Japanese Context Research Articles

Sitting with the Death of a (Cherry) Tree

Abstract Making use of a case study in the contemporary deployment of Zen Buddhism as a framework for environmental activism and chaplaincy, this article considers the cultural politics and philosophical importance of ‘how Chan became Zen,’ revealing some tendencies towards the hegemony of Japanese cultural preferences in the representation and practice of Zen today. Concretely, it explores the significance of cherry trees as emblems of this tendency. Rather than simply reflecting a cultural or aesthetic preference for cherry blossom in Japanese culture, this article goes further to suggest that exhibiting a preference for any particular species of tree at all might be a distinctive feature of the development of Chan into Zen in the Japanese context, and that this actually represents a philosophical and doctrinal shift in the content of the paired traditions. If true, this observation suggests that the contemporary move to return Chan (rather than Zen) to the center of scholarly and practical attention is more than a correction of names in the international marketplace, but it also has some concrete implications for Buddhist practice today, including in the practice of eco-chaplaincy. Does the (re)turn to Chan mean that we have to give up the privileging of cherry trees? Even more provocatively, if it is necessary to surrender this privilege, might it also be necessary to re-cast Dōgen, the founder of Sōtō Zen in Japan, as Chan descendant rather than primarily a Zen ancestor? Along the way, this article considers the challenges encountered by Zen as a global presence, especially as it encounters indigenous cultures outside Asia. The rapid spread of Zen in North America has created some complicated dilemmas in settler politics and decolonial practice. Once again, the cherry tree emerges as an emblem of these issues.

A place for public concerns in parole decision making in Japan

AbstractIn recent years, parole decision makers have grappled with an intensifying challenge in addressing public concerns. While discussions on the rise of ‘parole populism’ have emerged, especially in Canada, the United States, Australia and England and Wales, little is known about the way public concerns influence parole release in Japan. This article engages in legal‐systematic analysis of the intricate relationship between public concerns and Japanese parole decision making in general and release from life imprisonment in particular. The article argues that, while Japanese selective parole decision making considering public concerns in secrecy may have partially contributed to political rhetoric encouraging parole, it also poses unique challenges distinct from those in Anglophone jurisdictions. It reveals the value of fostering a transparent and accountable parole decision‐making system to promote a more balanced and fairer approach to parole in the Japanese context.

Mixed Japanese identities and multiculturalism

In this article, we unpack how ideologies of ethnonationalism and multiculturalism in the Australian and Japanese contexts present tensions in self-identity and national belonging for youth of mixed Japanese and Australian background. With the aim of furthering our understanding of multiculturalism and its place in Australia, we investigate the complex ways in which these individuals are positioned in-between such ostensibly antithetical ideologies in their transnational lives to provide unique insight into a little studied community in Australia. To do so, we draw on interview data conducted with youth aged 18 to 25 who live in Australia or Japan and are the child of one ethnically Japanese and non-Japanese parent. Our findings demonstrate that multiculturalism in Australia encourages a sense of belonging and community by attributing meaning towards the ubiquity of ethnic, racial and cultural differences in urban Australian spaces. However, feelings of inclusivity or belongingness which derive from a sense of multiculturalism are often overshadowed by discourses of ethnonationalism, such as ‘whiteness’ or ‘Japaneseness’, which contradict and unsettle their mixed identities as people of Japanese and Australian backgrounds.

“I Think She’s Forgiven Me”: Utilizing the Language of Play to Nurture Connection between a Nonverbal Child and Their Mother

The ability to communicate, to understand and share meaning, is a salient feature of human development, crucial for integration in, and acceptance by, the social group and for the emergence of a sense of selfhood. Human infants are primed to communicate through playful interaction from the moment of birth and play remains the primary mode of communication throughout childhood, accessible by all ages and abilities. Play is integral to the development of intersubjectivity on which all human connection depends, and which is vital to social acceptance and emotional wellbeing. This paper describes the way in which play represents a mode of metacommunication when a child is diagnosed with a serious illness or disability as a means of sharing meaning around healthcare experiences. A case example from the Japanese context illustrates the way in which the Health Play Specialist uses the language of play to nurture connection in a parent-child dyad living with a diagnosis of neurological impairment, reinforcing the need for wider recognition of the role of play as the universal language of childhood.

