Full Description
An Introduction to Japanese Society provides an engaging introduction to Japanese society by internationally renowned scholar Yoshio Sugimoto. The text examines the diverse nature of contemporary Japanese society with chapters covering class, work, education, gender, ethnicity, religion, popular culture, and the establishment. This edition discusses the shifting landscape of the 'Cool Japan' project; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the significance of Okinawa as the land of ethnic identity; the escalation of foreign workers and residents; the casualization of the labor force; intersectionality in Japanese class culture; the continuous aging of Japanese society; geopolitical shifts in East Asia; and the outcomes of recent national elections. Each chapter contains case examples, providing contemporary perspectives on each topic, as well as research questions, further readings, and online resources to consolidate student understanding and guide further exploration. Lively and highly readable, this text is essential reading for all students of Japanese society.
Contents
1. Historical backdrop: disintegration and restoration; 2. The Japan phenomenon: analysis and understanding; 3. Class: stratification and disparity; 4. Generations and geography: variations in an aging society; 5. Work: 'Japanese-style' management and cultural capitalism; 6. Education: diversity and unity; 7. Gender and family: challenges to ideology; 8. Ethnicity and Japaneseness: defining the nation; 9. Political culture: competition and collusion; 10. Religion: belief and secularization; 11. Culture: the popular and the cool; 12. Civil society: activism and friendly authoritarianism.
