An Anthropologist in Japan: Glimpses of Life in the Field

by Joy Hendry

In this highly personal account Joy Hendry relates her experiences of fieldwork in a Japanese town and reveals a fascinating cross-section of Japanese life. She sets out on a study of politeness but a variety of unpredictable events including a volcanic eruption, a suicide and her son's involvement with the family of a poweful local gangster, begin to alter the direction of her research. The book demonstrates the role of chance in the acquisition of anthropological knowledge and demonstrates how moments of insight can be embedded in everyday activity. An Anthropologist in Japan illuminates the education system, religious beliefs, politics, the family and the neighbourhood in modern Japan.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Japan

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[cj]

[read for school]

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

1999.
This book is of uneven quality, but has quite a few interesting observations. The most readable and memorable parts are descriptions of incidents in her personal life in a year spent in Japan with her two primary school age sons. How is a foreign child received in an all-Japanese school class.
Hendry is researching levels of polite language in JApan, a very tricky subject and she helps you see why it is so tricky to study.

Her book 'Wrapping Culture' may be worth skimming.

[Ginna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having visited Japan in 2013, I was able to recognize some of the traditions and practices described in this book, and was grateful for both the explanations that Hendry provided and her description of the way she arrived at her own understanding. I studied ethnography from a feminist perspective briefly in college and think that I would enjoy employing the ethnographic process as Hendry did - acknowledging that life and work intertwine. Definitely a great thrift store find!

[Stéphanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sometimes boring, but overall it was a good memoir about the Japanese's way of life and the life as a foreigner in this country. Highly recommended for the students of Japanese culture.