Hegemony of Homogeneity : An Anthropoligical Analysis of Nihonjinron (Japanese Society Series)

Nihonjinron is the Japanese term for Japanese national character, or the way the Japanese characterize themselves. Befu, a bilingual anthropologist who has studied Japan for 40 years, examines hundreds of original Japanese sources, and argues that Nihonjinron is a civil religion for the Japanese and that it responds to the country's political and economic environment. Befu is professor emeritus at Stanford University and has taught at universities in Japan, Europe, and Latin America. The book is distributed by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)