overall, Dunn provides a great overview and introduction to Edo/Tokugawa Japan with Everyday Life in Traditional Japan—I know that I’ve certainly learned quite a bit about the era that I didn’t know before.

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9 December 2009 Leave a Comment

Reach Mahjong: The Only Way to Play

Author: Jenn Barr
Publisher: Huntington Press
ISBN: 9781935396345
Released: August 2009

I get together with a group of people to play boardgames at least once a week. One night someone taught us a simplified version of Mahjong and I was smitten. So, I took it upon myself to learn the full game. For a variety of reasons, I decided I wanted to study Riichi (which is pronounced very closely to the English word “reach”). Riichi is the most common form of Mahjong played in Japan today and it is steadily gaining popularity worldwide. Currently, there is only one book devoted to Riichi available in English, Reach Mahjong: The Only Way to Play by Jenn Barr, the first American to be accepted into the Japan Professional Mahjong League. Published in August 2009, Reach Mahjong is the first of what I hope will be many books on Riichi in English.

Reach Mahjong is divided into three main sections—”How to Play,” “Variations,” and “Strategy”—with an additional section for appendices and resources. Part I, “How to Play,” covers the basics of the game, including the materials necessary to play Mahjong (and what is optional), and how to properly set up the game and table. Probably most important for a beginner is the subsection called “Winner!” which describes the hands allowed in Riichi as well as commonly used house hands. Just as important is the “Count ’em Up” subsection which is devoted to the scoring system—one of the more difficult aspects of the game for a new player. Part II, “Variations,” focuses on just that, variations of the basic game, including the additions of lucky tiles and yakitori markers, playing for money, two-player rules, and three different versions of a three-player game. Part III, “Strategy,” covers strategy, with special thought given to new players. Instruction is given on how to play your hand, how to read the table and discards, and how to respond to other players’ tactics and decisions. Part IV, “Appendices” consists of an extremely useful glossary, the answers to the quizzes found throughout the book, a section covering guidelines for proper etiquette, and a small selection of resources.

One thing that surprised me about Reach Mahjong was how informal it’s tone was. Jenn’s writing is very approachable and has a good dose of humor added. Her enthusiasm for the game is readily apparent. It’s somewhat surprising how good a read what basically amounts to a rulebook can be. I came to the book already having a basic understanding of the game, but I think that Reach Mahjong would make a pretty decent introduction for a newcomer. Any confusion that might arise is easily dispelled by using the very comprehensive glossary (which also includes the equivalent Japanese terms). The many quizzes provided as a part of the rules, scoring, and strategy instruction are exceedingly useful in cementing and testing what has (hopefully) been learned.

Overall, I think Reach Mahjong is a success, though it does have some problems—the most major issue being the publishing errors found in the first printing. Hopefully, the affected sections will be revised for subsequent printings, but in the meantime corrections can be found here at the Reach Mahjong website (which also happens to be a great resource for English speaking Riichi fans). I’m also not entirely sold on some of the choices made for the English terminology. Most of the hand and discard examples are beautifully illustrated in full color, but some of the other images are a little less clear. And, unfortunately, the formatting occasionally requires pages to be flipped back and forth when the text is referring to an example that appears on a different page, but this is really more annoying and inconvenient than anything else. Other issues are handled exceptionally well. Jenn makes sure to point out which elements make Riichi distinctive and which elements are similar to other forms of Mahjong. Also, the slight rule variations used for the European Mahjong Association Riichi Competitions Rules are always indicated. In conjunction with the website, Reach Mahjong makes a fantastic Riichi resource for beginners while still offering plenty of value for more experienced players. I can’t wait for more material on Riichi to be published in English, but Reach Mahjong is a great place to start. May the tiles be with you!

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14 October 2009 Leave a Comment

The Rough Guide to Anime

Author: Simon Richmond
Publisher: Rough Guides
ISBN: 9781858282053
Released: June 2009

I came across The Rough Guide to Anime by Simon Richard (who has also written The Rough Guide to Japan and The Rough Guide to Tokyo) while browsing the new arrivals at my public library. However, it did take me a couple of visits before I actually checked the book out to take home. Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a self-directed manga spree (I’m pretty well set there), but I could stand to use a little more guidance when it comes to anime, even though there are many that I’ve seen that I’ve really enjoyed. The Rough Guide to Anime is currently one of the few book s of its kind that I know of, taking into consideration both film-length features as well as episodic series while not being nearly a daunting to a newcomer as the massive Anime Encyclopedia by Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy.

The Rough Guide to Anime is divided into seven chapters in addition to the introduction, acknowledgements, glossary, index, and various sidebars. The first chapter, “Anime Chronicles,” is devoted to a brief history of anime, with an emphasis given to the earlier history while the modern era is more extensively covered in the third chapter, “Creating Anime,” particularly focusing on the major studios, directors, animators, voice actors, and musicians and composers. Probably what can be said to be the main feature of the book is the second chapter, “The Canon” which identifies fifty anime as essential viewing with ten of those highlighted as Richmond’s personal favorites. The fourth chapter, “Manga Connection,” explores the intrinsic relationship between anime and manga; currently a very large majority of anime is either based on a manga or has had manga based on it. Tropes, genres, and themes commonly found in anime are discussed in the fifth chapter, “Decoding Anime,” while the sixth chapter, “Anime Impact,” examines the international influence of anime and how it has extended into toys and video games, art and fashion, and even stage musicals. The seventh and final chapter is “Anime Information,” which identifies a cornucopia of resources, from where to find audiovisual materials and videos, to annotated lists of books, magazines, and websites devoted to anime and related subjects, to information on collectibles, conventions, and anime tourism in Japan.

I really have very little to complain about The Rough Guide to Anime, though I would have liked to have seen more screenshots included, especially in the canon section. Overall however, the design and layout was quite nice and appealing—one minor exception being that the lowercase “a” and “o” in the font used for major heading titles were difficult to distinguish. The criteria used to choose the fifty anime to be included in the canon was never explicitly given, but the fact that many of my favorite anime made the list makes me feel like I have good taste. The canon runs the full gamut of genres and styles, which is great, but I have a feeling that it is probably a bit skewed (like much of the book) towards the preferences of Western, English-speaking, and particularly American, audiences; this shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a bad thing though. However, Richmond does a wonderful job of summarizing and explaining the impact of each of the fifty anime and their closely related works. This does mean that occasionally, especially in the cases of franchises, it’s difficult to know exactly which anime actually made the list and which was mentioned in passing. Richmond’s enthusiasm is definitely catching, and I’ll have to watch my wallet after reading the book so as not to overspend on anime.

The Rough Guide to Anime is an excellent reference resource, especially for those unfamiliar with or new to the subject. Even though it is a relatively small book (granted, it is nearly 300 pages long), it still manages to be fairly comprehensive, covering history, recommendations that aren’t just limited to the canon, and where to turn to next for those interested in a more in-depth study. It is more of a reference book than it is something most readers would want to read straight through, but it remains very readable and very accessible. I hadn’t read a Rough Guide before, but if The Rough Guide to Anime is any sort of an example as to their quality, I won’t hesitate to pick one up on another subject that interests me.

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