Joy Hendry is Professor Emerita of Oxford Brookes University, UK, has held visiting associations with Tokyo, Doshisha and Keio universities, carried out fieldwork over 40 years, and published many books and articles on the social anthropology of Japan. In 2017, she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government.

In this brand new edition of the bestselling textbook Hendry takes the reader into the heart of Japanese life. Providing a clear and accessible introduction to Japanese ways of thinking, which does not require any previous knowledge of the country, the book explores Japanese society through the worlds of home, work, play and ritual.

Introduction 1. Sources of Japanese Identity 2. The House and Family System 3. Socialisation and Classi¿cation 4. Community and Neighbourhood 5. The Education System 6. Status, Hierarchy and Ethnic Diversity 7. Religious In¿uences 8. Ritual and the Life Cycle 9. Opportunities for Working Life 10. Arts, Entertainment and Leisure 11. Government and the Craft of Politics 12. The Legal System and Social Control in a Global World Conclusion