Native-Speakerness, Gender, Race, and Age: The Negotiation of Language and (Imagined) Identities by Learners of Japanese at an Australian University

ABSTRACT This study explores how three multilingual learners of Japanese as a second language (L2) at an Australian university negotiate their language and (imagined) identities in relation to their L2 learning. Based on interview data, the results indicate that while the participants’ imagined identities were closely connected with “native-speakerness” and/or “Japaneseness,” the specific meaning of these concepts varied between participants depending on their negotiation of other social identities, such as language, gender, race, and age. Additionally, their varying identity negotiations coincided with their unique linguistic choices in the interviews: While two participants predominantly used either Japanese or English, one used Japanese and English much more fluidly when responding to questions that were in Japanese. These findings reveal the unique ways in which each participant actively negotiates language and identities at the intersection of their past, present, and future within the Japanese language learning context, an environment influenced by unequal power relations.

Sports and epilepsy: A comprehensive review in the Japanese context

Abstract: Introduction: Epilepsy, affecting 1% of the global population, is a neuropsychiatric disease often co-occurring with psychiatric disorders. It is characterized by recurrent “epileptic seizures” caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which poses risks during exercise and damages athletic identity. In Japan, psychiatrists perform essential roles in the treatment of patients with epilepsy. Methods: This review examines and addresses the challenges and opportunities for individuals with epilepsy in athletic endeavors. Results: Historically, misconceptions regarding seizure triggers, societal stigma, and overprotective attitudes have limited physical activity among individuals with epilepsy, resulting in obesity and reduced wellbeing. However, exercise does not typically induce seizures. Recent research suggests that exercise benefits seizure control, quality of life, and comorbidities among individuals with epilepsy. Sports participation risks were categorized into three groups using tailored guidelines provided by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Water-based sports require controlled environments, monitoring, and distinctive attire due to the risk of drowning. In contact sports, precautions are required to address seizures prior to physical contact. Guidelines for children with epilepsy in school events emphasize inclusion, as restrictions may lead to social and developmental challenges. Few prominent athletes who openly disclosed their epilepsy diagnoses. Conclusion: Physical activity offers benefits to individuals with epilepsy, necessitating a re-evaluation of exercise restrictions. Guidelines and seizure type considerations are essential. Athletes’ openness about epilepsy enhances awareness and support, contributing to the overall well-being of this population. Dipruption of epilepsy on competitive mindset might extend to Athletic Identity (AI).

Intercultural experience facilitates majority-group acculturation through ethnocultural empathy: Evidence from a mixed-methods investigation in Japan

The present two-phased sequential exploratory mixed-methods study investigated majority-group members’ acculturation through pre-tertiary Japanese teachers’ experiences with children of Kurdish asylum-seekers in school settings. In Study 1, we employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand and make meaning of the personal experiences of nine Japanese pre-tertiary teachers from a majority-group acculturation perspective. The qualitative data suggested a link between the participants’ intercultural contact experience, ethnocultural empathy, and receptiveness to majority-group acculturation. Furthermore, the acculturative changes experienced by the majority-group members appeared to influence institutional changes. Subsequently, we tested these relationships in quantitative analysis with a sample of 110 Japanese school teachers in Study 2. We used a survey informed by the works of Wang et al.’s (2003) Ethnocultural Empathy scale and Kunst et al.’s (2023) Majority-Group Acculturation scale. The results confirmed the positive association between intercultural contact experience, ethnocultural empathy, and majority-group members’ acculturation. We conclude that promoting multiculturalism in school settings may have long-term benefits for both majority and minority group members within the Japanese context despite potential adversities involved in regular intercultural contact.

