ABSTRACT
The images which people have of their own society often serve as tinted lenses through which other societies are perceived. Conversely, the images people have of other societies also serve as a looking-glass against which their own society is examined. In focusing on popular images of Japanese society, this book has identified some common themes which are held about Japanese society by Japanese and non-Japanese alike. It was argued that the most widely held view of Japanese society has tended to be characterized by stress on the ways in which Japanese society is different from all other societies. Points at which Japanese society might intersect with other societies have been denied. Several reasons for suspecting the validity of the stereotyped image of Japanese society were mentioned, and it was suggested that the popular image may have contributed to the construction of an artificial barrier which has made interaction between Japanese and non-Japanese more difficult than it need be.
