Japan (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)

Culture Shock! adds two new "At Your Door" city lifestyle guides and one new country guide. The release of more Revised and Expanded Culture Shock! country editions continues with thirty-one now available. With over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide, the Culture Shock! brand name is recognized as the leading reference source for international customs and etiquette.

 (13 customer reviews)

I'm a Japanese living in Japan. I bought this book to check if it worth recommending to my friends. Yes, I recommend this book. It'll tell you real-size Japan and Japanese without exaggeration. It covers usual life of ordinary Japanese people. It's a fair book.

This book was a lifesaver for anyone wanting to fit in and not make a fool of themselves. I felt confident that I would not insult anyone and that I knew how to handle different situations. This book is an absolute must for anyone visiting Japan for the purpose of Business or official matters. For that matter, most tourists should indulge as well. If you wish to enjoy all that Japan has to offer, fit in and be comfortable - Buy this book!

I was so disappointed (actually outraged at the time) with this book that I packed it up to ship back. When I travel I am always looking for insights into other cultures. This book was not the place to look. The tone of this book lacks the sensitivity to offer any understanding or insight. It is written with the perspective of someone from outside of the Japanese culture. While this type of perspective may be reassuring to some, I'd be wary of the stereotypes this book reinforces. Any useful practical content is found only after stripping away layers of opinion based upon superficial observations. The writer also manages to criticize the Japanese culture and be condescending to the reader in each chapter. The culture and people represented here does not reflect the Japan I visited, or the people I came to know. If you want to visit Japan as an outsider and stay one, this is what the book will guide you towards. Otherwise, I recommend relying on publications with higher...Read more