The Japanese Consumer

By the late twentieth century, Japanese people were renowned as the world's most avid and knowledgeable consumers of fashion, luxury and quality, while the goods that embodied their tastes and lifestyle were becoming a part of global culture. Penelope Francks' book offers an alternative account of Japan's modern economic history from the perspective of the consumer. Tracing Japan's economy from the eighteenth century to the present, she shows how history has conditioned what Japanese people consume and compares their experiences with those of Europe and North America. In so doing the author presents a lucid and informed account of everyday life in Japan, exploring what people eat, how they dress, the household goods they acquire, and their preferred shopping and leisure activities. This beautifully illustrated book succeeds in making economic history palatable and entertaining. It will be a treat for students and all those interested in Japanese society and culture.

Author: Penelope Francks
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 11/01/2009
Pages: 262
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780521699327

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2010

About the Author
Francks, Penelope: - Penelope Francks is an Honorary Lecturer in Japanese Studies in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Leeds. Her recent publications include Rural Economic Development in Japan (2006).