Incluye referencias bibliográficas e índice. "LTCB International Library Trust/International House of Japan." CONTENIDO: The four stages of consumer society. An overview of consumer society in Japan -- The transition from second-stage to third-stage consumer society. Differences between second- and third-stage consumer society -- Individualization and sophistication of demand -- Evolving consumer psychology -- Splintering of the masses and harbingers of a divided society -- An age of amorphous desire -- Consumer society at saturation point -- The transition from third-stage to fourth-stage consumer society. Fourth-stage consumer society: an age of sharing -- The sharing lifestyle -- Simplicity, localism, and the japanese way -- The ultimate consumer society -- The future of consumer society. The search for new ways of living -- Creating the sharing society -- Appendix I. Case study -- Appendix II. Interviews.
