Generations In Japan Research Articles

Advantages of bystander-performed conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest presumably caused by drowning in Japan: a propensity score-matching analysis using an extended nationwide database

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine whether the association between conventional bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) and better outcomes in drowning-associated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) differs between young and older people or...

Effects of the Mental Health Supporter Training Program on mental health-related public stigma among Japanese people: A pretest/posttest study.

The Mental Health Supporter Training Program is a national project conducted in Japan. This study aimed to determine the effects on mental health-related stigma, mental health literacy, and knowledge about mental health difficulties and support techniques among program participants. The target population was local residents of a wide range of generations in Japan. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T1), immediately postintervention (T2), and at the 6-month follow-up (T3). A mixed model for repeated-measures conditional growth model analyses were employed to examine the effects of the intervention over time (T1, T2, T3). We also calculated effect sizes using Cohen's d. The program had a significantly favorable pooled effect on the Japanese version of the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale score after adjusting for covariates (reported behavior [t = 3.20, p = 0.001]; intended behavior [t = 8.04, p < 0.001]). However, when compared at each time point, only intended behavior from T1 to T2 showed a significant difference (t = 8.37, p < 0.001). Significant pooled effects were found for mental health literacy (knowledge: t = 19.85, p < 0.001; attitude: t = 15.02, p < 0.001), knowledge of mental health (t = 28.04, p < 0.001), and psychological distress (t = -2.41, p = 0.016). The results suggest that the program might be effective for improving intended, but not reported, behavior in the short term and for improving mental health literacy, knowledge of mental health, and psychological distress.

A Case Study of Intergenerational Exchanges as an Innovation Model for the Reduction of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Multiple Generations in Japan

Since Japan&amp;rsquo;s population has been aging at an unprecedented speed recently, the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan set up an office to develop countermeasures against isolation and loneliness in 2021. However, while existing studies discuss various interventions for those problems, only some interventions are shown to improve feelings of social isolation, and whether or not these interventions are similarly effective across different ages is still vague. In addition, few studies discuss community-based interventions with the participation of multiple generations to deal with loneliness and social isolation. &#x0D; &#x0D; Existing studies on community farms have yet to extensively discuss their effects on social isolation and loneliness across different ages. This can neglect the potential roles of this activity as a salve to those problems, especially in countries like Japan with high rates of aging and low birthrates. Furthermore, the participation of international students in community farming is considered a rare activity and needs to be delineated beyond existing research.&#x0D; &#x0D; This article describes the SDGs11 Connect Aomori Yokouchi Project in Aomori City, Japan. The article aims to discuss its potential as an innovation model for further research and practice on reducing social isolation and loneliness in multiple generations in Japan and other countries. In this project, international and Japanese students use vacant farmland to grow flowers and vegetables as community farms. Residents of every age (very young children, elementary school students, adults, and the elderly) are eligible to participate in this activity. This activity attempts to promote exchange between generations, to regenerate and foster connections among people, and to help encourage young people to settle down and contribute something to their community. As a result, it contributes to reducing or preventing feelings of isolation and loneliness through the mutual exchange of the participants, students and older residents.

Patterns of HPV vaccine hesitancy among catch-up generations in Japan: A descriptive study.

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV vaccine uptake in Japan has been slow since the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare suspended the recommendation for proactive HPV vaccination in 2013. In April 2022, Japan initiated catch-up vaccinations for women who missed the opportunity to receive the HPV vaccine. However, as of September 2022, very few women had received catch-up vaccination, raising concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the target population. It is necessary to understand the thinking and motivation of the target population to develop effective strategies to improve vaccination rates. Therefore, using cluster analysis, this study aimed to clarify the pattern of HPV vaccine hesitancy among the catch-up generations in Japan. This descriptive study was based on an Internet survey completed by 3,790 women in Japan aged over 18years who were eligible for catch-up vaccination and had not yet received an HPV vaccine. Participants were asked about their intention and thinking about the HPV vaccine and descriptive norms on vaccination intention. Cluster analysis using k-means clustering was performed to clarify these patterns. Cluster analysis revealed three hesitancy patterns: acceptance, neutral and refusal. The acceptance group, with high intention, comprised 28.2% of the participants, and students and a high-income level mainly dominated this group. The refusal group, with negative thinking and low intention, accounted for 20.1% and was more prevalent among workers and the unemployed. The neutral group, with neutral thinking and intention, accounted for 51.6%. The perceived effect of descriptive norms on vaccination intention was large in the acceptance group but small in the refusal group. HPV vaccine awareness promotion strategies must be based on the characteristics of each group and the different distributions of sociodemographic factors.

