Japan Face Research Articles

Literature Review on Children Outside Educational Opportunities: A Study of Children with Foreign Origin in Japan

Children of foreign origin in Japan face various hurdles in accessing educational opportunities, potentially limiting their strengths and abilities throughout their life course. With the aim of increasing the inclusion of children of foreign origin in Japanese formal education, this paper reviews the literature, focusing on early childhood education and care (ECEC) to identify what has been clarified in previous studies and what has not been sufficiently analyzed, to suggest future directions. Compared with the extensive studies conducted in the U.S., research on ECEC opportunities for children of foreign origin living in Japan is still in its nascent stage. To ensure access to ECEC for children of foreign origin in Japan, it is critical to examine the impact of ECEC on children of foreign origin in Japan and determine which types of ECEC are most effective. Also, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the specific nationalities, family environments, living conditions, cultural backgrounds, and attitudes of parents who do not utilize ECEC opportunities, and detailed research involving parents of children not enrolled in ECEC is necessary to understand the barriers and decision-making factors related to ECEC enrollment.

How Chinese Nurses Cope With Acculturation Challenges in Japan: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Chinese nurses in Japan face difficulties owing to differences in language, interpersonal behaviors, and nursing roles. This study examined how Chinese nurses in Japan cope with acculturation challenges. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design using individual semi-structured interviews with 10 Chinese nurses. Thematic content analysis was performed. Chinese nurses performed their tasks despite language barriers. Furthermore, they behaved according to Japanese social norms and adjusted their perceptions by focusing on the favorable aspects of different nursing roles. They used the same approach to overcome the psychological stress due to these differences. They learned these coping strategies through interactions with Japanese individuals in work settings. Providing support for learning language expression, behavior, and family nursing in accordance with Japanese social norms could facilitate Chinese nurses' adjustment. Moreover, a deeper understanding of each other's cultures is crucial for a successful cross-cultural collaboration.

Communication Skills and Illness Perception Among Non-Japanese-Speaking Patients in Japan.

Non-Japanese-speaking patients taking medical treatment in Japan face language barriers and lack of language assistance. Language barriers influence all processes from preventive services to treatment, and insufficient communication can affect patient outcomes. Illness perception, which is related to illness-coping behaviors and self-care behaviors, is an important factor for effective treatment, but no studies have investigated the relationship between communication skills and illness perception among non-Japanese-speaking patients. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess communication skills utilizing ENDCORE, to clarify the relationship between communication skills and illness perception among non-Japanese-speaking patients in Japan, and to identify the impact of language assistance on these factors. A web questionnaire survey was conducted between February and April 2024, targeting 1,904 non-Japanese-speaking patients who had visited medical institutions in Japan. The survey items included basic attributes, purpose of the medical visit, Japanese language proficiency, communication tool, language assistance, communication skills (using ENDCORE), and illness perception (using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire; B-IPQ). The Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to examine factors related to the means of ENDCORE scores and B-IPQ scores, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. The analysis included data for 354 participants. Participants who received language assistance scored lower on communication skills than those who did not receive language assistance, but they reported more positive illness perception. For factors related to ENDCORE means, statistically significant differences were observed for country of origin, residence qualifications, Japanese language proficiency, communication tool, and language assistance. For factors related to the B-IPQ means, statistically significant differences were observed for sex, country of origin, residence qualifications, communication tool, and language assistance. The correlationanalysis of ENDCORE and the B-IPQ items showed that the sense of control a person feels they have over their illness (r = 0.201, p < .001), the significance of treatment (r = 0.215, p < .001), and understanding of the illness (r = 0.318, p < .001) were weakly positively correlated. The findings suggest that language assistance for non-Japanese-speaking patients can lead to more beneficial communication between them and their physicians and more positive illness perception for those patients. We also believe that maximizing patients' communication skills will facilitate more appropriate diagnoses and treatments, improve patients' coping behaviors, and contribute to patient safety and quality of medical care.

The current world economic situation and its impact on China's foreign exchange and foreign investment

In 2023, the world economy shows clear growth divergence and complex changes driven by technology. The United States economy is showing strong resilience, but its growth is still affected by inventory movements. In contrast, the economies of the euro area and Japan face serious challenges, while some emerging economies, such as India and Vietnam, show signs of a positive recovery. Meanwhile, prices in major economies generally rose, international trade improved slightly and financial markets picked up. In the coming period of time, the world economy is likely to be in the process of bottoming out and bottoming out, will continue to affect China's foreign trade and foreign investment fundamentals, China should overcome the risks and challenges, enhance confidence, increase policy support, and make every effort to create an environment conducive to the development of an export-oriented economy, and actively tap the new advantages of industrial competition, and to promote China's sustainable development of the economy.

