Hegemony of Homogeneity: An Anthropological Analysis of Nihonjinron (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781876843052)

Much of the misunderstanding by foreigners about Japan arises out of their acceptance of certain stereotypes about the Japanese. Harumi Befu spearheaded the critique of the stereotypical and the essentialized characterization of the Japanese and their culture, often referred to as Nihonjinron. He now presents his summary statements in this book by reviewing the whole gamut of the Nihonjinron literature, ranging from ecology, rural community structure, personality, language, values and ethos. He shows the roles Nihonjinron plays for the identity formation of the Japanese and as the idealized norm of the society in orienting the public. Elaborating on the way in which Nihonjinron functions as a civil religion, the book outlines how a period of positive self-identity has alternated with a period of negative self-identity since the Meiji period.

Author: Harumi Befu
ISBN-10: 1876843055
ISBN-13: 9781876843052
Publisher: Trans Pacific Press
Language: English
Published: 05/01/2001
Pages: 195
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.60d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2001 pg. 41