This is a paperbound reprint of a 2005 book. Japanese and western anthropologists draw on a wide range of approaches and theories and the perspective of their particular specialties to offer a broad view of Japan, the country, the cultures, and the peoples. They cover cultures, histories, and identities; geographies and boundaries, spaces and sentiments; socialization, assimilation, and identification; body, blood, self, and nation; and religion and science, beliefs and bioethics. Among specific topics are the imperial past of anthropology in Japan, whether there is a Japanese sense of nature, theorizing the cultural importance of sports and recreation, culinary culture and the making of a national cuisine, and women scientists and gender ideology. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)