Television Reviews : How Americans in Japan View Their Life and Work

Many Americans seem absolutely obsessed with Japan, and not just businessmen--to judge from all the programs on TV about every aspect of the country. Tonight, PBS’ “Frontline” joins in with a look at those Americans most involved with Japanese society--the ones who live and work in Japan.

“American Game, Japanese Rules” (10 p.m. on Channels 28 and 50, 9 p.m. on Channel 15) starts off promisingly with a study of U.S. baseball players who are having trouble accepting the Japanese way of approaching the Grand Old Game--including a willingness to settle for ties! However, the show then passes us from one American businessman to another, all grousing about how the gargantuan Japanese economy resists their attempts to grab off a piece of it. There’s a lot of talk about how the Japanese prefer to do business with their own and other such non-revelations, all rather dully presented.

The hour picks up near the end, though, with a segment on Debbie Okinaka, an American woman who has worked on a Japanese farm for 15 years. She’s an interesting woman in a fascinating position, and one with some well-considered advice for fellow Americans who come to that culture: “You cannot take your American views and customs and live in Japan.”

Though it makes that point in too stodgy a manner, “American Game, Japanese Rules” is a recommended splash of cold sake in the face for anyone planning to stay in Japan for more than a vacation.