Kansai Region Research Articles

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

The Relationship Between Horizontal Illuminance, Power Consumption for Lighting and Activities in the Living Room in the the Kansai Region

The Relationship Between Horizontal Illuminance, Power Consumption for Lighting and Activities in the Living Room in the the Kansai Region

How Can Mini Cinemas in the Kansai Area Embrace Male-to-Female Cross-Dressers and Their Communities Under Urban Renewal and Gentrification?

This article considers how Japanese middle and older generation male-to-female cross-dressers (josōsha) have begun to create social ties with each other by connecting with commercial agencies. In Japan, some such cross-dressers, especially those of middle and older generations, attend mini cinemas. We argue that such cinemas have become places through which the cross-dressers feel a sense of belonging (ibasho). To develop the argument, we examine how current business strategies of the cinemas contribute to this sense of belonging. Furthermore, we explain how the connections these strategies facilitated affect various social and economic aspects of the Shinsekai district in Osaka. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants. Seven participants were male-to-female cross-dressers who regularly visited the Shinsekai district; four were staff at a cinema company in the same district; and one was the president of a neighborhood association. We also conducted participant observation to better understand the social context and lives of our participants. Our data revealed the following themes. First, as gender roles and expectations of josōsha changed, some cinemas in the Kansai region significantly renovated their spaces to appeal to cross-dressing customers. This included furnishing a changing room with lockers, a shower room, and makeup tables, and the cinemas had accordingly become comfortable ibasho for josōsha. Second, information for cross-dressers was conveyed through the Internet and word-of-mouth. This meant that the cross-dressing community in the area grew covertly. Third, a different type of commercial facility—the Japanese video-box—began performing a similar function to that of the cinemas. We conclude by suggesting that activities taking place in mini cinemas and beyond have led to an underground revitalization of the Shinsekai and Fukuhara districts in Kansai.

Forensic dental identification of remains in five prefectures in the Kansai region of Japan

AbstractThe numbers of forensic dental analyses and police dentists performing the analyses differ among the prefectures in Japan. Very little is known about the numbers of these analyses and the processes used to enlist dental experts. This report investigated the method of assigning police dentists for identification of the remains, number of the dentists, number of assigned dental analyses, payment for dental services, etc in five prefectures in the Kansai region. The number of studied remains, dental analyses, and identification by the dental experts annually processed by prefectural police stations in 2015, 2016, and 2017 are summarized. The number of the dental analyses in the five prefectures in the Kansai region ranged from 0.3 to 2.3 per 100 recovered remains, which is considered low. There was no relationship between the number of the dental analyses performed and the number of the police dentists. Utilizing the results from this report enables the creation of a database to establish better systems for forensic dentistry, which will enable a larger number of the dental analyses and earlier and accurate identification of unidentified remains.

Influence of financial conditions on stress in colorectal cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy

Abstract Objective This study was performed to clarify the influence of financial conditions on stress in patients with advanced recurrent colorectal cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. Methods A self-administered questionnaire survey was completed by patients with advanced and recurrent colorectal cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy in five hospitals in the Kansai region. The questionnaire included basic information (age, sex, current employment availability, and subjective financial condition (3 choices)), and the 29-item stress scale from Japanese version of the Mastery of Stress Instrument (5-point scale with a total score of 29-140 points) . Results Responses were received from 76 outpatients (response rate: 95%). The patients’ mean age was 66.6 ± 8.5 years, and they comprised 50 men (65.8%) and 26 jobholders (34.2%). Three patients (3.9%) always had financial leeway (Yutori group), 37 (48.7%) had a satisfactory financial margin (sufficient group), and 36 (47.4%) had no financial margin (marginless group). The mean stress score was 70.0 ± 15.3 points. The stress score was significantly higher in the unemployed group than in the working group. With respect to the patients’ subjective financial condition, the stress score was significantly higher in the marginless group than in the sufficient group. The Yutory group did not differ significantly from any other groups. Discussion and Conclusion Patients with advanced recurrent colorectal cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy often follow a long-term treatment course. Therefore, financial problems while undergoing cancer treatment may be a heavy burden. Patients who are unemployed and have no income appear to experience stressful conditions during treatment, such as distress and confusion. These findings suggest the need to provide both mental support and employment support to patients undergoing treatment for cancer. This work was supported by KAKENHI Grant Number A16H055760.

