Japanese Studies Research Articles

What Motivates Students to Study Intermediate and Advanced Level Japanese at Australian Universities?

ABSTRACT This article discusses the results of a survey (N = 148) distributed in August 2021 to Australia-based Universities offering Intermediate and Advanced level Japanese. The survey was designed to understand what motivates students to continue their Japanese language studies to the upper levels and the impact of the COVID-19 associated switch to online learning on their motivation. The content of 23 online interviews is also addressed. The discussion includes details of the metadata which shows that most survey participants are domestic students and more than half speak a language in addition to English. Dörnyei’s L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) framework was used to analyse the motivational data and the results show that most students are self-motivated and committed to their Japanese language studies. They derive motivation from various sources, such as their positive learning experience, ‘Ideal Japanese self-image’, and interest in Japanese culture including J-Pop products. Less than half of participants perceived the COVID-19 associated switch to online to have affected their motivation and this includes two who experienced increased motivation. The findings show that Intermediate and Advanced level students have a strong sense of a future self who will use the language in their careers, for leisure, and with others.

Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Prediabetes: A Systematic Meta-Analysis Approach.

Pancreatic cancer and Prediabetes pose significant public health challenges. Given the lack of strong evidence and inconsistencies, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the risk of pancreatic cancer in prediabetes. We performed a thorough search of the major databases over the last 10 years to identify relevant articles. The Pooled odds ratio(OR) and Hazard Ratio(HR) were combined to calculate the effect size(ES). We analyzed 5 studies including 5,425,111 prediabetic individuals and 16,096,467 normoglycemic population across five countries with a median follow-up of 8.5 years. We identified a noteworthy association between prediabetes and pancreatic cancer, reporting an unadjusted effect size (ES) of 1.36 (95% CI 1.05-1.77, P = 0.02) and an adjusted ES of 1.40 (1.23-1.59, P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses by age revealed variations in risk, with studies involving participants aged 60 and above exhibiting a higher effect size (ES 1.83, 95% CI 1.28-2.62, P < 0.01). Geographical differences were also observed, with Japanese studies reporting a higher risk (ES 1.89, 95% CI 1.15-3.10, P < 0.01) compared to those from the USA (ES 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.53, P < 0.01). We identified 40% higher risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with prediabetes than those with normal blood glucose necessitating urgent attention for further research and policy change.

The Notable Japanese Collections Dashboard Project: Unexpected Treasures and Opportunities for Collaboration

Abstract The Notable Japanese Collections in North America (NJC) is a digital collection discovery initiative and tool that identifies and promotes distinctive Japanese Studies collections in North America. Now entering its third year, this online database has amassed 250 print and digital collections sourced from college and research libraries and other cultural heritage institutions across the continent. Although far from complete, it already provides the most extensive list of print and digitized collections in the United States and Canada. This essay delves into the inception, collaborative journey, and long-term objectives of the NJC and culminates by spotlighting some of the fascinating holdings of its various repositories, spanning premodern to modern and contemporary periods.

Psychological Aspects of and Support for Survivors Attempting to Conceive During or After Cancer Treatments: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.

Advances in medical technology are expected to increase the possibilities for pregnancy for women during and after cancer treatment. We aimed to clarify the psychological dimensions of cancer diagnosis for patients hoping for a pregnancy (their own or their spouse/partner's) during or post-treatment and identify ways to improve support for these survivors and their families. A systematic literature review was conducted in May 2023 using six electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Ichushi-Web, and CINAHL. The search targeted English and Japanese studies with English abstracts published between January 1, 2001, and May 10, 2023. Search terms related to cancer, pregnancy, and psychological aspects were included. The initial search identified 1328 potentially relevant studies after removing duplicates. Subsequently, two reviewers screened article titles and abstracts to exclude studies with no data, those unrelated to pregnancy, and so on, and identified 44 potentially relevant studies. Two reviewers then reviewed the full text of each study, and 20 articles finally met the inclusion criteria. Several studies indicated that trying to conceive negatively impacts survivors' finances, their relationships with their spouses/partners, and their mental health. Although many participants required fertility counseling, few received such opportunities. When cancer survivors try to conceive, they experience physical, psychological, and social burdens; moreover, many report a lack of access to fertility counseling or sufficient information about reproductive health care. Health care professionals should provide patients with updated and more accurate information on reproductive medicine and fertility counseling to enhance pregnancy support during the survivorship phase.

