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Originally Posted by DMcCunney
the late SF artist Kelly Freas said "You want to read a novel about contact with an alien culture? Read Shogun!", and he was quite right, because that's what it was. Edo period Japan was a very different culture and place than Europe of the period.
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In that respect, it hasn't changed a whit!
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The book got some flak from Japanese, who were unhappy with the portrayal of their people and said it wouldn't have happened that way. That was somewhat amusing, as Clavell had lived in Asia, and put himself forward as an expert on Japanese culture who could help other westerners who had to deal with it.
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Dennis
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I'm here to say Clavell was correct in virtually every respect. Unfortunately, the Japanese don't particularly like to see themselves in such a light, and I can understand why there would be some outcrys.
I still think 'Shogun' was one of the very best books I've ever read, and Clavell's knowledge of Japan and Hong Kong (as shown in 'Taipan' and 'Noble House') is encyclopedic. If you are familiar with Hong Kong, you can easily change given names and recognize all the people and places.
Stitchawl