Does anime, idol culture bring depression? Structural analysis and deep learning on subcultural identity and various psychological outcomes

Subculture, includes animation, comics, games (ACG), and idol fan culture, is popular among young generations in Japan. Previous studies have shown different psychological outcomes within different subcultural groups; however, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study proposes that subcultural identity may play a crucial role in mental health outcomes by interweaving social support and reputation. We examined the interplay between subcultural identity, social support, reputation, and different psychological outcomes through structural equation modeling (N = 300). Furthermore, we trained neural networks (NN) by applying a deep learning algorithm to predict psychological outcomes of different subcultures. The results suggest identity related to anime, idol, and hip-hop was positively associated with anxiety, aggression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal tendencies. By contrast, fashion and sports identities associated with no adverse or positive psychological outcomes. Perceived reputation mediates adverse psychological outcomes in the ACG, idol, and hip-hop groups. The highest accuracy in our NN reached 71%, indicating that NN could be an effective tool for predicting mental problems. Our work points up an urgent need to improve the mental health of the young generation by de-stigmatizing discriminated cultural groups.

Development and evaluation of interdisciplinary teaching materials that "tell Fukushima"

Ten years ago, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan suffered major damage due to a massive earthquake and tsunami and this ultimately led to the second largest nuclear disaster in history. The area is still contaminated with unacceptable levels of dangerous pollution. Professor Taeko Doi, Faculty of Education, Kanazawa University, believes there is a lack of educational materials about the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster and, without proper education of the events and aftermath, the Japanese people cannot fully recover. She is currently working on projects related to the Fukushima disaster, the goal of which is to aid the individuals directly affected and improve environmental education in Japan as a whole. In her latest work, Doi is exploring the recent history of Fukushima in order to remind people that problems persist and provide support to victims, as well as teachers trying to educate future generations. This work involves extensive surveys with survivors of the disaster and past and present Fukushima prefecture residents and has shed light on the issues facing residents, including dangerously high levels of radiation. Doi's work is also used to create textbooks and teaching materials for schools. The goal is to keep the lessons and memories of Fukushima alive and inform coming generations in Japan and beyond about the future of energy.

Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of the Sex Differences in Cancer Mortality Rates in Japan from 1995 to 2015.

Background:The current study aimed to analyze the sex differences in cancer mortality rates in Japan via an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis. Methods:We used data about cancer mortality rates from 1995 to 2015 in Japan based on the Vital Statistics survey. In addition to the data about mortality from all sites of cancer, we specifically used data about stomach, lung, colorectal, and liver cancers. A Bayesian APC analysis was performed to identify changes in mortality rates based on three effects, which were as follows: age, period, and cohort. Then, we finally calculated the mortality rate ratios for each effect between men and women. Results:The sex differences in age-adjusted mortality rates for all-sites cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer were decreasing from 1995 to 2015, and the mortality rate ratios in terms of sex decreased from 2.17 in 1995 to 1.93 in 2015. Based on the results of the APC analyses, only minimal changes were observed in the mortality rate ratios for all types of cancer between men and women during the analyzed periods. The cohort effects began to decrease from the early 20th century in all types of cancer in both men and women, and the mortality rate ratios for all types of cancer between men and women began to increase in the cohorts born from 1926 to 1935. For all-sites cancer, the ratio increased from 0.49 (0.44, 0.57) in the cohort born from 1926 to 1930 to 0.81 (0.60, 1.03) in the cohort born from 1971 to 1975. Conclusion:The sex differences in cancer mortality rates were decreasing in the more recent born generations in Japan. If this trend continues, there will be a minimal difference in the morality rates in the following generations.