The experience of cinema-going for women in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s

ABSTRACT In the field of Japanese film studies, the relationship between women and cinema during the 1920s and 1930s has been mainly explored through the perspective of women’s representation in films, largely neglecting the experiences of actual, historical female audiences in cinemas. This article examines how Japanese female audiences received films in cinemas and the experiences these venues offered to women. By analysing contemporary film magazine and newspaper articles, which discuss female film audiences or are authored by women themselves, this study sheds light on the cinema-going experiences of women in Japan during this period. It particularly focuses on schoolgirls’ experiences of watching Western-imported films, drawing on their testimonies found in film magazines. For schoolgirls, cinema visits constituted an adventurous escape from domestic confines. Watching foreign-imported, particularly American, films provided them with an opportunity to observe and imagine lives divergent from their own. Moreover, the widespread film culture among schoolgirls enabled them to share their affinity for these films. The article concludes that cinema-going offered schoolgirls an opportunity to momentarily escape their constrained lives and collectively envisage a life beyond their immediate realities.

Distinctive genomic features of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1-related adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in Western populations.

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1)-driven malignancy. Although Western hemisphere (Afro-Caribbean and South American) patients face worse prognoses, our understanding of ATLL molecular drivers derives mostly from Japanese studies. We performed multi-omic analyses to elucidate the genomic landscape of ATLL in Western cohorts. Recurrent deletion and/or damaging mutations involving FOXO3, ANKRD11, DGKZ, and PTPN6 implicate these genes as potential tumor suppressors. RNA-seq, published functional data and in vitro assays support the roles of ANKRD11 and FOXO3 as regulators of T-cell proliferation and apoptosis in ATLL, respectively. Survival data suggest ANKRD11 mutation may confer a worse prognosis. Japanese and Western cohorts, in addition to acute and lymphomatous subtypes, demonstrated distinct molecular patterns. GATA3 deletion was associated with unfavorable chronic cases. IRF4 and CARD11 mutations frequently emerged in relapses after interferon therapy. Our findings reveal novel putative ATLL driver genes and clinically relevant differences between Japanese and Western ATLL patients.

Research on the Talent Cultivation Mode of Colleges and Universities Specializing in Japanese Language in the Context of “New Arts”

In the context of the "New Liberal Arts," the talent cultivation model for Japanese language programs in higher education faces both new challenges and opportunities. The "New Liberal Arts" promotes core principles such as interdisciplinary integration, innovation and practice orientation, and the cultivation of comprehensive qualities, driving profound transformations in the education sector. As a language discipline, Japanese studies must innovate upon traditional foundations to meet the contemporary demand for multifaceted and application-oriented talent. This paper analyzes the current state of Japanese language talent cultivation, reveals existing issues, and proposes corresponding optimization strategies. The research finds that curriculum design needs to enhance interdisciplinary content integration, teaching methods should focus on interaction and practical application, faculty development requires urgent improvement, and practical training and internships must be reinforced. Additionally, the enhancement of students' comprehensive abilities should be woven throughout the entire educational process. By exploring these aspects, this study aims to provide references for the reform of Japanese language education in higher education, supporting the development of high-quality Japanese professionals with an international perspective, innovative capability, and practical skills.