Association between Children's Difficulties, Parent-Child Sleep, Parental Control, and Children's Screen Time: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

Children's screen time may affect their growth and development. However, differences in the impact of various psychiatric and psychological factors on children's screen time is a research gap. This study aimed to explore the differences in the influence of related factors affecting children's screen time based on their sleep, difficulties, and parental control among Japanese elementary and junior high school students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents in Japan. Data on screen time duration, parent-child background, strengths and difficulties, sleep variables, and parental control types were collected from 225 households. A regression analysis revealed that high Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores (β = 0.166, p = 0.008), sleep duration (β = -0.281, p < 0.001), and parental control (β = -0.204, p = 0.001) were significantly related to children's screen time. Additionally, it was found that parents' late bedtimes affect children's screen time by mediating children's sleep duration. This study, together with previous research, provides comprehensive insights into design interventions to decrease the screen time of children in the Japanese context.

Do People Perceive Products Differently when Buying for Self Versus for Others? Malleable Brand Personality in Gifting

According to social identity theory, people behave differently in a social context than when they are by themselves because of social identity salience. Like people, brand personality changes depending on situations and context. There is lack of research investigating identity salience within the context of gifting and its subsequent impact on the perceived brand personality of a gift in different gifting situations. This paper proposes that in gifting situations of others, a social identity is activated which leads to change in the perceived brand personality of the same product purchased for self-gifting. Within the Japanese context, the hypothesis states that the excitement of brand personality dimension is more prominent in self-gifting than in gifting others, while competence and sincerity brand personalities are more prominent in gifting others than in self-gifting scenarios. To test these hypotheses, thirty-six brand personality traits (Aaker et al., 2001) of eight brands were evaluated by 251 respondents in Japan. Factor analysis and multiple regression results support the main hypotheses. The paper concludes with managerial implications and future research directions.

Preliminary report of the Japanese version of the International Olympic Committee Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1

Abstract: Objective: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) is an athlete-specific screening tool developed to identify mental health symptoms in elite athletes and potential need for referral to care. We aimed to report the prevalence using the Japanese version of the SMHAT-1 in a Japanese sport context. Methods: Web-based anonymous self-report data of 220 competing Japan Rugby Top League rugby players were analyzed. The players answered all screening questionnaires of the SMHAT-1 containing the assessment for multiple mental health symptoms for sport-related psychological distress (step 1), and the following specific symptoms (step2): anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, alcohol misuse, substance misuse, and disordered eating. The prevalence of each symptom was calculated. The false-negative rate (FNR) for step 1 identifying athletes that were positively screened on the subsequent step 2, was computed. Results: 65% players experienced the sport-related psychological distress while the prevalence of mental health symptoms ranged from 4.5% for substance misuse to 72.3% for alcohol misuse. Step 1 correctly detected all positive screened cases for anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. In addition, a small proportion of cases were FNR for sleep disturbance (9.1%) and substance misuse (2.6%). 64.9% and 35.1% of cases were FNR for alcohol misuse and disordered eating, respectively. Conclusion: The SMHAT-1 might have acceptable performance in detect anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, however, it should be noted that false negatives also exist for other common mental health symptoms like disordered eating and sleep problems.

Relationship between teacher and student psychological well-being in a Japanese context

ABSTRACT Psychological well-being (PWB) encompasses the positive aspects of mental health, such as hedonic wellbeing (experience of enjoyment and pleasure), eudaimonic wellbeing (experience of self-actualization), and life satisfaction (global evaluation of quality of life). Japanese teachers suffer from poor PWB with a high incidence of mental health problems. Despite the potentially significant impact of poor Japanese teachers’ PWB on their students’ PWB, these associations have remained largely unexplored. The present study investigated if teacher PWB has any relationship with student PWB and if teacher-student relationship, students’ abilities for resilience, and classroom climate mediate the teacher and student PWB relationship, with 46 teachers and 1,256 children aged 8–12 years from Japanese schools. A multilevel mediation analysis revealed an indirect positive relationship between Japanese teacher life satisfaction and Japanese student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing mediated by students’ abilities for resilience. There was no relationship between teacher and student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Nonetheless, the findings still imply that promoting teacher life satisfaction may contribute to the promotion of student hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Future researchers could investigate if a school-based intervention targeted at both Japanese teachers and students would more effectively promote PWB among students than would such interventions aimed only at students.

