Japanese Sensibility and Oriental Wisdom

This book aims to provide a wider understanding of Japanese culture by showcasing Japan’s rich cultural and societal practices, which are often baffling for foreigners. Drawing on the author’s 40-year career as a diplomat, lecturer and writer, the volume takes a practical approach, offering unique insights into Japanese daily life for specialists and general readers alike. Featuring comparisons with Western cultural touchstones, this is the first book in English to propose a systematic examination of the twin concepts of Japanese sensibility and Oriental wisdom. It demystifies modern Japan, situating the Japanese in their historical, regional and philosophical contexts, with discussion ranging from the natural world to the linguistic and even culinary. The book makes an urgent argument for closer cooperation between East and West predicated on a greater role for Japanese sensibility and Oriental wisdom in tomorrow’s global world, providing valuable suggestions for a new lifestyle to match the new era.