A new study of the Kubyaukgyi (Myazedi) inscription

Abstract This paper is a new analysis of the ‘Rosetta Stone’ for the decipherment of the extinct Pyu language once spoken in what is now Upper Burma. The two pillars collectively known as the Kubyaukgyi (a.k.a. Myazedi) inscription from c. 1112 CE provide two copies of the same text in four languages: Old Burmese, Old Mon, Pali, and Pyu. I present a critical edition of the text based on newly taken photographs using RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) technology. I provide English glosses and translations of all versions of the text found on the better preserved pillar (A) and notes on the phonology of the Pyu text. As online supplementary material I provide readings of the four faces of the less well preserved pillar (B), a glossary of all words in the Pyu text including their equivalents in the other three languages of the inscription, and an apparatus of readings from previous scholarship. Unlike previous Western scholarship on the Kubyaukgyi, this paper incorporates the findings of earlier Japanese studies of the Kubyaukgyi inscription. It also takes into account recent developments in Mon and Pyu language studies.

The archaeological direction in Japanese studies in Russia: Development, peculiarities, personal experience

The archaeological direction in Japanese studies in Russia: Development, peculiarities, personal experience

"Understanding Japanese Language Studies" : Report on Incorporating PSC Education in a Practical Class

"Understanding Japanese Language Studies" : Report on Incorporating PSC Education in a Practical Class

#653 Changes in iron markers and D-dimer levels during enarodustat treatment depends on different iron prescription patterns in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Iron preparations are commonly administered with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents or hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PH inhibitors) in hemodialysis patients to promote hematopoiesis and prevent iron deficiency. A recent study highlighted the causal relationship between thrombosis and upregulated serum transferrin levels due to iron deficiency. Additionally, rapid increase of hemoglobin (Hb) during HIF-PH inhibitor use is also considered a risk factor for the development of thromboembolism. Therefore, monitoring iron parameters and Hb is essential for managing anemia and thrombosis risk. We investigated the impact of practice patterns of iron supplementation on iron metabolism in patients receiving a HIF-PH inhibitor enarodustat. Changes in D-dimer levels, a thrombosis-related factor, were also assessed. Method We performed a post-hoc analysis using pooled data from two phase 3 clinical studies of enarodustat in Japanese maintenance hemodialysis patients, SYMPHONY HD and SYMPHONY HD-Long studies. We divided the subjects into three groups according to practice patterns of iron administration: subjects who did not receive iron at all during the enarodustat administration period (Non-Iron Group), subjects who received intravenous iron at least once (IV Iron Group), and subjects who continuously received oral iron-containing preparations including ferric citrate (Oral Iron Group). The time courses of transferrin saturation (TSAT), serum ferritin, and D-dimer levels were compared across these three groups using mixed effects models for repeated measures (MMRM) (with an unstructured covariance structure for the dependent variables). Results The Non-Iron Group, IV Iron Group, and Oral Iron Group consisted of 60, 69, and 73 cases, respectively. Figures show the time courses of TSAT, serum ferritin levels, and changes in D-dimer levels for each practice pattern. MMRM analysis revealed that TSAT levels in the Non-Iron Group and IV Iron Group during the enarodustat administration period were significantly lower than those in the Oral Iron Group (p &amp;lt; 0.01 and p &amp;lt; 0.01, respectively). Similar results were observed for serum ferritin levels (p &amp;lt; 0.01 and p &amp;lt; 0.01, respectively). Moreover, the rate of D-dimer increase in the Non-Iron Group was significantly higher than in the Oral Iron Group (p = 0.029). There was a trend toward a higher rate of D-dimer increase in IV Iron Groups compared to the Oral Iron Group (p = 0.11). Conclusion These findings suggest the superiority of continuous oral iron supplementation over intermittent IV iron supplementation or no iron supplementation during HIF-PH inhibitor administration in terms of preventing thrombosis through maintaining TSAT levels. The association between iron-related parameters and the occurrence of thrombosis needs to be analyzed.