The global macroeconomic burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias: estimates and projections for 152 countries or territories

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (ADODs) severely threaten the wellbeing of older people, their families, and communities, especially with projected exponential growth. Understanding the macroeconomic implications of ADODs for policy making is essential but under-researched. We used a health-augmented macroeconomic model to calculate the macroeconomic burden of ADODs for 152 countries or territories, accounting for: the effect on labour supply of reduced working hours of informal caregivers; the effect on labour supply of ADODs-related mortality and morbidity; age-sex-specific differences in education, work experience, labour market participations, and informal caregivers; and treatment and formal care costs diverting from savings and investments. ADODs will cost the world economy 14 513 billion international dollars (INT$, measured in the base year 2020; 95% uncertainty interval [UI] 12 106-17 778) from 2020 to 2050, equivalent to 0·421% (95% UI 0·351-0·515) of annual global GDP. Japan incurs the largest annual GDP loss at 1·463% (1·225-1·790). China (INT$2961 billion [2507-3564]), the USA (INT$2331 billion [1989-2829]), and Japan (INT$1758 billion [1471-2150]) face the largest absolute economic burdens. The economic burden of informal care ranges from 60·97% in high-income countries to 85·45% in lower-middle-income countries, and treatment and formal care costs range from 10·50% in lower-middle-income countries to 30·80% in high-income countries. The macroeconomic burden of ADODs is substantial and unequally distributed across countries and regions. Global efforts to reduce the burden, especially with regard to informal care, are urgently needed. National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health; Chinese Academy of Engineering; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative through Data for Decisions.

Interior frontiers and highly skilled migrants' work-related challenges in Japan.

In this opinion article, the author argues that highly skilled migrants in Japan face many challenges and are ineffectively used due to the existence of interior frontiers. Although interior frontiers are more subtle than the external boundaries these migrants have had to cross to enter the country, they have tremendous power over their everyday lives. Ethnocentric attitudes, influenced by Nihonjinron, have contributed to the existence of these frontiers. They emphasise homogeneity instead of flexibility and accommodation, and exist in the workplace. Employers want a homogeneous workplace and highly skilled migrants face strong pressures to assimilate. There is also an insistence on Japanese human resource practices such as seniority-based pay and promotion. An interior frontier also exists in the hiring process, and migrants are less likely to progress beyond the first round of interviews. With Japan's rapidly aging and declining population and acute labour shortages, there is urgency in addressing these frontiers.

Evaluating mental health awareness and attitudes among international students in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesInternational students in Japan face unique mental health challenges stemming from cultural and linguistic differences, potentially accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research on the mental health of this demographic is scarce. This study aims to describe their mental health status, awareness of mental health resources, and attitudes toward seeking mental health support. MethodsThis study conducted analyses based on data collected though an online survey at a national university in Japan during October and November 2022. International students were surveyed about their mental health status, awareness, and attitude. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were employed to examine the associations between survey responses and demographic variables. ResultsAmong the 116 surveyed participants, 6.9% reported experiencing poor mental health, 16.4% rated their mental health as fair, and 1.7% expressed uncertainly about their mental health status. Similarly, 4.3% indicated poor physical health, 21.6% rated their physical health as fair, and 0.9% expressed uncertainty about their physical health. Additionally, 16.4% felt that their mental health adversely affected their daily life and academics, and 12.1% believed that their physical health had a similar negative impact. Awareness of mental health resources was notably low, with only 25.9% of students being informed. Furthermore, limited awareness was observed among older students (χ2 = 8.176, p < 0.01), degree-seeking students (χ2 = 4.727, p < 0.05), and those from African countries (χ2 = 4.721, p < 0.05), compared to their counterparts. A total of 10.4% expressed reluctance to pursue informal mental health support, and 9.5% showed similar reservations about seeking formal support. ConclusionThe study underscores the critical need for targeted outreach and the development of accessible, culturally sensitive mental health interventions for international students in Japan. Enhancing awareness and accessibility of mental health resources can contribute to the wellbeing of this demographic, potentially improving academic outcomes and fostering a more inclusive, supportive environment for international students, thereby advancing international collaboration and understanding.

