Don't let the cutesy Hello Kitty cover fool you. "Manners and Mischief" disdains frivolity and stands firm as an academic text for students serious about extending their anthropological knowledge of Japan.
The book features essays written by university professors in America and Japan. The essays use a wide range of current social media as the basis of research, citing popular books, delving into magazines or analyzing weekly advice columns.
The book's first two essays frame their arguments from a historical and cultural base. First, using "The Tale of Genji," the author explores how literature and literary criticism guide Japanese manners.