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4.0 von 5 Sternen
All Encompassing, But Not Flawless, 24. Juni 2000
Rezension bezieht sich auf: The Enigma of Japanese Power: People and Politics in a Stateless Nation (Vintage) (Taschenbuch)
I have lived in Japan for 10 years, and yes, much of the book is quite accurate in its explanation of "the system" in Japan (it is likely the best attempt so far). Yes, this book is a must read for anyone who wishes to gain further insight into how Japan really works. But as with any text that attempts to be all encompassing in scope, it does have its flaws. My biggest problem with the book is how Van Wolferen sometimes uses isolated, rare or extreme incidents to explain his theories. Sure, most of the events listed are well documented (his footnotes alone take up about 57 pages!), but do they represent a complete scenario? A person reading this book with little direct knowledge of Japan beforehand may come away believing a more extreme scenario. I will give you one example: the documentation showing how Dentsu (Japan's largest advertising agency) is an all powerful entity which determines the quality of Japan's daily entertainment, and intimidates large firms and the media by producing corporate scandals and hushing them up again. He provides us with a couple of fascinating examples of how Dentsu was able to apply pressure for the media not to report damaging information about their clients, but is it really safe to assume that this takes place on a daily or even yearly basis? Looking closely at Van Wolferen's sources, the most recent event or incident that he lists with regard to Dentsu is from 1971! If we are to believe that this is an ongoing practice, I would like to see more recent and consistent documentation. I am not saying that there is no corruption going on at Dentsu, or that they do not wield enormous power, but he leverages old isolated incidents to prove his point and make things sound as though they are more severe than they really are. I can go on with other examples, but I just wanted to let everyone know that as with anything, please read this excellent book with a grain of salt.
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I have lived in Japan for 6 years. This book is accurate., 29. Juli 1999
Von Ein Kunde
Rezension bezieht sich auf: The Enigma of Japanese Power: People and Politics in a Stateless Nation (Vintage) (Taschenbuch)
I have given this book five stars because I can not give it six. Karel Van Wolferen's "The Enigma of Japanese Power" is a brilliant, if often infuriating and depressing, analysis of the way power is wielded in Japanese society. Having lived in Japan for six years now and having heard every conceivable interpretation of this culture by both westerners and Japanese, I have found nothing that even remotely approximates the accuracy of Van Wolferen's insights. I have seen the "the System" he describes at work, as it crushes the spirits of the good men and women of this country, demoralizing them until they meekly accept their "proper place." Van Wolferen's cool, clinical dissection of the central myths of Japanese society was so uncomfortably close to the mark that "the System" could not afford to let it go unchallenged. In fact, shortly after its publication a Japanese diplomat approached Clyde Prestowitz, an American expert on Japan, and through the use of an oblique threat, tried to enlist him in an effort to discredit Van Wolferen. For anyone who is interested in learning about how Japan really works this book is an excellent place to start.
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Hit the nail on the head., 22. April 1999
Rezension bezieht sich auf: The Enigma of Japanese Power: People and Politics in a Stateless Nation (Vintage) (Taschenbuch)
I spent a significant part of my childhood growing up in Tokyo, and I developed my own intuitive understanding of the japanese system... But when I read this book, (not having been exposed to the real details of politics, etc, as a young'un), It really crystallized my intuitions into a coherent picture, and I found myself saying "Yeah! That's right -- everything I thought about that was true, but this makes it all so clear..." The most amazing realization though, (and I agree with it), is that so many aspects of what Japanese people are told is their "culture," have been manufactured slowly through the years by the bureaucracy, for their own ends... Even if you think you know Japan, you should read this book.
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