Japan for Living is a wide range of topics about people, culture, customs and everyday life in Japan, intended for anyone who plans to spend between five days and five years there – not a travelogue, trip planner, accommodation guide or restaurant reviewer, but reading through you will learn a lot about Japan. It is available for free, just send an email to: stephenpeterson@iprimus.com.au and I’ll send it to you.
What’s in the full guide?
Below is the full table of contents of the Japan for Living eBook, with links to the free sample chapters provided on this site.
- Reading
- Introduction
- Author’s note
- English, Japanese and the Art of Communication
- The Landscape –
- . Suburbia
- . The Japan address system
- . The countryside
- . Natural disasters
- Climate and Seasons –
- Customs –
- . Shoes
- . Bathing
- . Nose-blowing
- . Bowing
- . Touching and gesticulating
- . Gift-giving
- . The car
- . Party-going
- . Name cards
- . The abacus
- . Janken
- . Betting
- . Respect to women
- . Covering up
- Societal Concepts –
- . Homogeneity
- . The group
- . Accepted behaviour
- . Personal behaviour – Giri; Ninj?, tatemae and honne; Sempai and kohai; Kao; Amae; Kejime; Purification; Good luck
charms - . Aesthetics
- Culture –
- . The kimono
- . Tea ceremony
- . Flower arrangement
- . Calligraphy
- . Paper-making
- . Bonsai
- . Origami
- . Packaging
- . Art
- . Ceramics
- . Lacquer ware
- . Swords
- . Dolls
- . Folding fans
- . Netsuke
- . Craftwork
- Traditional Entertainment–
- . Theatre
- . Puppets
- . Board games
- . Card Games
- . Dance
- . Music
- . Rakugo, kodan, manzai and naniwabushi
- . Taiko
- . Fortune-telling
- Modern Entertainment –
- . Television
- . Foreign tarento
- . Film
- . Anime
- . Comics
- . Literature
- . Pachinko
- . Takarazuka
- The Physical Environment –
- . Architecture
- . Gardens
- . Temples, shrines and sutra houses
- Festivals and public holidays –
- . New Year
- . Coming-of-Age Day
- . Sumo tournaments
- . Setsubun
- . Valentine’s Day
- . Doll Festival
- . Spring and autumn
- . Cherry blossom viewing
- . Golden Week
- . Children’s Day
- . Star Festival
- . Summer and Obon
- . Other public holidays
- . Christmas and end of the year
- . Fireworks
- The People –
- . Origins
- . Physical characteristics
- . Personal characteristics
- . Quality of life
- Stages of Life –
- . Going to school
- . In the classroom
- . Driving licences
- . Single life
- . Job hunting
- Families –
- . Getting married
- . Marital relationships
- . Children
- . Divorce
- . Personal relationships
- Sexual Mores –
- . Attitudes to sex
- . Role of women
- . Females in society
- . Geisha
- Consumer and Legal Issues –
- . Product liability
- . The legal profession
- . Consumer movements
- Shopping
- Getting About –
- . Rail and air travel
- . Road travel
- . Public transport and cycling
- . Public telephones and toilets
- Eating and Drinking –
- . Restaurants
- . Lunch boxes
- . Kinds of food
- . Drinking
- . Sake
- . Karaoke
- . Coffee shops
- . Paying
- In the Home
- The Environment
- Land Use
- Noise
- Information
- Pedestrians and road users
- Hot Springs
- Sleeping (1)
- Sleeping (2)
- Leisure time
- Foreigners working in Japan-
- . Housing
- . Life as a foreigner in Japan
- Social Themes and Issues –
- . Unemployment and company failures
- . Drop-outs
- . The homeless
- . Compensated dating
- . Convenience
- . Religion
- . Weddings
- . Honeymoons
- . Funerals
- . Age ceremonies
- . The police
- . Yakuza and bozozoku
- . Crime
- . Bullying
- . Suicide
- . Fads and booms
- . Otaku
- . The culture of cute
- . Service
- . Whaling
- Sport –
- . Baseball
- . Soccer
- . Sumo
- . Golf
- . Running
- . Swimming
- . Snow sports
- . Martial arts
- Love Hotels
- General Information about Japan –
- . The country
- . The name
- . Ancient history
- . Middle Ages
- . Samurai
- . Ronin
- . Ninja
- . 19th century
- . 20th century
- . Post World War II attitudes
- The Economy –
- . Historical
- . The Internet and the new economy
- . Adoption of international standards
- More about Japan –
- . Japan’s place in the world
- . Internationalisation
- . Trade unions
- . The constitution
- . Self defence
- . Politics
- . The monarchy
- . The currency
- . Money and society
- . The calendar
- . National flag
- . National anthem
- . The Japanese language
- . Greetings
- . Bowing
- . Names
- . Personal seals
- . Internal delivery system
- . The press and censorship
- Author’s Anecdotes –
- . Bumps in the night
- . The retired couple
- . The photographer friend
- . The Yamanote Line in peak hour
- . The farewell party
- . A family
- . A true gentleman
- . Kindness personified
- . Oddities in Japan
- Impressions