Characteristic Egogram State of Younger Generation

Background: In the field of psychology and psychosomatic medicine, Transactional Analysis (TA) was and developed by Berne and Dusey. Consecutively, egogram analysis has been prevalent by 5 egos including Critical Parent (CP), Nurturing Parent (NP), Adult (A), Free Child (FC) and Adapted Child (AC). In Japan, Tokyo University Egogram (TEG) has been used, and authors have continued egogram research for long. Methods and Results: Subjects were 502 university students. They answered TEG questionnaire with the evaluation of the personality trait. Out of 29 personality pattern, 6 types were more than standard data. They are dependent, short-tempered, self-centered, conflict, solitude and pessimist types. During 10 years of our research, self-centered and solitude have been increasing, and good-hearted and playboy types have been decreasing. Discussion: From current data, several tendency would be speculated: Lower NP seems to be a characteristic for modern university students. It may be related with a noticeable decline in overall morality among younger generations in Japan. Furthermore, the prevalence of internet in the world may influence of the behavior of young people. Not actual experience but information on the internet can make them refrain from active human relations to others. These results would be expected to become useful reference data.

New evidence on predictable validity of grip strength on later life outcomes in Japan

ABSTRACTThis study provides new evidence on the predictable validity of grip strength on later life outcomes using a population-based longitudinal survey of middle and older generations in Japan. We show that the level of grip strength contains significant information on health outcome and mortality in the later years although the loss of grip strength does not. Moreover, we confirm that grip strength is associated with socio-economic status, particularly with educational attainment.

Policy Narratives in Formation of Comprehensive Support System for Parenting and Child Care in Japan

This article aims to analyze the distinctive features of policy narratives by focusing on the formulation of the center of comprehensive support for child-rearing generations in Japan. There have been anticipated effects of the decline in the fertility rate and decreasing population, and the issues surrounding parenting and childcare have been re-discovered as a high priority public policy agenda. In this connection, multi-layered policy narratives have been analyzed with special attention paid to the Finnish system with its consistent support from pregnancy to preschool age. It will discuss how policy narratives have been selective in their focus on specific factors while skipping others when formulating a comprehensive system for parenting and childcare in Japan.

Tumor Stage of the Gastric Cancers in the Generation Younger Than 50 Years was More Advanced Compared to the Older Generations in Japan

Introduction: Whereas the populations younger than 40 years old do not ordinarily receive gastric cancer (GC) screening in Japan, there are several cases to suffer GC in the young generation. The present study reviewed retrospectively the chart of all the GC patients in our hospital during the recent 5 years to characterize the GC patients in the generation younger than 50 years old. Methods: All the 345 consecutive GC patients in our hospital from 2010 to 2014 were divided into the 3 age groups: ≤ 50 years old, 51 - 60 years old, and > 60 years old. The patient - and tumor - characteristics including onset age, sex, tumor tissue differentiation, and staging were compared among the groups. Results: The average age of GC onset for the entire cohort was 72.3 years old, and the age was significantly younger in men compared to women (71.4 vs 74.7 years old; P < 0.03). The onset age in the poorlydifferentiated + signet-ring cell GC cases was younger compared to the moderately-differentiated cases (69.6 vs 74.5 years; P = 0.03) and well-differentiated cases (69.6 vs 73.4 years; P < 0.01). The ≤ 50-year-old group was only 4.6% (16/345) of the cohort, and 75% (12/16) of them had poorly-differentiated or signetring cell GC, and the stage of the group was high including more than stage II (75%), and 37.5% (6/16) of stage IV (average stage: 2.5). The percentage of the poorly-differentiated GC + signet-ring cell GC was less in the 51 - 60 years old group (36.4%) and the > 60 years group (30.5%). The tumor staging was less advanced in these groups compared to the groups 50 years old (average stage: 1.8 and 2.0 vs 2.5). The Helicobacter pylori infection rate in the cohort was more than 95% in the present cohort, and 15 out of 16 in the 50 years old group was positive in Helicobacter pylori. Conclusion: GC in the generation younger than 50 years old was relatively uncommon in the present observation, and the staging of the tumor was more advanced compared to the older generations. The advanced stage in the young generation might be due to the GC screening system in Japan, which is focused on the old generation. The eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori might rescue the onset of GC in Japan, which lead to improve the prognosis in the Japanese GC patients in the near further.

