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The present paper discusses the concept of acculturation and the specific problems immigrant children encounter in Japan against the growing and diversifying of immigration population. The author analyzes two cases of immigrant students and their acculturation difficulties in a country whose educational system is equal and accessible for all Japanese children, but which offers little support for immigrants and their unique backgrounds and vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan is one of the most developed countries in Asia. Japanese people are also famous for their work ethic. In addition, Japanese people also have the characteristics of discipline, persistence, loyalty and hard work. With such characteristics, Japan has become a very developed country, and can be in line with other developed countries such as America and other European countries. This paper also reviews the Japanese philosophy of life, one of which is the philosophy of kaizen. A philosophy that emphasizes continuous improvement and refinement is also carried out simply and gradually, until it finally reaches perfection. In the Rikuou drama, the writer finds many kaizen philosophies that are highlighted and displayed in every scene of the episode, so the writer feels interested in putting it in the form of this scientific article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with cultural diversity is one of the key challenges in contemporary societies, with Japan being no exception. However, relatively little is known about how minority group members are viewed by members of the dominant group. The current paper presents a study that evaluated three hypotheses that are related to these issues with a survey of 210 Japanese adult participants. The study also examines moderating roles of national identities in acculturation expectations and psychological functioning in the dominant group. Perceived security about the society in terms of national culture, and personal conditions in a multicultural society predict the most tolerant form of acculturation expectation. This association is mediated by one's multicultural ideology. Although acculturation expectations are not predictive of psychological functioning, particular national identity (i.e., internationalism) alleviates the negative effect of the closest form of expectation (exclusion) on psychological problems. The study implies the need for analysis on culture-specific constructs of multicultural society in perceptions and attitudes in the dominant group in Japanese society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Onomastica is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Language Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Identity is prominent in academia, despite it being difficult to define and measure due to its dynamic and multifaceted nature. In Japan, awareness of the make-up of Japanese youth is increasingly crucial as Japan becomes a more internationalized and ageing society. This paper examines, by identity mapping and discriminant analysis, the cultural identities of 94 Japanese youth. While strong Global identities separated the respondents with from without overseas experience, ties to National identities and Relationships were found respectively for males and females. This paper suggests that regarding the study of cultural identities, gender does matter – at least in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Japan is considered a homogeneous country, protest in Japan is not as rare as it appears. Following the Fukushima triple disaster in 2011, Japanese citizens demonstrated against nuclear energy. However, these protests related to issues or events that affected the entire population. Therefore, what about other groups who are demonstrating for their own rights? This paper is concerned with the attempt to classify a minority in the terms of protest and its impact. First, the important concepts for this article, such as discrimination, protest and its forms, and the terms LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and homosexuality are outlined. The topic of homosexuality represents one of the minority groups that are subject to discrimination in Japan. The key questions in this paper are therefore: how do homosexuals (dōseiaisha) as a minority group face discrimination, what are their reactions, and how does protest change the situation? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There were three Japanese medical physiologists who studied in Ivan Petrovich Pavlov's laboratory during 1904–1933. They were Hidetsurumaru Ishikawa, Yasutaro Satake, and Takashi Hayashi. The first article concerning Pavlov's theory was written by Ishikawa in 1916. At the same time, a psychologist, Genji Kuroda, also wrote an essay on Pavlov's theory. They were motivated to write the articles by a false report of Pavlov's death in 1916. Satake carried out experimental work using dogs, but he did not cite Pavlov's scientific works. Hayashi worked hard according to Pavlov's research methods. A psychologist, Yasho Kotake, first published a paper based on Pavlov's theory inJapanese Journal of Psychologyin 1943. However, these experiments did not seem to be research in the psychological field because his research program was very different to traditional Japanese psychological research. Although the introduction of behaviorism into Japan occurred in the 1910s, the reception of Pavlov's theory was delayed. The process of the reception of Pavlov's theory in Japan was different to that in the USA. It seems that the difference is due to the attitudes of psychologists to introspection and the influence of German psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese patenting system on biotechnological inventions is unique. In 1979, before the US Supreme court's decision in the Chakrabarti case (1980), the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) had issued the "Implementing Guidelines for the Invention of Microorganisms," and microorganism was considered as patentable. Japan lacks case laws. However, we can find cases like the Engineered Mice case. This study paper critically surveys and focuses on the Japanese life science (Gene/DNA) patenting system and its prevailing issues. This paper critically analyzes the current position and practices of the JPO on DNA patenting, including induced pluripotent stem cells as well as CRISPR gene‐editing technique, its challenges, and its potential future courses on this issue; the basis of granting a patent for DNA in Japan; Japanese outlook at ethical (living organisms) aspects of DNA patenting; depository system in Japan; the impacts of the tragedy of anticommons in Japan; "Creative Commons" movement; and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the attempts of Japanese business groups to destabilize the