★It is written by Cheng Ma, a researcher at the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences! The book analyzes Japan's cultural and psychological characteristics from various angles in an in-depth manner.
★Starting from Japan's natural scenery, social landscape and people's lives, the book gradually delves into the deeper kernel of Japan's traditional culture, guiding readers to better understand the complexity and diversity of Japanese society.
★The author's straightforward style of writing suggests that some of Japan's historical behaviors are related to the nature of Japanese culture that promotes strength at the expense of morality, which is categorized by the author as a "lack of morality".

The book covers Japanese cultural symbols such as the cherry blossom, Mount Fuji, and the folding fan, the origins of the Japanese people, the legend of the Emperor and the civet, the tradition of martial arts, the society of order, and historical events such as the Meiji Restoration. In addition, the book explores Japan's "hybrid" culture, including the use of kanji and kana, and comparisons with Chinese culture.

Cheng Ma

He is a researcher at the Comparative Literature Research Office of the Institute of Literature, Social Sciences of China.
His major works include “Lu Xun's Study in Japan”, “Communication and Renewal: The Relationship between Lu Xun and Japanese Literature”, “The Theory of Literary Values”, “Chinese Psychological Disorder: The Cult of Completion”, and so on. His translations include “The Collected Works of Minoru Takeuchi”(10 volumes) and more.

Preface: Interpreting the “Soul of Yamato”
Introduction: A Strange Neighbor Next Door
1. “Distant Relatives Are Better Than Neighbors”
2. The Chinese Version of Japanese Fairy Tales
3. Are China and Japan Really of the Same Race and Language?
4. The Country of “China” and the “Roots” of Japan

Part I: The Archipelago in All Its Dimensions
1. Cherry Blossoms, Mount Fuji, and Fans
2. Where Do the Japanese Come From?
3. The Emperor, Kitsunes, and the Legend of Momotaro
4. The Tradition of “Militarization”
5. A Society of “Order”
6. From “Erasing Everything” to “Dying Completely”
7. “Rituals” and Japanese Politics
8. Also, About the Meiji Restoration

Part II: Japan’s “Hybrid” Culture
1. Hybrid Culture
2. Chinese Characters and Kana
3. Various Interpretations of “The Way”
4. The Japanese “Nobel Prize-Winning” Craftsmen
5. A Japanese Monk’s Family
6. Eunuchs and the Imperial Examinations
7. Poor Japanese Teenagers

Part III: A Country Full of Rituals but Lacking Morality
1. Starting with the Story of “Leftover Orphans”
2. Japanese Rituals
3. The Century-Long Humiliation of “Comfort Women”
4. Japan’s Rich and Poor
5. “Acting Like Dogs”
6. Why Must One Visit Yasukuni Shrine?
7. Talking About Mishima and Ishihara
8. Japanese Literati and Chinese Scholars

Appendix: Friendship Is Hard to Understand and Maintain
1. “Friendship Is Easy to Understand, but Hard to Maintain”
2. The Zhou Brothers and Japan
3. The Movies “Purple Sun” and “The Invaders”
4. A Warning to the Japanese People

Bonus Section: Miscellaneous Discussions on Cultural and Psychological Comparisons Between China and Japan
1. Mutual Understanding Is Not Easy
2. The Distinction Between Big and Small
3. The Difference Between Good and Bad
4. The Distinction Between Inside and Outside