Guide to Background Reading on Japanese Culture

This guide has been prepared for those interested in preparing for a visit to Japan whose passion is Japanese fine arts, crafts and traditional culture1. The resources listed are not travelogues or travel guides but materials for researching aspects of Japanese traditional culture. Resources are all provided in English, and have been rated graphically by reading level, authority, illustrations and length. Where possible preference has been given to visually attractive and well-illustrated works. All titles are linked. Book links go to Trove, which will assist in finding the closest Australian library with the book. Academic periodicals are available through the CSU library, and web resources are directly linked. Resources are grouped by themes.

Multi-topic Resources Japan Atlas

This extensive site links crafts, festivals, historical sites and more to a map of Japan. The side-bar lists and the map numbers link to further information. It is part of the WebJapan site, sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Great for browsing by region or interest. Japan Atlas. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web-japan.org/atlas/

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Japan Reference
This is part of a large site covering Japanese history, culture, travel and more. There are distracting banner and side bar ads, however the articles are numerous and many are well illustrated. Navigation is via subject groups and bread-crumb trails. Good details on customs and etiquette. Japan Reference (2012). Japanese Culture. Retrieved from http://www.jref.com/dir/art_and_culture/ R A I L

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This guide was developed as a requirement of INF 406 at Charles Sturt University Assignment 2.

Culture Japan
At first glance a confusing blog site about Japanese pop culture. Use the site map, however, and scroll to the Japanese Culture section or the Places to Visit. Each post has numerous high-res photos which a large online community tags and comments on. An interesting way to browse topics visually. Choo, D. (2012). Culture Japan. Retrieved from http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/26071/Site+Map.html R A I L

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Japan Through the Eyes of Others

Flickr is a media aggregation and social networking site. This particular group has almost 140,000 photos each with a caption or title and tags, so is an exceptional visual repository. Search within the group, browse or follow the link to more photos and top 100 tags. Japan through the eyes of others (2012) [Flickr group]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/groups/japaneyes/ R A I L

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Japan: the Official Guide

A large web-site run by the Japan National Tourism Organisation. A range of articles on culture is available under the Japan In-depth tab. There are some unusual approaches including Colour and Shapes. Some articles are short; others link to more extensive information. A good way to find related topics. JNTO (2012). Japan: the official guide. Retrieved from http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ R A I L

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Hanami Web
This blog site was developed by a Finnish artist living in Japan. There are a large number of posts on cultural and geographical topics. Each post is relatively short, most are illustrated. There is a directory structure that makes browsing interesting. Ads exist but are unobtrusive. Saari, J. (2009). Hanami Web. Retrieved from ttp://www.hanamiweb.com

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Japanese Culture (GoJapanGo)

A commercial website with sometimes obtrusive advertising. However it has a large number of short articles (over thirty on Kimono and Obi alone) arranged in an easy-to-navigate directory structure. Articles are illustrated with photographs, sometimes profusely. This is a useful site for more detailed browsing of topics of interest. Japanese Culture. (2012). In GoJapanGo.com. Retrieved from http://www.gojapango.com/culture/culture.html R A I L

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Culture and behaviour A Walk Through Old Japan

A well written account of walking the Kiso road, celebrated by Japanese writers and artists. This is part travelogue, part reflection on history and culture. Photos are not embedded but available in a gallery. Sidebars and links give access to other similar material. Swick, T. (2010, October). A walk through old Japan. Smithsonian. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel
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How to be Polite in Japanese

This book sets out to explain to non-Japanese readers the many non-verbal cues and mannerisms in which Japanese conversation is embedded. While at times very technical and aimed at the serious language student, it gives an exceptional insight into Japanese cultural mores concerning the concept of politeness. Mizutani, O. & Mizutani, N. (1991). How to be polite in Japanese. Tokyo: The Japan Times R A I L

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Nudity in Japanese Visual Media

This is a detailed academic investigation of Japanese attitudes to nudity. Travelogues often refer to nude mixed bathing and erotic woodblocks in a sensational way, this article will help establish a more thoughtful cross-cultural perspective. Headings include The Nude in Art. Some comparisons are made with the U.S. Downs, J. F. (1990). Nudity in Japanese visual media: a cross-cultural observation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 19(6), 583-594. DOI: 10.1007/BF01542467
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Japanese Aesthetics
A scholarly overview of key elements in Japanese aesthetics. There are sections on simplicity, irregularity, suggestion and perishability. A range of arts are referenced including Noh theatre, ceramics and the tea ceremony. There are quotes from Japanese literature and scholars. Good background reading before investigating specific arts and crafts. Keene, D. (1969). Japanese Aesthetics. Philosophy East and West, 19(3), 293-306. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1397586 R A I L

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Religion Encyclopedia of Shinto

