The Rules of Play: National Identity and the Shaping of Japanese Leisure(Cornell Studies in Political Economy)

The Japanese government seeks to influence the use of leisure time to a degree that Americans or Europeans would likely find puzzling. Through tourism-promotion initiatives, financing for resort development, and systematic research on recreational practices, the government takes a relentless interest in its citizens' "free time." David Leheny argues that material interests are not a sufficient explanation for such a large and consistent commitment of resources. In The Rules of Play, he reveals the link between Japan's leisure politics and its long-term struggle over national identity. Since the Meiji Restoration, successive Japanese governments have stressed the nation's need to act like a "real" (that is, a Western) advanced industrial power. As part of their express desire to catch up, generations of policymakers have examined the ways Americans and Europeans relax or have fun, then tried to persuade Japanese citizens to behave in similar fashion—while subtly redefining these recreational choices as distinctively "Japanese." In tracing the development of leisure politics and the role of the state in cultural change, the author focuses on the importance of international norms and perceptions of Japanese national identity. Leheny regards globalization as a "failure of imagination" on the part of policymakers. When they absorb lessons from Western nations, they aim for a future that has already been revealed elsewhere rather than envision a locally distinctive lifestyle for citizens.

About the Author :
David Leheny is Henry Wendt III '55 Professor of East Asian Studies at Princeton University. He is the author of Think Global, Fear Local: Sex, Violence, and Anxiety in Contemporary Japan, also from Cornell.

Review :
In The Rules of Play, political scientist David Leheny deftly traces the government's efforts to define 'normal' leisure patterns for its citizens.... I concluded Leheny's readable and informative book with a strong belief that whatever the virtues of state involvement in other sectors (for example, public hygiene), bureaucratic attempts to shape leisure are not worthy of emulation. (International Herald Tribune/The Asahi Shimbun) This is the first political science book—and possibly the only academic book—that made me occasionally laugh out loud. To describe here what could possibly be funny about leisure policy (or about Leheny's way of describing it) would be as bad as giving away the ending of a movie. Suffice it to say that Leheny's book is tremendously readable. It is convincing in its assessment of Japan's major steps in the vast field of leisure policy and inspiring especially in the comparative chapters. Partly due to its captivating verve, The Rules of Play deserves to be read by political scientists and other scholars, but it will also do very well in undergraduate and graduate classes. (Journal of Japanese Studies) Considerable attention is given to the government's attempts to establish modern tourist attractions in Japan and to encourage the Japanese to use their leisure time to travel abroad so that foreigners will perceive the Japanese as modern people. (Foreign Affairs) Leheny (political science, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison) extends his previous work on Japan's leisure, recreation and tourism practices, providing a well-documented glimpse into the Japanese government's role in shaping its society's national identity. This well-referenced book provides unique insights for those interested in sports, recreation, leisure, tourism, and global community. Summing Up: Highly recommended. (Choice) The Rules of Play provides important insight into the role of government in shaping the lives of ordinary citizens as part of a nation-building project. Social engineering exists in all societies, but in Japan, the government takes a much more active role in creating and implementing these policies, as Leheny clearly demonstrates through his research. (Perspectives on Politics)