Maintaining Masculinities in Japan’s Transnational Surfscapes: Space, Place, and Gender

This article examines the local practices, histories, and transnational circulation and exchange of gender ideologies within Japanese surfscapes. A focus on gender in relation to Japanese surf culture is critical as the ways surf spaces in Japan are governed and/or have changed in recent years has as much to do with transnational gender surf ideologies as with its domestic gender norms. More specifically, we examine how gendered ideologies in Japan are mobilized in particular ways depending on the conditions of possibility—the cultural, social, geographical, historical, and networked elements—that comprise any given surfscape. To draw attention to the complexities involved in the relationship between space, place, and gender in Japan, the enquiry is undertaken in a highly localized, territorial, and big-wave surf site in Wakayama Prefecture and surrounding Kansai region. This site has been chosen because of how it localizes a unique mode of trans-Pacific surf culture, thereby offering insight into the nuances, issues, and strategies of social change as surfing continues to evolve in the region. The aim of the analysis is twofold. The first is contextual, highlighting the importance of the culturally and site-specific character of how surf culture and gender relations are assembled in the Japanese context. The second is to offer insight into the specific histories and transnational relationships informing the gendered practices of surfing in Japan today. The intention is to highlight the diversity of surf cultures throughout East Asia and the different ways surfing lifestyles are localized in relation to socio-political-ecological place-making and gender.

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

2018 Typhoon Jebi post-event survey of coastal damage in the Kansai region, Japan

ABSTRACTTyphoon Jebi in 2018 caused severe damage along areas of Osaka Bay, Japan. After the storm, a Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) coastal survey group surveyed the coastal impacts and recorded watermarks inside Osaka Bay and along the Pacific. The maximum storm tide recorded by a tide gauge was 3.29 m at the Osaka Tide Station, which is a historical high for Osaka Bay. Coastal flooding consisted of both storm surge and wave run-up in almost all locations, with flooding exceeding 5 m and 12 m in elevation from mean sea level in the inner parts of Osaka Bay and along the Pacific coast, respectively. Coastal damage was severe in areas located outside of coastal barriers, such as ports and harbors, while residential areas were mainly well protected and spared due to coastal protection systems. In addition, some inland flooding occurred in the Kobe-Ashiya regions due to the storm surge propagating up several small rivers. This survey report summarizes the findings of the post-event survey by JSCE and analyzes the relation between maximum water level and resulting damage.

Stepping-up: ‘Urban’ and ‘queer’ cultural capital in LGBT and queer communities in Kansai, Japan

This article argues that the Bourdieusian concepts of field, habitus and cultural capital open up theoretical space in which to analyse the hierarchical nature of LGBT and queer communities living in the Kansai region of Japan. Drawing upon data collected during ethnographic fieldwork, this article will show how ‘urban’ and ‘queer’ forms of LGBT-activist practice acted as a kind of cultural capital (in the form of symbolic capital) within the groups studied. The possession of and ability to engage in specific ways with these cultural capitals determined the respondents’ positions in the field. However, access is not universal, and is determined by context. Furthermore, the processes involved in a renegotiation of an individual’s position in the field can bring multiple habitus into contact, resulting not only in instances of successful transfer, but also tension and rupture. This article provides an original and timely contribution to sexuality and gender studies of Japan, by adding a detailed analysis of the ways in which cultural capital plays out in the field using ethnographic data.