Non-Financial Capital Value Creation: Assessing Japan's Path to an ESG-Friendly Economy through the Yanagi Model

This paper explores the possibility of Japan adopting the Non-Financial Capital and Equity Spread Synchronization Model, also known as the Yanagi Model, to build an ESG-friendly economy. The Yanagi Model focuses on incorporating non-financial elements, such as environmental, social, and governance factors, into companies' traditional financial performance measures. By doing so, the model aims to enhance firms' long-term sustainability and value creation. The paper assesses the potential benefits and challenges of implementing the Yanagi Model in the Japanese context through a review of relevant literature and case studies. The literature suggests that integrating ESG factors can lead to improved financial performance, reduced risk, and increased reputation for companies. However, there are also concerns about the lack of standardization and transparency in ESG data, as well as the potential for greenwashing or superficial adoption of ESG practices. Despite these challenges, the paper argues that the Yanagi Model could serve as a viable path for Japan to build an ESG-friendly economy, given the country’s recent push for sustainability and the growing demand for socially responsible investments. The paper suggests several recommendations for improving the model, such as increasing transparency and standardization in ESG data, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and promoting a culture of long-term value creation. Overall, the paper concludes that while there are challenges to adopting the Yanagi Model, its potential benefits for building a sustainable and ESG-friendly economy in Japan make it a worthwhile pursuit.

Jocular self-deprecation in Japanese initial interactions

Research into conversational humour has found its significant role across a wide range of interactional settings, but to date, only a limited body of studies have investigated the use of conversational humour in initial interactions between interactants who are not previously acquainted. Moreover, no previous studies have investigated the use of conversational humour in Japanese initial interactions, perhaps due to the assumption that humour is only employed in interactions between people with close relationships in Japanese contexts. Preliminary inspections of a dataset of initial interactions in Japanese indicated the prevalence of jocular self-deprecation, where Japanese interactants humorously disparage themselves. Using the framework of interactional pragmatics, this study investigates how jocular self-deprecations are locally situated, co-constructed, and sequentially accomplished in Japanese initial interactions. This empirical study draws on a dataset of twenty face-to-face initial interactions between Japanese university students (approximately 6.5 hours of audio recordings) retrieved from BTSJ Corpus (Usami, 2022). Japanese interactants strategically construct jocular self-deprecations in achieving various relational goals. Given that study on conversational humour in both Japanese settings and initial interactional settings are still scarce, the findings contribute to the variability of this research body, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of the (socio)pragmatics of conversational humour.

Elder statesman as a jack-of-all-trades: The case of Satō Eisaku in 1970s Japan

ABSTRACT Studies of political leaders tend to focus on their time wielding formal authority as well as the political “coming-of-age” that brought them to that crucial moment. Yet recent headlines about exceptionally powerful former heads of government such as Donald Trump and the recently-deceased Abe Shinzō suggest a greater need to examine politicians who have left top official posts. Such scholarship remains scarce even relating to the Japanese context, where elder statesmen have been particularly influential in the political process throughout history. This paper highlights the significant and complex role of former leaders by examining the case of former prime minister Satō Eisaku in 1970s Japan. Known for being the Japanese prime minister with the longest continuous tenure until Abe Shinzō broke his record in 2020, Satō’s activities as a retired leader have been largely overlooked. This study challenges the conventional wisdom about Satō, demonstrating that even as an elder statesman he exerted a pivotal, stabilizing influence in a tumultuous era of Japanese political history. Indeed, his accomplishments despite the brevity of his prime ministerial “afterlife” underscore the importance of taking political actors seriously even after they have vacated their formal public roles.

