世界の諸民族、特に米国人に比べて、日本人はどの点で独自か、その長所短所は何かという問題を様々な観点から追求したドナルド・キーン氏の意欲的な書き下ろし。８章より成るが各章の纏まりが良く、教室で扱い易い。英文は適度に複雑で、各種の重要構文や熟語に富み、教材に好適。

What makes Japanese unique, compared to people in other countries? Donald Keene expresses his view on it with a focus on topics that learners can expect to encounter when talking with people from abroad. Keene's writing, clear and concise but rich in emotion, captures learners’ attention and strikes a chord with them, giving them an opportunity to objectively look at Japan, its culture and its customs.

Each unit consists of 8-10 pages, to be read by students both in and outside the classroom.