quoted 4 lines Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be
> Sorry for posting OT, but I thought that the heads on this list might be
> the best ones to turn to. I'm looking to find a couple of books about
> Japanese Culture. I know that's quite vague, but perhaps the focus could
> be on visual art, music, idiosyncracies, insights...again, vague.
As it happens I'm just finishing a book that speaks to that subject,
though it's not an academic or critical or socio-anthropological survey,
it's a first-hand account: Pico Iyer's "The Lady and the Monk." It's a
quiet autobiographical account of a year lived in Kyoto, full of
reflection and anecdote about the points of intersection (and failed-) of
himself and the culture. Very subjective; very impressionist; from an
outsider's viewpoint -- but perhaps that would give you a point of
reference.
I'll be sad to finish, it's been an enjoyable read.
If you have time you could of course pick up something perhaps by reading
the fiction the culture[s] produce[s]. It's the obvious choice but I love
Haruki Murakami. I've been working through the short story collection
"the elephant vanishes" which contains an astonishing story about knocking
off a bakery, but suspect "underground" might give you more of what you're
looking for -- it's a set of interviews triangulating the sarin gas
attacks from myriad perspectives (including cult members).
best ~
aaron
ghede@well.com
http://www.quietamerican.org
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