Hegemony of Homogeneity: An Anthropological Analysis of Nihonjinron

by Harumi Befu

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.

Genres: Japan, Nonfiction, Anthropology

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Decano de la antropología del Japón en los EEUU, el recorrido personal e intelectual del Prof. Befu (Standford University) alcanza gran parte de los acontecimientos que han marcado el Japón contemporáneo, desde la experiencia colectiva de la guerra hasta la llegada de la sociedad multicultural de principios del siglo XXI, pasando por la expansión económica y la prolongada crisis que la sucedió a finales del siglo XX.

Sus obras ofrecen una reflexión pionera en la aproximación crítica al estudio de la sociedad y cultura japonesas que ha contribuido decisivamente a superar mitos e interpretaciones esenciales. Particularmente significativos son sus trabajos en el estudio del nacionalismo cultural japonés, y sus implicaciones en la construcción moderna de la identidad japonesa. El fondo que integra la colección permite reseguir la génesis de las tesis del Prof. Befu en dicho ámbito, desde las fuentes consultadas hasta los materiales y documentos objeto de su análisis, en un legado de 400 monografías único en el panorama académico.

Reviews

[Alice Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! Easy to read and very useful in understanding 'Japanese uniqueness'.
However if you read it remember it is a nihonjinron book i.e. a book showing how Japan is unique; a cultural discourse that became popular postwar to rationalise Japan's war crimes. It fails to clarify that nihonjinron is not fact and a purposefully created discourse. Read with that in mind.

[Ken Gtwo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dry but informative on insularity and self absorption in Japanese culture, and the perpetuation of national myths of the superiority and unique specialness that is Japan.