Individualisation and familisation in Japan's home-owning democracy

Japan's post-war housing system has been dominated by family-owned housing. However, the centrality of family home ownership has declined since the 1990s. Housing careers and family formation patterns have diverged leading to the re-organisation of boundaries separating owning and renting. Using Japan as a focus, this paper explores the role of individualisation and familisation in transforming homeowner societies. On one hand, the individualisation of younger generations in Japan has encouraged a notable increase in one-person households living in private rented housing. On the other hand, a growing number of young households have purchased houses with assistance from their parents. This has been interpreted as an intergenerational familisation of access to home ownership. There is also an increasing number of unmarried adults living in their parents’ homes, which reflects the individualisation of younger cohorts and simultaneously the familisation of adult children's early housing careers. Moreover, it has recently been pointed out that Japan's system of extended family households and the related practice of transferring family properties across generations, has not declined. This paper argues that individualisation and familisation are combining to reorganise the ‘edges’ of home ownership, by helping determine who can enter owner-occupied housing sectors, and who is excluded.

Effects of sex preference and social pressure on fertility in changing Japanese families

A preference in parents for a son is thought to affect their fertility. However, even if parents do not have a preference for a son, the people who surround them possibly have a preference for a son. In this case, social pressure can influence parents’ behavior and fertility. This study explored how social pressure related to the sex of children affects fertility. Effects of social pressure were compared between the pre- and post-World War II generations in Japan. The dependent variable was the number of children in the regression equation. A dummy variable for the first child, which was set to 1 when the first child was a boy, and a dummy variable for the preference for a son were included as independent variables. Social pressure was considered to exist when the dummy variable for the first child had a significant negative sign. The key findings are as follows: in the pre-war generation, if the first child was a daughter, the total number of children tended to increase not only when the mother preferred a son, but also when the mother did not have a preference for either gender. This tendency was not observed for the post-war generation.

Social change and future transport policy in the Japanese context

Despite bringing many external benefits, economic growth has not solved all problems. In Japan today two problems seem to stand out: an aging population and the need to protect the population from natural disasters. The first problem has long been noted but the population is aging so fast that society seems incapable of adjusting properly to the new situation.Japan experienced a huge earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 that took more than 21,000 lives and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. The disaster also damaged the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. As a result, tens of thousands more people have been forced from their homes to live in refugee camps outside the contaminated areas. These events have caused a reassessment of the issue of disaster safety.The two problems mentioned above appear to be separate issues, but are in fact closely related. For example, the majority of the victims of the recent natural disaster were elderly and we have not built a system to improve their situation.This paper discusses transport policies for future generations in Japan in connection with the problems above.

A fusion of drama and religion: A study of Mugen Noh in Thomas Becket

ABSTRACTIn an effort to expand the influence of Noh drama, professional Noh actors have licensed the adaptation of western plays, not least because such adaptations have an appeal for younger generations in Japan. The practice inevitably raises problems of authenticity. This article analyses Thomas Becket (1997), the Noh version of T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. In so doing, it discusses the nature of Mugen Noh, particularly focusing on the use of history, the treatment of the natural world and the delineation of the title character.

Baby-boomers, Baby-busters and the Lost Generation: Generational Fractures in Japan's Homeowner Society

Over the past two decades housing pathways have become increasingly differentiated between generations, particularly in advanced societies dominated by owner-occupied tenure systems. Demographic transformations caused by aging and falling fertility rates, along with a more volatile economy and a neo-liberal reorientation of governance have combined to restructure housing conditions. Drawing on empirical research in Japan, this paper illustrates the social origins and impact of generation-based differentiations in housing patterns in that country. It considers the housing experiences of three cohorts: baby-boomers, baby-busters and the ‘lost generation’. The contrast of housing pathways between these generations in Japan illustrates the contemporary dynamics of housing and social processes in homeowner societies.