Modification and initial testing of the Family Communication Questionnaire (FCQ) for Japanese child-rearing families in the period one month postpartum

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a modified version of the Family Communication Questionnaire (FCQ) for women in the period one month postpartum with a focus on communication with the woman’s partner, own mother, and friends. The FCQ can measure the frequency of communication between women and their partners, own mothers, and friends across four childcare-related domains by methods such as face-to-face interaction, telephone, e-mail, and social networking services. In the present study, a total of 500 mothers were recruited from a facility in the Kansai region of Japan from February to July 2017 to complete a survey including a modified version of the FCQ and the General Functioning Subscale of the Family Assessment Device (FAD-GF). Two weeks later, 49 of 100 mothers asked completed a test-retest. After excluding responses that were incomplete for > 10% of the items in each domain, 399 (79.8%) valid responses were included in the analysis. The distribution of scores showed a floor effect for all scores except for those with the husband. The intraclass correlation coefficients for couple (woman-her partner), woman-her own mother, and woman-her friends were 0.719-0.897, 0.871-0.987, and -0.088-0.452, respectively, and Cronbach’s α coefficients were 0.886, 0.897, and 0.897, respectively. The FCQ and FAD-GF total scores were negatively correlated. The modified FCQ developed in the present study shows good internal consistency, stability, and validity for communication between mothers, their husbands, and their own mothers during the period one month postpartum.

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Identification of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, and characterization of food components of sourdoughs used in Japanese bakeries

Sourdough is a low-pH, fermented product prepared using lactic acid bacteria and yeast mixed with rye flour, wheat flour, and water. It is used and backslopped in bakeries because it enhances texture, flavor, and dough expansion of bread. Various lactic acid bacteria and yeasts have been identified in sourdough, especially in the West. However, microbial and physical characteristics of sourdough from Japan have not been investigated. Here, we characterized the microbial composition and food component characteristics of sourdough from four bakeries in Kansai region, Japan, and performed sensory and quality evaluation of baguettes enriched with 10% sourdough. We detected different species of lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus alimentarius, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus vaccinostercus, Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, and Lactobacillus sakei. The identified yeasts primarily included Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with Candida humilis detected in some samples. Components such as amino acids, lactic acid, acetic acid, ethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl acetate, and phenethyl alcohol differed among samples and distinctively affected flavor, quality, and aroma of sourdough-enriched baguettes. The different species of lactic acid bacteria and the ratio of lactic acid bacteria to yeasts possibly affected food components such as free amino acids, sugars, and organic acids via the Maillard reaction, which influences the savory aromas of bread. Future investigation of the effect of lactic acid bacteria will help to improve the overall quality of bread.

The Roles of I-turn Migrants in Revitalizing Rural Communities: A Case Study of Some Selected Rural Areas in Kansai Region

The Roles of I-turn Migrants in Revitalizing Rural Communities: A Case Study of Some Selected Rural Areas in Kansai Region

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Public awareness and experiences associated with epilepsy in Japan, 2013–2017

BackgroundPublic attitudes and stigma toward epilepsy may limit people with epilepsy (PWE) in seeking treatment and participating in social activities. The prevalence of epilepsy is approximately 0.8% in Japan, similar to rates reported in other countries. Although epilepsy is relatively common, few studies have investigated public awareness about epilepsy in Japan. Recently, several serious car accidents in Japan involving PWE resulted in pedestrian fatalities. Traffic accidents involving PWE have been reported extensively and repeatedly in the media since 2011. In 2013 and 2017, our research group conducted a large investigation of awareness about epilepsy targeting the general public. Previous studies have reported that knowledge is one of the factors involved in improving attitudes and reducing stigma. The aim of the current study was to compare survey results, especially regarding knowledge of epilepsy, and capture changes in public awareness between 2013 and 2017. MethodsA total of 2160 people (1080 in each year) participated, with a total of 540 women in each year, aged 20–79 years. Participants lived in the greater Tokyo area as well as the Tohoku and Kansai regions of Japan. All participants answered survey questions online in January 2013 and April 2017. We analyzed five questions regarding the participants' demographic data, nine questions regarding knowledge about epilepsy, and five questions regarding experiences with epilepsy. For questions investigating the respondents' knowledge about epilepsy, we counted only the correct answers and scored these for each respondent. ResultsKnowledge scores decreased from 2013 to 2017, demonstrated by statistical analysis. However, the effect size was very small. Knowledge scores among the following groups were higher in both 2013 and 2017: people who had read or heard about epilepsy, those who had witnessed people having an epileptic seizure, people who had acquaintances who were PWE, those who had PWE in their family, and people who had studied medicine or worked in a medical profession. ConclusionWe revealed that participants who had some experience with epilepsy had higher knowledge levels in both 2013 and 2017. This suggests that such experiences could be important for motivating people to seek appropriate and accurate knowledge about epilepsy, and could result in a reduction of stigma. Greater awareness is needed among the general public in Japan about various aspects of epilepsy.