Individual Preparedness for Large-scale Earthquakes among International Students in Japan: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Survey.

Individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes is essential for safety and security in Japan, where earthquakes frequently occur. Foreign residents in Japan face barriers to gathering disaster information, and international students are likely to be more vulnerable to the effects of earthquakes due to the shorter duration of their stay in Japan. However, no studies have been conducted on international students' individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes in Japan. This study aimed to investigate individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes among international students in Japan. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2023 among 360 international students aged ≥20 years enrolled at seven Japanese-language educational institutions in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures. Of these, 120 (33.3%) agreed to participate in the mail surveys. Students with invalid answers were excluded and 114 (31.7%) were included in the analysis. The information obtained using a self-administered questionnaire included participants' characteristics, methods used to collect information on individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes (information sources and languages), and individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes. Many international students had not implemented safety measures at home and lacked information about safety confirmation, evacuation sites and routes, items to wear during evacuation, items to take in case of evacuation, or items to stockpile at home. In particular, approximately half of the participants lacked knowledge about nearby evacuation sites, and only 37.7% had confirmed their evacuation routes to nearby evacuation sites. Only 32.5% had prepared bags containing emergency items to take in case of an evacuation, and most had not packed the items, even though they were stocked at home. In addition, only 8.8% had stockpiled radios and emergency portable toilets at home. It is necessary to promote individual preparedness for large-scale earthquakes among international students in Japan.

Study on Improvement of Radio Propagation Characteristics of Cast Iron Boxes for Water Smart Meters.

Water utilities in Japan face a number of challenges, including declining water demand due to a shrinking population, shrinking workforce, and aging water supply facilities. Widespread use of smart water meters is crucial for solving these problems. The widespread use of smart water meters is expected to bring many benefits such as reduced labor by automating meter reading, early identification of leaks, and visualization of pipeline data to strengthen the infrastructure of water services, business continuity, and customer service, as detailed data can be obtained using wireless communication. Demonstration tests are actively conducted in Japan; however, many problems have been reported with cast iron meter boxes blocking radio waves. To address the issue, a low-cost slit structure for cast iron meter boxes is investigated in this study. The results confirm that the L-shaped tapered slit array structure with a cavity, which can be fabricated in a cast iron integral structure, satisfies the design loads required for road installation. The proposed slit structure achieved gain characteristics from -3.32 to more than 9.54 dBi in the 800 to 920 MHz band. The gain characteristics of conventional cast iron meter boxes range from -15 to -20 dBi, and the gain has been significantly improved. Antennas with a gain of -2.0 to +1.5 dB (0.8 to 2.5 GHz) were used for the transmitter antenna, which was found to have a higher gain than the transmit antenna in the 800 to 880 MHz frequency band. In the 1.5 to 2.0 GHz band, a high peak gain of 4.25 dBi was achieved at 1660 MHz, with no null and the lowest gain confirmed that this is an improvement of more than 10 dBi over conventional products.

Build on Japan's Actions in Addressing China's Aging Population

Low birth rate and aging population have become a global social problem. As neighbors, both China and Japan face serious demographic problems. As the aging of the Chinese and Japanese population is at various stages of development, and the aging of the Chinese population is characterized by accelerated and larger-scale progress.In order to deal with the problem of a declining birthrate and an aging population, China should learn from the relevant experience and practices of Japan, plan ahead and actively respond. At the same time, strengthening the exchange of experience and mutual learning between the two countries in this field will also help provide an important reference for the global response to the problem of aging.

Diabetes management in people living with dementia in Japan: a qualitative exploration.

Dementia and diabetes are highly prevalent among the older society in Japan. People living with dementia (PLWD) often face hurdles in managing diabetes. This study explored the perspectives of healthcare providers in Japan regarding diabetes management in PLWD. We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews as a data collection method. A total of 15 physicians and nurses were interviewed. A qualitative content analysis of the codes was performed to generate the themes. The major themes focused on the management of medications/therapeutic regimen, difficulties of continuing health care, emotional aspects of PLWD for adherence to lifestyle modification, and varying direction and degree of family support for diabetes care. PLWD in Japan face challenges in medication management, food restriction, and lifestyle modification. Policies to engage home visit care workers in medication management, consideration of the emotional aspect of PLWD, and utilisation of social support might help in the proper management of diabetes in PLWD.