An online survey on differences in knowledge and stigma about epilepsy among the Tokyo metropolitan area and non-urban areas in Japan, a post-hoc study

PurposeExtant research elucidating the domains of knowledge and bias on epilepsy has consistently underscored a deficiency in cognizance and an inclination toward bias within non-urban areas. Investigations into geographical disparities concerning epilepsy awareness and prejudice within the Japanese context remain conspicuously absent. To address this lacuna in the literature, we undertook a post-hoc analysis to elucidate the discernible regional differentials in epilepsy awareness and the associated stigma. MethodsFrom July to August 2021, we conducted an internet questionnaire survey for 310 people with epilepsy (PWE) and 213 ordinary people without epilepsy who registered on the database of the Japanese Research Company. We inquired PWE to answer the Epilepsy Self-Stigma Scale (ESSS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS). We inquired to answer ordinary people without epilepsy EKS. We analyzed residential addresses separately for Greater Tokyo and non-urban areas by comparing the degree of knowledge of people with epilepsy and people without epilepsy. ResultsThe average knowledge of people with and without epilepsy in the Greater Tokyo area was 39.60 and 28.43 points, although in non-urban areas (nine regions from all over Japan except for the Greater Tokyo, Tokai region, and Kinki region), the knowledge averages were 38.44 and 28.66 points of 100. In addition, self-stigma was highest in the Greater Tokyo area: 22.99 and in non-urban areas: 22.77. An two-way ANOVA with knowledge as the dependent variable and epilepsy diagnosis status and region (Greater Tokyo area/non-urban areas) as the independent variables revealed no interaction between diagnosis and region (F(1,346) = 1.48, η2 = 0.003). Knowledge was significantly higher in PWE than in people without epilepsy, but we could not identify any significant difference between ESSS (t = 0.24, d = 0.03) and RSES (t = 1.16, d = 0.16) in the Greater Tokyo/non-urban areas. ConclusionsWe obtained specific information about regional differences in the level of knowledge and stigma about epilepsy in Japan. Because Japan underwent educational reforms after World War II and more than 90% of the population received equally advanced education, the results found no regional differences in knowledge and stigma about epilepsy. We believe collecting information about the respondents' birth and upbringing environment and conducting a thorough investigation is necessary in the future.

Japanese Universities’ International Medical Partnerships: Reciprocity and Stratification

Recently, study abroad and elective programs have been facilitated via university partnerships based on student-exchange agreements. This study examined international medical student exchange agreements, focusing on reciprocity and stratification in the Japanese context. An empirical analysis was conducted using 581 agreements involving student exchanges with medical institutions in foreign countries based on a survey conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Education. We found that the average reciprocity rate via mutual tuition waivers was 52.84%: equivalent in Asia, slightly lower in Europe (49.61%), and higher in North America (58.06%). Europe has a balanced inbound and outbound exchange, Asia has a higher inbound exchange, and North America has an excess of outbound exchange from Japan. Moreover, selective institutions, such as former imperial or medical universities, have more than twice the number of agreements per university compared to others. In conclusion, it can be observed that international medical university partnerships are stratified, and reciprocity is intertwined with tuition waivers and the number of exchange students in the partnering institutions. As the results highlight the distinct characteristics of international education partnerships in Japan’s medical field compared to partnerships in all academic fields, it is necessary to investigate and develop international partnerships separately by field.

Stigmatized attitudes of medical staff toward people who use drugs and their determinants in Japanese medical facilities specialized in addiction treatment.