Ramen noodle supply geographies in the Kansai region of Japan: Transaction costs and semiotics in the ‘make or buy’ decision

Restaurants are an important part of the cultural economy of, cities. Ramen noodle shops are Japan's most popular type of restaurant. This paper provides a geographical analysis of ramen restaurant noodle supply in the Kansai region centred on Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Theconceptual point of departure is the age old question in transaction cost theory: to make or buy? By drawing on theory in economic geography, this paper illustrates how this decision is constituted also by cognitive and cultural concerns, and communicated via semiotic cues that are evoked in the Japanese concept of kodawari or commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship, as well as the institution of noren wake, which is a form of social reproduction characterized by enduring loose ties between chefs and the shops where they trained as apprentices. Drawing on three years, of data from 467 ramen shops in the Kansai area published in Kansai Ramen Walker magazine, the author uses ArcGIS to plot restaurant addresses in relation to their mode and location of noodle supply. This method allows for visualization of regional patterns that are then explored through ramen shop and noodle supplier firm case studies and neighborhood scale analysis. Ramen shop noodle supply is primarily local, either on site, or, procured from suppliers in the Kansai region. This pattern reflects economic efficiency in regards to transaction costs. However finer, grained analysis reveals why the variety of choices seen across the region is shaped by cognitive and culture processes that are most evident at the neighborhood scale.

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Activity Report of the Kansai Regional Chapter

Disasters occurred in Kansai region due to the heavy rain event of July 2018

Disasters occurred in Kansai region due to the heavy rain event of July 2018

Classification of Southern Basin shore water by multivariate statistical techniques of Lake Biwa, Japan

Lake Biwa provides drinking water for about 15 million people in the Kansai region, Japan. Its Southern Basin shores have not been fully investigated. Thus, the aim of our study was to classify the Southern Basin shore, offshore and inflow river waters of lake using major ions. During the period from June 2006 to July 2008, from 18 sites of the Southern Basin shore and inflow water rivers positions 216 water samples were collected. Major ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, HCO3 − and NO3 −) were determined. Thereafter, to classify the Southern Basin shores, different analysis techniques like hexadiagrams, correlation, principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were implemented. Further generated data have been plotted using the Gibbs, hexadiagrams and multivariate statistical techniques. These methods provided exhaustive information of the Southern Basin shore and inflow river water quality. Three water types were identified: (1) (Na+ + K+)–HCO3 −, (2) Ca2+–HCO3 −, and (3) (Na+ + K+)–Ca2+–HCO3 −. The hexadiagrams were resulted the dominance of (Na+ + K+)–Ca2+–HCO3 − type. The spatial–temporal patterns of major ions and its controlling factors for the selected shores and inflowing rivers were also discussed. The periodic data analysis was indicated that some inflow rivers including Okami and Kusatsu Rivers contained relatively high concentration of ions in comparison to Mano and Fujinoki Rivers. Sampling stations 15 and 60 showed significantly high concentration of ions compared to other sampling stations. The results of physico-chemical parameters and multivariate method indicate enhanced information of the Southern Basin shore and inflow river water quality.