Aging and Loss

"A gracious, observant, and sensitive ethnography."— American Ethnologist
"Danely tackles the complex topic of aging and loss with a great sense of tact and sensitivity. He addresses the topic by employing a skillful analysis of folk stories, films, and delicately conducted interviews … Far from being dry ethnography, this book is written in a poetic and emotive voice. Yet the pictures of aging in Japan are far from overly optimistic."— New Asia Books
"Devoid of academic jargon, Aging and Loss addresses several key theoretical questions in anthropology today. Its elegant prose makes it accessible to wider audiences, attesting to the power of ethnographic storytelling as a form of knowledge-making."— Anthropological Quarterly
"Jason Danely’s book represents an excellent contribution to our understanding of aging in Japan and provides an important exploration of the intersection of religion and aging."— John Traphagan, professor of religious studies, University of Texas at Austin
"Aging and Loss is a beautifully written piece of work that could be enjoyed from multiple perspectives beyond the lenses of anthropology or Asian studies. The fact that the stories took place in Kyoto - an ancient capital and the heart of Japanese traditional arts and culture - will further instill interest among those curious about the rich culture, nature, and changes challenging the city."— American Anthropologist
"Aging and Loss is a mournful book that treats loss as both a space of emptiness and a temporality of creativity. Achingly beautiful about aging and death in a country where both are rising today."— Anne Allison, author of Precarious Japan
"Danely’s (2014) well-written work is important in understanding the lived experiences of older adults as they age, and the impact various parts of their lives have on the construction of their narratives. Studies like this one should be conducted among different cultures and in different places to best understand older adults and how to support them through relationships and policy. Although Danely’s (2014) ethnographic research in Japan is not entirely generalizable because of the vast differences among cultures, many of the points made in the book are important to understand for any aging society to be prepared and learn from experiences in Japan. As other countries follow in Japan’s footsteps of having an aging society, there should be a focus on providing more resources for successful aging in order to then spend less on welfare (Danely, 2014). This book raises an important question: What do the trends surrounding older adults and aging say about a society?"— Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging