Waubonsee Community College

A geek in Japan, [discovering the land of manga, anime, Zen, and the tea ceremony], by Héctor García

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

mapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

A geek in Japan

bibliography

654312900

by Héctor García

[discovering the land of manga, anime, Zen, and the tea ceremony]

This is a hip, smart and concise guide to the land that is their source. Comprehensive and well informed, it covers a wide array of topics in short articles accompanied by sidebars and numerous photographs, providing a lively digest of the society and culture of Japan. Designed to appeal to the generations of Westerners who grew up on Pokemon, manga and video games, this book reinvents the culture guide for readers in the Internet age

The Japan few people see : Why is Japan different? ; The initial culture shock -- 1. The origins of Japanese culture : An extremely brief history of Japan ; The intricacies of the Japanese language ; The ancient Bushido Code: the way of the warrior ; Meet the real geisha ; Religion and philosophy ; Visiting a temple or shrine -- 2. The traditional arts & disciplines : Ukiyo-e: the floating world ; Shodo ; Chado: the tea ceremony ; Kabuki theater ; Zen meditation ; Zen koans ; Ikebana ; The martial arts -- 3. The unique Japanese character : Honne and Tatemae ; The virtue of humility ; The concept of Giri ; Man-woman relations in Japan ; I'm sorry, excuse me ; The culture of Chotto ; Aesthetic values ; Do = the way ; The influence of Do in modern Japan ; Amae ; Soto-Uchi -- 4. Curiosities & symbols : Animal figures ; Sakura, cherry blossoms ; Why do people wear face masks in Japan? ; The Japanese bath ; The traditional kitchen ; Pachinko ; Nio protectors ; The Manji symbol ; Shachihoko monsters ; The Naruto phenomenon ; Blood groups ; Why do Japanese women cover their mouths when they laugh? ; Big ears, good luck, and money ; The seven gods of fortune ; Karakuri: the origins of the Japanese passion for robots -- 5. The Japanese at work : The Japanese economy after WWII ; Japanese agriculture ; The invisible hand in Japan ; Kaizen: constant improvement ; The structure of a Japanese company ; Relationships in a Japanese company ; Technology and science ; The Japanese automobile industry ; Workplace manners ; The importance of Nemawashi ; Daily life in a Japanese company -- 6. Japanese society & daily life : Positives and negatives ; Safety in Japan ; Life of a family ; Longevity ; Life of a retiree ; The delights of Japanese cuisine ; Sake, awamori and shochu ; Personal relationships in Japan ; Japan's train culture ; Urban legends ; Why do the Japanese commit suicide? -- 7. Japan today : Life of an Otaku ; Life of a student ; Life of a career woman ; Life of a salaryman ; Yakuza gangs ; Subcultures and urban tribes ; Aspects of Otaku culture ; Visual Kei ; The Lolita complex ; Role-playing ; Japanese popular culture: a chronology -- 8. The world of manga & anime : The manga revolution ; The origins of manga ; Osamu Tezuka: the father of manga ; Manga's golden age ; Manga today ; The Mangaka ; Publishing cycles and formats ; Japanese anime -- 9. Modern Japanese Music : A brief history of Japanese music ; Enka ballads ; Japanese music today ; J-pop ; Popular singers and groups -- 10. Movies & television : Japanese cinema ; The classics ; Television ; The first television phenomena ; Dorama TV series ; Diagram of a cultural phenomenon in Japan based on the actual case of Densha Otoko -- 11. Visiting Tokyo : Tokyo's various districts: Roppongi, Tokyo midtown area, Megalopolis walking tours, Cultural walking tours, Gadgets walking tours, Shibuya, Aoyama, Harajuku and Omotesando, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Ginza, Tsukiji, Asakusa, Ueno, Odaiba, Otaku walking tours -- 12. Traveling around Japan : General advice for travelers ; Essential places ; My secret places ; Basic Japanese for travelers