This book explores the stereotype that Japan is the world's most polite country, examining how proper conduct is acquired and expressed, and how the apparent conflict with some of the concepts of Western modernity, such as society, freedom and the individual, are balanced with Japan's great emphasis on courtesy, politeness and civility.

Florian Coulmas is Senior Professor for Japanese Society, IN-EAST Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.