The After Hours: Modern Japan and the Search for Enjoyment

This book explores how modernization has influenced Japan, especially in terms of its people's quest for enjoyment and leisure within the context of their industrialized and democratic society. The author describes Japan not as an exotic or mysterious culture, but as a "cultural opposing self" that provides a contrasting perspective on the human condition shaped by industrialization and democracy. Unlike Western societies, where terms like "alienation" and "mass leisure" have defined social challenges, Japan's unique approach to modernization invites a fresh examination of how people engage in enjoyment beyond mere work.

In modern Japan, the pursuit of enjoyment is not defined by rigid Western ideals of "pursuit of happiness" or "hedonism." Instead, Japanese culture has its own nuanced relationship with leisure, which the author terms "the search for enjoyment." This concept encompasses not just leisure but the broader desire for well-being and fulfillment in life, which may differ significantly from Western interpretations. Japanese culture, according to the author, resists Western biases that view leisure merely as a break from work; instead, it integrates work and enjoyment, allowing for a fluid transition between the two.

Through an ethnographic approach, combining field observations, surveys, and popular media, the book provides a comprehensive look at Japanese life, particularly outside of traditional work hours. The "after hours" are more than just periods of rest—they serve as a reflection of Japanese identity and values in a modernized world, capturing the ways people seek balance, leisure, and cultural fulfillment. The author's perspective is both empathetic and critical, acknowledging Japan's unique synthesis of modernity while examining how the quest for enjoyment differs from Western models.

Ultimately, the book argues that Japan's modern journey offers valuable insights for Western readers seeking to understand how non-Western societies approach the challenges of industrialized living, enjoyment, and identity within a globalized context.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1964.