The Decreasing Burden of Gastric Cancer in Japan

Gastric cancer in Japan, previously the top killer cancer, has recently shown decreased incidence and mortality rates. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that environmental factors are closely associated with stomach oncogenesis, as evident from the geographical differences seen throughout Japan in both incidence and mortality. Moreover, Japanese immigrant populations gradually exhibit the lower incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer in their chosen country. Likewise, younger generations in Japan have lower mortality rates than older generations at the same age, which may be accounted by the dramatic lifestyle changes in Japan after World War II. In addition to exploring and learning from the impact of these environmental factors, deliberate strategies to further lower the incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer must include aggressive eradication programs for Helicobacter pylori and dietary education in both school curricula and for the general adult population to lower the intake of causative agents such as salt and increase the intake of beneficial agents such as fruits, vegetables and seaweeds. The dietary education should be coupled with better motivation for the general population to undergo regular screening with improved techniques. In the future, changes in these environmental factors and progresses in the diagnosis of and therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer will lead to further decrease in the incidence and mortality rates of this disease in Japan.

Phenology and life cycle of the annual, Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae), with multiple overlapping generations in Japan

AbstractThe phenology of germination, vegetative growth and sexual reproduction in the annual Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small (Euphorbiaceae) were investigated in a natural population in western Japan. Seedlings emerged from mid‐June to early October, with three peaks: mid‐June, late July and late August. Plants that emerged in June commenced sexual reproduction from late July, and thereafter both vegetative growth and sexual reproduction occurred together until early November, the plants showing no switching from vegetative growth to sexual reproduction. Seedlings that emerged in June and July suffered high mortality, but most seedlings that emerged from August onward survived until the reproductive stage. The minimum size for reproduction was largest for plants that emerged early in the season, and it decreased with a delay in seedling emergence. The late emergence of seedlings that resulted in low reproductive output may be to some extent compensated for by the increased probability of survival in the seedling stage. A transplant experiment clarified that C. maculata can repeat a maximum of three overlapping generations within a year. Multiple generations per year were attained by non‐dormant seeds produced in the first and second generations and clearly resulted in an increased reproductive output per year. The life cycle with multiple overlapping generations may have been acquired in habitats where unpredictable disturbance results in temporally unsuitable conditions for germination, vegetative growth and sexual reproduction of annual plants, but where suitable conditions frequently continue over a period longer than the single generation time of annual plants.

本邦都会住民における血清脂肪酸分画の現状について

Serum fatty acids analyses were performed on subjects in their thirties and fifties living in urban Japan. It is known that the Japanese traditionally consume relatively large amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fresh fish, and this may, in part, contribute to their low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).This study was performed to examine the differences of the composition of serum fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 ratio) between young and senior people. We surveyed plasma fatty acids in 176 people in their thirties and fifties living in Tokyo. The level of serum cholesterol was 198mg/dl in the first group and 222mg/dl in the second group. The percentage of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the total serum fatty acids was 7.01±1.6% in the younger group and 9.67±1.8% in the elder group (p<0.01). The omega-3/omega-6 ratio was 0.19±0.05 and 0.29±0.09 (p<0.01), respectively.These findings suggest a significant difference in eating habits between young and elderly generations in Japan. A trend in the lower of omega-3 fatty acids from fish meat in the younger generation could be an important factor in the possible increase in occurrence of coronary heart disease in Japan's future.

Parental consanguinity in two generations in Japan.

SummaryA survey of consanguineous marriages in Japan in couples and their parents was conducted in 1983 through questionnaires. The total number of couples studied was 9225; they were chosen from six widely different areas of the country. The kinship coefficient between parents did not decrease with the year of birth. Thus, the recent decline in the frequency of consanguineous marriages in Japan seems to be largely a post-World War II phenomenon. The kinship decreases with marital distance in the parental generation, and socioeconomic class (level of education and occupation) effects are small by comparison with those of the present generation. The rate of consanguinity is significantly higher in the older generation for almost all areas. The kinship between spouses is less than a half of that in parents for the whole of Japan. Geographical variation in the rate of consanguinity is more remarkable in spouses than parental couples.