Reading is an act capable of changing lives. It is also the driving force behind a country’s good education. The books, when read, are stored in the minds of those who read them, so that the reader’s personality changes as the reading deepens more and more. Books are also the tool to better understand the nuances of certain cultures. Japanese culture can be better understood through good texts and, above all, good books.
In this article, I will recommend some. For those who do not like to read, I recommend that you try to start creating this habit, considering that knowledge transforms us into better people. To those who already enjoy reading, I hope you enjoy the suggestions I will comment on next. In Brazil, unfortunately, a solid reading habit has not yet been established. But who knows, one day it might happen?
Read our article with the best books to learn the Japanese language by clicking here!
If you have any book suggestions and it happens not to appear on this list, feel free to let us know in the comments. Every suggestion will be welcome.
That said, let’s go to the list!
Table of Contents
1. The Japanese – Célia Sakurai
One of the best books to learn about Japanese culture. This is how I define The Japanese, by Célia Sakurai; a compendium that brings together the most diverse aspects of Japan – Mythology, Agriculture, Economy, Society, Family, History, Politics, and Pop Culture are some of the topics covered. Easy to understand, the chapters summarize with quality and vigor each of the main elements related to the Land of the Rising Sun.
For those who want a general overview of what makes Japan, Japan, through an easy and fun read (filled with photos, graphs, and illustrations), The Japanese (2007), published by Contexto, is undoubtedly the best choice.
Below are excerpts from the author’s interview on Jô’s program:
The Japanese – Célia Sakurai on Jô’s Program 1/2 – YouTube
The Japanese – Célia Sakurai on Jô’s Program 2/2 – YouTube
2. Concise History of Japan – Brett L. Walker
The history of Japan is full of wars, disputes between clans, feudal lords, samurais, ninjas, emperors, shoguns, and economic transformations. To encompass such a rich and ancient history, a specific book is needed for this.
Concise History of Japan, by American Brett L. Walker, is precisely what we are looking for. Covering from Japanese prehistory, when the country was still treated by the Chinese and Koreans as the Kingdom of Wa (translated as “dwarf kingdom”), to contemporary times, the book emphasizes the importance of learning about natural disasters and the environmental consequences of the globalized capitalist world, in which Japan and other world powers are inserted.
Great for history lovers in general!
3. Time and Space in Japanese Culture – Shuichi Kato
A philosophical book that discusses the issue of time (and space) in Japanese culture. Characterized as a “culture of the present,” that is, focused on the moment when things are experienced, Japanese society carries with it a constant fear of the future, justified by the uncertainties of nature (tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and future nuclear disasters) territorial.
Even in language, we see a constant tendency to express the present, considering the grammatical form ます (masu) that compels an action both in the present and in the future. The future in the Japanese language is quite obscure and often neglected. We have a grammatical structure for the completed past and for the present/future. In this sense, it is valid to question why this is the case.
On the back cover of the book, we have the following quote, which summarizes well what this theme is about:
“At all levels of Japanese society, there is a strong tendency
to live in the present, letting the past be carried away by the waters and
trusting the future to the direction of the wind. The meaning of present events defines itself, regardless of the relationship between past history and future purpose.”
4. Introduction to Japanese Culture: Essay on Reciprocal Anthropology – Hisayasu Nakagawa
Short, with about 128 pages, developed from a set of essays/collections, published in Brazil by the Martin Fontes publishing house, Introduction to Japanese Culture: Essay on Reciprocal Anthropology is an anthropological book that addresses Japanese culture from a Western point of view, more specifically French, through a fluid writing that greatly contributes to increasing knowledge about the country and its culture.
The book can be purchased on Amazon and other online stores. In physical stores, it is difficult to find, especially in regions farther from the country (outside the Rio-São Paulo axis).
5. The Book of Tea – Kakuzo Okakura
Contrary to what the title says, “The Book of Tea,” written by Okakura Kakuzō, is not a book about teas, but rather an essay that tries to relate aspects of Japanese culture with the tradition of the tea ceremony, working on the issue of antagonism between antiquity and modernity, an aspect so present in contemporary Japan.
Other subjects are addressed, such as the influence of Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and architecture in Japanese culture and the experience of the tea ceremony.
A rich book, well worth it!
6. The Analects – Confucius
Confucius, an important Chinese thinker, influenced numerous aspects of social life in the East. From ideals of loyalty, wisdom, obedience, and authority to family, governmental, and psychological issues, Confucius is one of the fathers of the Eastern world, giving name to what is called “Confucianism”, the political, philosophical, religious, and social doctrine that dominated China for centuries and still holds power when it comes to Japanese culture and its determining influences.
The Analects is the most famous and important book of Confucianism. For those who wish to read it, know that not everything applies to modern Japan, but many of the verses constituted teachings that have passed through several generations.
7. Psychology and Eastern Religion – Carl G. Jung
For psychology lovers, we also have an excellent option for those who want to better understand Japanese culture and Eastern mentality.
Psychology and Eastern Religion, by the renowned Swiss psychiatrist and physician Carl Jung (creator of Analytical Psychology or Archetypal Psychology), is a dense, complex book rich in information and philosophical reflections.
Here, Jung addresses the difference between Western thought and Eastern thought, bringing to light themes such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Chinese Culture, Tao Te Ching, and History to trace the issue of Eastern monism that contrasts with Western dualist thought (rationalism).
8. Pre-industrial Japanese Culture: Socioeconomic Aspects – Nobue Myazaki
It addresses the coexistence between two fundamental aspects of Japanese culture: high technology and pre-industrial traditions. A society that blends the old and the new, the modern and the ancient, urban technology and rural nature. The book is divided into parts that address Anthropology, Economy, and Technology, totaling just over 144 pages.
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