The Essence of Japanese Culture

“Japanese culture” has long been a subject to which Seigo Matsuoka has devoted himself. As a leading contemporary scholar of Japanese culture and a master editor, Matsuoka has spent years observing and working across many cultural fields. His experience allows him to unpack the evolution of Japanese culture from multiple perspectives and on many levels. This book is the culmination of his thought on Japan.

Beginning with an analysis of the structure of Japanese mythology, the book considers the possibilities it has given rise to, then delves into the structure of modern Japan. Tracing a civilization’s development across ten thousand years, it brings together a vivid portrait of the Japanese character.

Japanese culture is both singular and diverse. Through cycles of absorbing, breaking away, and reshaping, it continually enriches, renews, and rediscovers itself. A simple, easy-to-understand approach cannot lead to a profound understanding of Japan. Only by confronting the profound and ambiguous aspects of Japanese culture can we grasp its essence. With Matsuoka’s distinctive editorial mind, the book filters away superficial assumptions about Japan, layer by layer, and distills them into a refined portrait of Japanese aesthetics.