Since the late 19th century, Japan has openly invited the foreign and the new, and in so doing has embraced the ephemeral. In this intriguing investigation into fads and fashions, their inherent meanings and potential for Japanese enterprise and society, Donald Richie, a renowned American writer who has lived in Tokyo for more than 50 years, opens up the industry of the image from Tamagochis to image clubs, T-shirts to robots.

More on Japan from the Dean of gaijin writers (2004-10-19) 

This makes a fun subject boring, tedius and scholarly (2004-10-06) 

An up to date book of a changing landscape (2004-03-21) 

He covers fads and fashions such as kawaii (cute), manga (comics), pachinko (vertical pinball as gambling) and kosupure (costume play). He also doesn't shirk away from the sex industry and porn, an major cultural asset in Japan. The use of mobile phones and faux theme parks. From fashion shops in Shinjuku and Harajuku to the seedy parts of Tokyo.

Maybe the only thing missing I feel is a discussion on the different aspects of Japanese drinking. Alcohol is an important part of Japanese culture, as are hostess bars. But that is mostly an avenue of the salaryman, where as this book deals more with the younger generations.

Think of this beek as a modern version of Alex Kerr's Lost Japan.