Pre- and post-COVID-19 all-cause mortality of Japanese citizens versus foreign residents living in Japan, 2015–2021

Immigrants in Japan face multiple health care challenges. There is limited research addressing how all-cause mortality differs between foreign residents and Japanese citizens, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed whether all-cause mortality rates between Japanese citizens and foreign residents living in Japan differ, and whether these differentials changed after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using vital statistical data of all deaths among citizens and foreign residents that occurred within Japanese borders aggregated every 6 months between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2021. Data were used to calculate sex-, region-, and 20-year age group-specific standardized mortality rates using the direct method based on the population distribution of Japanese citizens in 2021 by sex, region, and 20-year age groups. Chi-squared tests and linear regression were used to assess whether the pandemic was associated with changes in mortality rates among groups and changes in the mortality differentials between citizens and non-citizens, respectively. All-cause mortality increased monotonically with age for men and women. Men had higher mortality than women, regardless of age or nationality. All-cause mortality is lower among immigrants than Japanese citizens between the ages of 20–59, but higher under the age of 20 and over the age of 59. The pandemic was associated with significant changes in mortality in most groups, but no statistically significant changes in the mortality differentials between immigrants and Japanese citizens were detected. Young immigrants are generally healthier than their Japanese counterparts, in line with the healthy migrant hypothesis. Younger migrants are at higher risk of mortality, possibly due to increased vulnerability to psychologic stress. Older migrant mortality converged with citizen mortality, consistent with acculturation that occurs with longer duration of residence. The pandemic did not exacerbate health inequities for foreign residents with respect to mortality.

Ethical Issues Encountered by Forensic Psychiatric Nurses in Japan.

Criminals in Japan with mental disorders face penal servitude in prison or treatment under the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act, depending on their ability to take responsibility for their criminal acts. Forensic psychiatric nurses caring for this group may face various ethical issues. This study aimed to identify ethical issues forensic psychiatric nurses in Japan encountered. We used the Ethical Issues Scale to conduct a survey among forensic healthcare ward nurses and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics. We also conducted semistructured interviews with individual nurses who provided signed consent and responded to the initial survey on ethical issues they encountered. These data were analyzed using Berelson's content analysis. Of 175 nurses, 131 answered our survey. The most frequently encountered ethical issue was "protecting patients' rights and human dignity," and the most disturbing ethical issue was "providing nursing care with possible health risks." Seventy-seven percent of the nurses chose to discuss with peers when resolving the ethical issues. Seventeen nurses who were interviewed described these forensic psychiatric nursing-related ethical distresses and conflicts: difficulty in discharge management, prevention of violence and self-harm, compulsory treatment, patient care, and negative emotions toward patient. Forensic psychiatric nurses in Japan face difficulties regarding respecting patients' rights. They strive to respect patients' rights by using their expertise as nurses while sharing their difficulties with colleagues. It is important to develop a support system for social reintegration to solve ethical issues.

Japanese Women’s Speech through Life‐Transitions (1989‐2000): An Analysis of Youth Language Features

This study analyses four women’s speech from Kobe who were interviewed by the same researcher in 1989 and in 2000. We focused on highly indexical pragmatic youth language features (discourse markers and end‐rising intonation) to understand about societal pressures that young women in Japan face when transitioning into adulthood. The analysis reveals a complex picture; some women use them more as time goes by, while others use them less. The vast ethnographic information helps us to understand their persona style (Eckert 2008), and to have an insight into their linguistic capital (Bourdieu and Boltanski 1978, Woolard 2008).

From cyber denial to cyber punishment: What keeps Japanese warriors from active defense operations?

ABSTRACT I investigate reasons why Japan does not use “active-defense” cyber strategy for the purpose of cyberspace deterrence. I show that the reason has much to do with the passive nature of cyber strategy best characterized as “denial defense,” a strategic posture designed to deny attacks by defensive methods. I offer three reasons for this strategic choice. The first is the way the law works in Japan. The legal system, including the constitution, is the cornerstone of passive defense. All the reforms made in recent years to buttress Japan’s cyber policy have been within the existing legal framework. The second reason is the enormous technical constraints that Japan face on the use of cyber force. The final reason has much to do with the difficulty of sending credible threats to target audiences, reassuring the public , and controlling cyberspace escalation.

The experiences of foreign-educated nurses in Japan: a systematic review.