#1365 Clinical efficacy of tonsillectomy combined with steroid pulse therapy in IgA nephropathy

Abstract Background and Aims IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in the Asia–Pacific region, including Japan, and often leads to dialysis initiation. The etiology of IgA nephropathy remains unclear; however, focal infections such as chronic tonsillitis are proposed. Although tonsillectomy should not be performed for Caucasian IgA nephropathy patients, some Japanese studies reported that the combination of steroid pulse therapy with tonsillectomy (TSP) was more effective than steroid pulse therapy alone for the remission of urinary findings. However, the immunosuppressive treatment regimens vary among studies, and treatment effect of combination therapy in preventing renal functional decline is unclear. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of steroid pulse therapy alone versus TSP in improving the remission rate of urinary findings and preventing renal functional decline. Method This retrospective observational study included 116 patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy based on renal biopsy and treated between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020 in Gifu University Hospital. TSP group underwent tonsillectomy received 0.5 g/day of methylprednisolone intravenously for 3 consecutive days at 1-3 weeks. TSP and steroid pulse therapy alone group had 83 and 33 patients, respectively. Of these, 25 patients per group were matched using propensity score matching based on clinicopathologic factors including age, urinary protein level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and the risk classification for progression to end-stage renal disease. The remission rate of urinary findings and the change in eGFR one year after treatment initiation were compared between the two groups. Remission of urinary findings was defined as a urinary protein level of &amp;lt;150 mg/day and &amp;lt;5 erythrocytes/high-power field in the urine sediment. Results The TSP and steroid pulse therapy alone groups did not significantly differ in baseline characteristics including median age (interquartile range) (58 [47–63] and 56 [49–68] years, respectively), female sex (9 and 7, respectively), mean eGFR (60 ± 20 and 63 ± 21 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively), median urinary protein level (764 [440–1,472] and 990 [425–1,872] mg/day, respectively) (p &amp;gt; 0.05 for all). The remission rate of urinary findings was significantly higher in the TSP group than in the steroid pulse therapy alone group (72% vs. 20%; p &amp;lt; 0.001, χ2 test). Albeit statistically nonsignificant, the decline in eGFR was smaller in the TSP group than that in the steroid pulse therapy alone group (−1.5 ± 8.1 vs −3.7 ± 10.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.416; t test). No severe side effect was observed in both treatment groups. Conclusion The higher remission rate of urinary findings observed in the TSP group compared to the steroid pulse alone group suggested that the addition of tonsillectomy to steroid pulse therapy was a clinically effective treatment for IgA nephropathy. Albeit not significant, the TSP group tended to have a smaller decline in eGFR reduction at one-year follow-up, indicating the need for further studies with long-term observation.

Towards Sustainable Practices of Diversity and Inclusion of SOGIESC in Japanese Language Education & Japanese Studies

ABSTRACT Research into Japanese language education and the intersections of gender and sexuality has demonstrated the importance of critiquing heteronormative biases in teaching materials and resources. We propose that collaborative approaches which decentre regimental heteronormative understandings of the Japanese language and which facilitate inclusivity and affirmation of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) are crucial to sustainable practices in Japanese language education at all levels. Adopting a critical reflexive stance, we first trace the community advocacy which has resulted in changes to representations of sexual identities in Japanese dictionaries. We next critically examine Japanese language education materials which are used across a diversity of locales before offering some practical ways in which small changes can be made to ensure greater inclusion and affirmation of SOGIESC in local learning environments. Further, we discuss the importance of developing metalinguistic awareness in relation to gendered speech styles and language ideologies. We argue that collaboration and co-construction are fundamental to sustainable practices which learn from histories of advocacy and research, are responsive to shifts in Japanese society and culture, and adaptable to a diversity of learning environments.