An extensive website. The struggle for the casual reader will be the wealth of detail and quantity of information. There are overviews but the bulk of the data is very technical. Navigation is via subject grouping or search bar. Some photographs and videos. Best used to support other reading. Kokugakuin University (2006). Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved from http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/ R A I L

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Fine arts and crafts e-Museum

This App for iOS devices (and related web page) presents artefacts from six leading Japanese museums. There are multiple high-res shots of important national treasures with accompanying detailed information. Categories include Swords, Ceramics and Calligraphy. There is an advanced search interface and easy navigation. Both visually rich and highly informative. National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. (2012). E-Museum (Version 2.0) [iPhone/iPad application]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/id413457009
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Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square

This site provides significant detail on a range of traditional crafts, including illustrated production details, interviews with craftsmen and shop and workshop locations. It is extensively illustrated, easy to navigate and well maintained. There are links to further sources of information. The Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. (2012). Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square. Retrieved from http://kougeihin.jp/en/top
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Garden The Limits of Metaphor: Ideology and Representation in the Zen Garden
A scholarly paper that investigates the role and meaning of rocks in Zen stone gardens. There are some generously sized photographs and a useful reference section. There are particular references to the famous Ryoan-ji temple garden. Helpful for those wanting to investigate the aesthetics of Zen in more detail. Weiss, A. S. (2010). The limits of metaphor: Ideology and Representation in the Zen Garden. Social Analysis, 54(2), 116-129 R A I L

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The Japanese Garden

A very extensive site created by Bowdoin College. Explore famous gardens or investigate design elements. Navigation is graphical and intuitive. There is a bibliography, a links page and a history section. The gardens are explored via tours with commentary on each vantage point and a map showing the orientation. Olds, C. C. (2008). The Japanese Garden [website]. Retrieved from http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/index.html R A I L

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The Ancient Arts of Bonsai and Penjing

A journal article that provides an overview of bonsai as well as information on care of bonsai and the work of the Bonsai Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum. A good starting point for this area though relatively brief.

Flores, A. (2003). The ancient arts of Bonsai and Penjing. Agricultural Research, 51(6), 12. R A I L

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The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Bonsai

A large format, 250 page reference book covering every aspect including traditional forms and techniques. There are multiple photographs to each spread. It has lists of collections and suppliers and a glossary. Though aimed at growers, it is rich in the lore and history of bonsai and lovely to browse. Norman, K. (2006). The complete practical encyclopedia of bonsai. London: Hermes House R A I L

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On the Aesthetic Appreciation of Japanese Gardens

A scholarly article that investigates the appeal of Japanese gardens (by implication to non-Japanese viewers). It offers some explanations such as the tension between artifice, objects and nature. Helpful to those who want to reflect more deeply on the impact of these gardens. Carlson, A. (1997). On the aesthetic appreciation of Japanese gardens. British Journal of Aesthetics, 37(1), 47-56. Retrieved from http://bjaesthetics.oxfordjournals.org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/content/ 37/1/47
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The Bonsai Site

A site dedicated to growing bonsai, but with sections on history and concepts. Some sections are quite extensive with photographs of different techniques and forms. There is one banner ad and some sections link to a retail outlet for bonsai supplies. There is a large and active forum. The Bonsai Site (2012). Retrieved from http://bonsaisite.com/index.html

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Woodblock Prints Japanese Woodblock Prints

Large format, over 300 pages. This is a significant reference work with information and beautifully presented examples for all major artists and publishers. Each image has accurate attributions. There is a lengthy introduction covering history, technology and identification. Artists are presented chronologically. Good for both detailed study and browsing. Marks, A. (2010). Japanese woodblock prints: artists, publishers and masterworks 1680 1900. North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle. R A I L

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The Floating World of Ukiyo-e

What could have been a straightforward online exhibition of woodblock prints has been made fascinating by thematic groupings such as Realia and Reportage and Major Genres. Pictures link to larger versions, and there are text explanations all the way through. Extensive, visual and scholarly. Library of Congress (2010). The floating world of ukiyo-e: shadows, dreams and substance. [on-line exhibition]. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ukiyo-e/
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Food Food and Fantasy in Early Modern Japan

This is a scholarly investigation into the culture of cuisine and food preparation in Japan. There are some illustrations from woodblock prints. This will certainly help the reader place modern Japanese cuisine into its cultural and historical context, and provides information about customs not usually found in recipe books. Rath, E. C. (2010). Food and fantasy in early modern Japan. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press (also available as an eBook via CSU library)
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Step-by-step Japanese Cooking

Despite being an instructional book, this is a good introduction to Japanese food culture. The first thirty pages provide an overview, including sections on utensils and preparation. The book is arranged by food categories and each section has a more general discussion at the start. Well illustrated and appealing layout. Downer, L. & Yoneda, M. (1989). Step-by-step Japanese cooking. London: New Burlington Books. R A I L

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