To conduct a systematic review to understand the experiences of foreign-educated nurses in Japan. The experiences of foreign nurses in host countries, and the challenges they face, have been widely investigated around the world. However, no systematic review has focused on the experience of foreign-educated nurses in Japan. A systematic literature review was conducted by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Guidelines. Japan Medical Abstract Society, Citation Information by National Institute of Informatics, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PubMed databases were used for the literature search. Inclusion criteria were research articles published between 2013 and 2020 written in Japanese or English. A quality assessment was performed using Version 2018 of the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Selected articles were read repeatedly, and relevant contents were extracted and summarized thematically. Twenty-five studies were selected for the review. The themes generated included (1) reasons for nurses to come to Japan, (2) experiences and current situations among the Economic Partnership Agreement nurses/nurse candidates living in Japan, and (3) experiences and current situation of nurses who had returned to their home countries. The second theme was classified into four categories: language and communication barriers, low pass rates for the national qualification exam, adaptation to workplaces and social environments, and psychological distress. Foreign nurses in Japan face various challenges and difficulties, even after they return to their home countries. Solving these problems may improve the wellbeing of foreign-educated nurses in Japan. The results from the current review highlight the necessity for immediate intervention by policymakers to improve the current support system for Economic Partnership Agreement nurses/nurse candidates. A thorough pre-arrival orientation should be provided for the nurse candidates to able them to make a well-informed choice.

Utilization of ICT for industrial promotion on a japanese remote island

Remote islands in Japan face decline of population. In response, various policies have been implemented to promote their revitalization. In recent years, the deployment of broadband across Japan has led to expectations for its utilization on remote islands. This paper discusses the influence of improvements in the information and communication environment on industrial activities on remote islands.

Current status on securing pharmaceutical drug price information in Japan

ABSTRACT Regulated markets such as Japan face challenges in balancing the value of pharmaceutical drugs and market dynamics, resulting in inappropriate business practices. This paper describes a currently important trading issue in Japan, namely pending price settlements and provisional deliveries. This practice is a unique Japanese business custom, which leads inefficiency. The paper examines factors attributed to this practice and its consequences.

Development of a knowledge transfer support system for water treatment technology

Abstract The water supply must be safe and sustainable. This requires a regulatory compliance, selection of an optimal water treatment process, timely response to water quality incidents as well as maintaining internal skills and knowledge among utility personnel to keep appropriate operational standards in the long run. Water supply services in Japan face various challenges, including a shrinking revenue base due to a declining population as well as a mass retirement of the baby-boomer generation. The Japan Water Research Center conducted questionnaire surveys and based on our findings developed the ‘knowledge transfer support system for water treatment technology’ for utilities to maintain internal skills and knowledge in the face of shrinking labour forces in the water sector. The system consists of three components: the database on water treatment technology, learning program on water treatment technology, and the assessment tool for knowledge transfer on water treatment technology.

Comparison of volcanic threat challenges in Iceland and Japan

The authorities in Iceland and Japan face various challenges in their efforts to reduce risks of volcano disasters. While Japanese society is much older and has therefore longer experience of facing those challenges the current methods and strategies of both in planning, monitoring, preparedness, relief, and recovery operations are similar. Both nations use modern scientific technologies for risk assessment and disaster management but several geological-, situational-, infrastructural- and cultural differences between the countries and differences in the practice of cooperation with scientists in disaster prevention make different tactics necessary. While both countries lie on the boundary of large tectonic plates, in Iceland the plates are diverging with heavy rifting and volcanic outbreaks in unexpected places while Japan lies along a subduction zone with tectonic events of large magnitude. Iceland has dangerous glacial floods of volcanic origin while the greatest flood hazard in Japan comes from the sea in form of tsunamis. Japan is more densely populated than Iceland, but both are developed countries where large sums of public funds are diverted into disaster prevention and recovery. There are similarities in such fields as monitoring of volcanic eruption and in the problem structure of tourist safety and other fields where cooperation between Japan and Iceland can produce results. Icelandic and Japanese scientists have achieved good results in the field of assessing the danger of volcanic ash plumes for the civil aviation and Japan is now presenting improved methods in ash cloud forecasting in the international community. It is concluded that further cooperation has very good possibilities to bring about further results. In this work the civil protection authorities have to identify and understand the influence of culture on disaster prevention and preparedness. Both societies’ experiences of long periods of isolation have, among other things, resulted in rather homogenous and self-reliant cultures that have influenced the way in which they have managed disasters. Dominant cultural values as well as competing values need to be considered in order to create consensus on how to reduce disaster risk and strengthen societal resilience.