Japanese Propriety, Past and Present - Disciplined Liberalism

This book explores the stereotype that Japan is the world's most polite country, examining how proper conduct is acquired and expressed, and how the apparent conflict with some of the concepts of Western modernity, such as society, freedom and the individual, are balanced with Japan's great emphasis on courtesy, politeness and civility.

List of contents

List of figures
List of tables
Preface
1 Face Masks and Liberty
2 Theoretical Foundations: Max Weber, Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault
3 Conceptual Analysis: Coming to Terms in Modernizing Japan
4 Formal Perfection: The Tokugawa State
5 Becoming a Civilized Country: Modernization in Meiji Japan
6 Continuity and Change: Social Disciplining after World War II
7 Lessons Learned: Social Disciplining, Culture and Politics
References
Index

About the author

Florian Coulmas is Senior Professor for Japanese Society, IN-EAST Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.

Summary

This book explores the stereotype that Japan is the world’s most polite country, examining how proper conduct is acquired and expressed, and how the apparent conflict with some of the concepts of Western modernity, such as society, freedom and the individual, are balanced with Japan’s great emphasis on courtesy, politeness and civility.

Product details

• Authors: Florian Coulmas, Florian (Institute of East Asian Studies Coulmas, Coulmas Florian
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 08.10.2024
• EAN: 9781032444802
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3244480-2
• No. of pages: 156
• Series: Routledge Contemporary Japan Series
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Ethnology > Ethnology; Japan, Sociology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Research, Society & culture: general, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, Society and culture: general, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / General