This small book is an ideal supplement for courses such as introductory sociology, comparative studies, global studies, comparative politics and comparative economics. Organized to follow the table of contents of any standard introductory sociology text, this book establishes a historical and cultural context, then presents coverage of institutions, stratification, problems and social change in 12 concise chapters. The two prolific authors (they also published a trade book on Japan, Who Rules Japan?: The Inner-Circles of Economic and Political Power ) have lived in Japan and studied their society and people.