Between Koenji and Brooklyn: Tokyo, New York, and the Circulations of Experimental Musics in a Global World

Using a group of Japanese‐born experimental musicians who make their lives in Tokyo and New York as a case study, this article examines how new musical genres are created, shared, and mediated through layers of circulations, identities, and locations. The author argues that these musicians’ lives and music have a kind of “noisy” quality, complicating genre boundaries and identity binaries in their wake. Through ethnographic “thick descriptions” and the words of the musicians themselves, the author shows the web of musical genres, languages, geopolitical identities, and gender relations that combine to make up the texture of musical performances. This article is also thinking through and with a sea change in the study of Japanese music. In recent years, building on the work of scholars of Japanese cultural studies, ethnomusicologists have critiqued how monocultural and mono‐ethnic mythologies have influenced the study and production of Japanese music. Ethnomusicology and area studies are Cold War enterprises, designed to create research that would help maintain that world order, educate Americans as global leaders, and change hearts and minds in foreign lands, leading to a cultural conservatism that often led scholars to focus on “traditional” Japanese music. Recently, however, research on Japanese music has increasingly focused on popular and experimental musics and examines how Japanese contemporary identity is created and maintained through music. Thus this article gives readers a view of how US‐based Japanese music scholarship is moving away from such Cold War paradigms and contributes to this shift in studies of Japanese music and culture.

Development and evaluation of the reliability and validity of the Japanese Version of the Positive Solitude Scale

Objectives Solitude is a state of being without social contact; it occurs when a person chooses not to interact with others, even when they are in the company of others. It is not necessarily accompanied by negative feelings. In contrast, loneliness, is a psychological state characterized by the feeling of needing the company of others. Most Japanese studies have regarded loneliness as an unpleasant and painful experience. In this study, focusing on solitude, we developed the Japanese version of the Positive Solitude Scale (JPSS) developed by Palgi et al. and evaluated its reliability and validity. This scale assesses the "conscious and voluntary decision to be alone as a positive experience."Methods A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted between May and August 2023, with 700 men and women participants aged 20 years or older living in Ward A, Sapporo. The survey items comprised basic attributes, the JPSS, subjective sense of health, subjective sense of well-being, and depression to verify convergent validity and social network and loneliness to verify discriminant validity. Additionally, principal component and correlation analyses were performed.Results A total of 245 questionnaires were collected, and 237 valid responses were obtained (valid response rate: 33.9%). The participants' mean age was 58.5±1.2 years and 111 (46.8%) were men; the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the JPSS was 0.92. The principal component analysis revealed that all nine items had principal component loadings above 0.6, with a cumulative contribution of 62.3% to the overall scale. The total scale score was significantly positively correlated with subjective health (ρ=0.210, P=0.001), positive affect (ρ=0.302, P<0.001), and life satisfaction (ρ=0.241, P<0.001). There were no significant correlations among depression, negative affect, social networks, and loneliness.Conclusions The JPSS is a reliable and valid instrument unaffected by social networks and other social relationships. It is expected to be a promising new scale that can measure perceptions of time as a positive emotion, distinct from loneliness.

Native americans in the stories of Sherman Alexie

In the XX century of American Literature the themes, new characters, new directions and genres could be observed in the novels, stories and poems. In their scholarly articles literary critics analyzed the multicultural dimension in the literature of this period as the country had raised a new generation of immigrants, who were writing about their national identities in American society. Thus XX century American literature could be considered as multicultural literature that depicted the life of new generation of people who belong to various cultures but who grew up and were educated in modern American society. In its turn this multiculturalism caused the development of different nations studies that examined this aspect of literature. Examples are Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese and Mexican literary studies. Similarly, there is also Native American literature that studies creative works written by a new generation of Native American Indians. Representatives of Native American Literature raised several issues that young generation of native Americans are facing in American society. This paper deals with the stories of the Native American writer Sherman Alexie, whose works depict life, interests and problems of modern native Americans.

Barriers to long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotic use in Japan: Insights from a comparative psychiatrist survey.

