| Foreword 7 |
| Section 1 Understanding the Japanese |
| Are the Japanese Shy? 10 |
| Arigato and Okagesama-de 12 |
| The Road, the Training, and Ingenuity 14 |
| Tatemae (Stated Principles) and Pragmatism 16 |
| Victory Prayers and Lucky Charms 18 |
| Section 2 Japanese History |
| The Jomon Period, Yayoi Period and thereafter 22 |
| The Nara and Heian Periods 24 |
| The Kamakura and Sengoku Periods 26 |
| The Edo Period 28 |
| From the Meiji Period to the Present 30 |
| Japan and the World 32 |
| Section 3 The Basic Elements of Japanese Society |
| The Buddhist and Shinto Mixture 36 |
| Eastern Japan vs. Western Japan 38 |
| The Origing of Japan, Inc. 40 |
| Men, Women and Marriage 42 |
| The Influence of Foreign Cultures 44 |
| Section 4 Enjoying Japanese Art |
| Japanese Sense of Beauty 48 |
| Japanese Literature 50 |
| Pre-Edo Music, Theater and Storytelling 52 |
| Edo Period and Post-Edo Music, Theater and Storytelling 54 |
| Architecture and Handicrafts 56 |
| Martial Arts 58 |
| Section 5 Travels through Japan |
| North and South Ends of Japan 62 |
| Historic Cities and Towns 64 |
| Eastern Japan and the Central Highlands 66 |
| Western Japan 68 |
| Kyushu and Shikoku 70 |
| Section 6 A Peek into Life in Japan |
| If You Were Japanese 74 |
| Entertainment in Japan 76 |
| Schools and Education 78 |
| Folk Beliefs and Customs 80 |
| The Culture of Otaku 82 |
| Section 7 Japanese Holidays |
| A Year in the Life of the Japanese 86 |
| Festivals in Japan (1) 88 |
| Festivals in Japan (2) 90 |
| Index 92 |
| Foreword 7 |
| Section 1 Understanding the Japanese |
| Are the Japanese Shy? 10 |
| Arigato and Okagesama-de 12 |
| The Road, the Training, and Ingenuity 14 |
| Tatemae (Stated Principles) and Pragmatism 16 |