Stigma within healthcare settings significantly impact the lives of people who use drugs (PWUD). Given the lack of quantitative data on stigma toward PWUD in healthcare settings and the unknown factors that contribute to it in the Japanese context, this study aimed to investigate the current status of stigma toward PWUD and its determinants. We conducted a survey in five specialized addiction medical facilities across three prefectures in Japan. The survey included questions related to stigmatizing attitudes toward PWUD, knowledge about illicit drug use, and personal and professional interactions with PWUD. A substantial portion of respondents rejected the notion that drug addiction can be overcome through sheer willpower or attributed it solely to moral failings. However, the majority still considered them untrustworthy and viewing drug use as unacceptable and incomprehensible. Many respondents perceived PWUD as dangerous, despite the limited occurrence of hostile behavior from PWUD in clinical practice. A considerable proportion of respondents did not seek support for their own or their relatives' drug-related issues, and less than half had collaborated with recovered PWUD, which serves as potential indicators of reduced stigma. While healthcare professionals recognized that involving law enforcement does not contribute to the recovery of PWUD, a considerable number still believed it was necessary to report them to the authorities. Healthcare professionals in specialized addiction medical facilities demonstrate strong stigmatizing attitudes toward PWUD. Comprehensive educational programs and large-scale awareness campaigns are necessary to address and mitigate stigma in this context.

Russian Literature in Japanese Film: Cross-cultural Adaptations in the Silent Era

Since the beginning of the film industry in Japan, many short films and movies based on Western literary works were made, especially during the 1910s and 1920s. Several of those films were based on fashionable Russian literary works that had been staged in Shingeki (new drama) theaters. This study examines the adaptations of Russian literature produced from the early 1910s until the end of the silent-film era in the 1930s, focusing specifically on films based on Tolstoy’s novel Resurrection, the drama The Living Corpse, and Gorky’s play The Lower Depths. It is shown that the early adaptations, filmed in the 1910s, aimed to closely adhere to the original literary works by maintaining key plot events and recreating the cultural milieu through sets, costumes, and staging. However, starting from the 1920s, adaptations followed intercultural and intertextual processes, freely modifying the works to suit the Japanese cultural context. This shift in the approach to adapting Western literary works was influenced by the social, political, and cultural changes experienced by the country during those decades.

Learning from Japanese Businesses: Ethics in Operational Excellence

Humanistic management in a non-Western context is underexplored, for example, in Japan. Despite numerous publications especially on Japanese management in the 1980s to 1990s the topic of humanistic management in a Japanese context remains largely unexplored. Using Toyota as a case, this article illustrates how a company has systematically implemented Japanese ethical principles based upon Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Shintoism in its corporate ethics and operations. These moral philosophies emphasize self-improvement, social cooperation, and contribution to society as foundations for good behavior regardless of an individual’s social position. We link some of these philosophic elements with humanistic management in an Asian context. In addition, we came to understand that Toyota’s organizational architecture, i.e., production system and product development rely on an integrated ethical system as their fundamental purpose of business activities, including an expectation that all workers collectively contribute to organizational success and harmony. This differs from many Western approaches which see profit as the purpose of the firm and view their ethical responsibilities in an ex-post fashion. These findings are important, as the scope of humanistic management practices globally needs to be expanded.

Perspectives on artificial intelligence in healthcare from a Patient and Public Involvement Panel in Japan: an exploratory study.

Patients and members of the public are the end users of healthcare, but little is known about their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in the Japanese context. This paper reports on an exploratory two-part workshop conducted with members of a Patient and Public Involvement Panel in Japan, which was designed to identify their expectations and concerns about the use of AI in healthcare broadly. 55 expectations and 52 concerns were elicited from workshop participants, who were then asked to cluster and title these expectations and concerns. Thematic content analysis was used to identify 12 major themes from this data. Participants had notable expectations around improved hospital administration, improved quality of care and patient experience, and positive changes in roles and relationships, and reductions in costs and disparities. These were counterbalanced by concerns about problematic changes to healthcare and a potential loss of autonomy, as well as risks around accountability and data management, and the possible emergence of new disparities. The findings reflect participants' expectations for AI as a possible solution for long-standing issues in healthcare, though their overall balanced view of AI mirrors findings reported in other contexts. Thus, this paper offers initial, novel insights into perspectives on AI in healthcare from the Japanese context. Moreover, the findings are used to argue for the importance of involving patient and public stakeholders in deliberation on AI in healthcare.