To investigate the negative attitudes of Japanese psychiatrists toward atypical long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, which are the current mainstream LAIs in Japan. We surveyed 69 Japanese psychiatrists using a 5-point Likert scale to assess their attitudes toward atypical LAI antipsychotics. Our assessment referenced concerns identified in a study conducted in Japan a decade ago, which found significant differences when compared with a survey of German psychiatrists. We also identified the factors influencing these negative attitudes. Additionally, the results were compared with those of previous Japanese and German studies. More than 50% of Japanese psychiatrists expressed negative attitudes toward atypical LAI antipsychotics in various areas. These concerns included apprehensions about cost, reluctance to recommend them initially, pain from injections, complexity of switching to LAI, usage in first-episode cases, and sufficient medication adherence with oral drugs. In all three studies, cost and adequate adherence to oral medication were concerns that exceeded the average of the three negative comments. Age and experience in psychiatry influenced the psychiatrists' attitudes toward using these drugs in first-episode cases. These findings shed light on the reasons for the underutilization of atypical LAI antipsychotics and suggest opportunities to enhance their appropriate use in clinical settings.

Cutaneous adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination: A case series of 30 Japanese patients and a review of 93 Japanese studies.

In Japan, cutaneous adverse events (AEs) following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination have been frequently described; however, a larger case series and literature review are lacking. There is an urgent need for an extensive investigation of new cases and previous reports to provide a thorough body of information about post-COVID-19 immunization cutaneous AEs. We aimed to analyze patients with cutaneous AEs after COVID-19 vaccination in our hospital and review previous studies of cutaneous AEs. We analyzed post-COVID-19 vaccination cutaneous AEs in our department, the Japanese Registry, and previous literature. We enrolled 30 patients with cutaneous post-vaccination AEs in our department over 2 years (April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023). We also confirmed cases registered in the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare COVID-19 vaccine side effect reporting system (February 17, 2021-March 12, 2023). A total of 587 records were retrieved and 93 articles were included for data extraction. A total of 28 non-injection-site cutaneous AEs and two injection-site AEs were identified. Six (20.0%) patients developed new-onset erythematous eruptions, and five (16.7%) patients developed urticaria. Pruritic eruption, eczema, shingles, and sweating symptoms have also been reported. In previous studies on non-injection-site cutaneous AEs, individuals who received the BNT162b2 vaccine were older than those who received mRNA-1273 (P < 0.01). Cutaneous AEs were mostly nonsignificant and self-limiting reactions; however, rare, severe, or life-threatening AEs were also reported. Physicians should be aware of the various possible cutaneous AEs associated with the COVID-19 vaccination.

Suicide Interventions in Spain and Japan: A Comparative Systematic Review.

(1) Background: This systematic review presents an overview of psychological interventions in suicide published between 2013 and 2023 in Spain and Japan, sparked by Spain's alarming recent increase in suicide rates and the potential exemplar of Japan's reduction efforts. (2) Methods: Following the PRISMA checklist, the databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycInfo were searched using the terms [("suicide" OR "suicidal behavior" OR "suicidal attempt" OR "suicidal thought" OR "suicidal intention") AND ("prevention" OR "intervention" OR "psychosocial treatment" OR "Dialectical Behavior Therapy" OR "Cognitive Therapy" OR "psychotherap*")] AND [("Spain" OR "Spanish") OR ("Japan" OR "Japanese")]. We included articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals, written in English, Spanish, and Japanese between 2013 and 2023 that presented, designed, implemented, or assessed psychological interventions focused on suicidal behavior. (3) Results: 46 studies were included, concerning prevention, treatment, and training interventions. The risk of bias was low in both Spanish and Japanese studies, despite the lack of randomization of the samples. We identified common characteristics, such as psychoeducation and coping skills. Assertive case management was only highlighted in Japan, making an emphasis on active patient involvement in his/her care plan. (4) Conclusions: The findings will help professionals to incorporate into their interventions broader, more comprehensive approaches to consider more interpersonal components.

지역 연구와 일본학의 역할 - 근대 시기 대구 연구의 의미와 체계화를 사례로 -

지역 연구와 일본학의 역할 - 근대 시기 대구 연구의 의미와 체계화를 사례로 -