Book Review: The Anatomy of Self (Ura to Omote)

The Cover of The Anatomy of Self

Author: Takeo Doi

Reviewer: Mark Groenewold

Date: December, 2002

This book is the brilliant sequel to the brilliant first text, The Anatomy of Dependence, and a marvelous companion text to the original. Takeo Doi continues with his research, and arguably treatment, of what is at the crux of many Japanese psychological patients, or those burdened with mental troubles exacerbated by unique Japanese societal conditioning. An absolutely fascinating read that takes us further along Dr. Doi's initial work into the pathology of “amae”.

The Anatomy of Self's Japanese title is “Ura to Omote”, literally, “the hidden side and the front side”, but this translation is feeble attempt to properly describe these two words. That is probably why Doi did not bother trying to translate them into a short title to begin with. What “ura” and “omote” represent are two ideas of how the Japanese person relates to themselves and the world around them. So often, when the Japanese person's base identity is made up of its relationships to others in its group, they have relinquished control of their own identity-forming rights and needs. That said, the individual still exists, grows, and develops, often in surprising ways when at the receiving end of almost god-like forces of group dynamics, and without a core will to articulate or explore these things individually.

This text, like its predecessor, is so unlike many nauseating Nihonjinron texts (books that theorize on the nature of being Japanese), that it is something that has caused foreign and Japanese readers to take careful note and brought a lot of attention on this subject. Despite being controversial, Dr. Doi continues in his erudite and articulate exploration of Japanese themes of self-identity, self-delusion, the Japanese ideas of “honne” and “tatemae”, the individual's relationship to society, and the significance of secrets. A brilliant text like this is a treasure to find. Once you have read The Anatomy of Dependence, and are still reeling from the experience, pick up this book. It is a must-read as well.

The English translation is completed with two appendices: one are collected essays on Amae (Amae Zakko) and another paper previously published in the Journal of Mental and Nervous Disease on Omote and Ura and the “2-fold” structure of Japanese consciousness. Fascinating reading, best taken in small bites.

Highly recommended.

Mark Groenewold
Kanazawa, Japan
December, 2002

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