discursive hegemony of Japanese-style management and replace it with a new neoliberal order advantageous to management interests. Japanese-style management (Nihon-teki keiei) can be seen as a key element of Japanese social identity, which interpellates both workers and management into performing particular institutional practices. Altering these practices requires not only deregulatory reforms to the labor market but also a powerful discursive intervention to undermine and replace sedimented positions. Through an analysis of public policy documents, this paper shows how Japanese business groups have been carrying out such an intervention through the articulation of two keywords - "diversity" (tayōsei) and "independent-style employee" (jiritsugata jinzai) - which are used ambiguously to structure a controversial deregulatory agenda into existing discourses of globalization, creativity and social values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the Integrated Resort Bill was passed in 2017, Japan has been preparing to open casinos in Osaka and Nagasaki. Previous studies have shown that accessibility to casinos is positively correlated with the prevalence of gambling disorders. In response, the Japanese government has enacted the Basic Law against Gambling Addiction, and has started a fact-finding survey on gambling addiction every three years. This study aims to understand the prevalence of pathological gambling (PG) and gambling-related problems (e.g., multiple debt, child-rearing difficulties, suicide, depression and harm from significant others gambling, adverse childhood experiences; ACEs, etc.). Methods: A self-administered (paper and pencil or internet) questionnaire was mailed to 17,955 people from October to December 2020 using a random sampling based on the Basic Resident Register. PG was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). In addition, gambling behavior (gambling experience, frequency, and bet amounts) and original or standardized scales regarding gamblingrelated problems were examined. Results: A total of 8,223 valid responses (3,955 men and 4,268 women) were obtained. The age-adjusted past-year prevalence of PG was 2.2% overall (95% confidence interval = 1.9-2.5); however, the prevalence was higher among those who responded on the Internet. A comparison of respondents with and without PG found that those with PG had higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and ACEs. Conclusions: The prevalence of PG in Japan is relatively higher than in other countries. A survey method is necessary to obtain comparable yearly prevalence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the importance of implementing good acoustic conditions in classrooms using sound amplification systems is investigated to support more effective English education for elementary school children. To date, the failure of educating English as a second language at Japanese schools has been demonstrated by poor English conversation ability of those who completed a compulsory six-year English language course at Japanese junior-high and high schools (age 12–18). To amend the situation, teaching English became compulsory at grade three (age 8–9) and above at most Japanese elementary schools in the 2020 academic year. We conducted acoustic measurements of two types of sound amplification systems, a pair of PC loudspeakers and another with a loudspeaker array, in a typical classroom at an elementary school in Japan. We also analysed English listening test results of 216 Japanese native children (age 11–12) who were learning English in their usual classes in Japan, to compare the effects of those two systems. Results of logistic regression analysis adjusted by the discrimination difficulty of word pairs demonstrated the statistically significant association between correct answer rate of the English tests and classroom acoustic factors. Although, on average, upgrading the sound amplification system had positive effects on the correct answer rate, it also had a negative impact when the word pairs had English phoneme contrasts that do not appear in Japanese phoneme structure. Combined with the acoustic measurements' results, it was also revealed that heterogeneous sound fields that depend on seat positions could be compensated using sound amplification systems with loudspeaker arrays. Our findings suggest that improvement of both acoustic quality and teaching methods is required for children to acquire English communication skills effectively in their classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although measuring the ideal points of news media is essential for testing political communication theories based on spatial theory, prior methods of estimating ideal points of media outlets have various shortcomings, including high cost in terms of time and human resources and low applicability to different countries. We propose that unsupervised machine learning techniques for text data, specifically the combination of a text scaling method and latent topic modeling, can be applied to estimate ideal points of media outlets. We applied our proposed methods to editorial texts of ten national and regional newspapers in Japan, where prior approaches are not applicable because newspapers have never officially endorsed particular parties or candidates, and because high-quality training data for supervised learning are not available. Our two studies, one of which analyzed editorials on a single typically ideological topic while the other investigated all editorials published by the target papers in one year, confirmed the popular view of Japanese newspapers' ideological slant, which validates the effectiveness of our proposed approach. We also illustrate that our methods allow scholars to investigate which issues are closely related to the respective ideological positions of media outlets. Furthermore, we use the estimated ideal points of newspapers to show that Japanese people partially tend to read ideologically like-minded newspapers and follow such newspapers' Twitter accounts even though their slant is not explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of musical engagement in later-life spiritual development and ageing. The nexus of music, spirituality and ageing has been relatively unexplored. Change of styles, means of expression and ways of engagement are among the transformation that older musicians often encounter. Based on an ethnographic study of Japanese music practitioners, the paper introduces a community music practice in which spiritual cultivation is a collective goal of musical pursuit. A case introduced in this paper suggests that music helps to develop a sense of purpose and enhance the meaning of life by instilling the feeling that people are still able to develop musically and spiritually. Some of the transformation identified in the study included changes of repertoire, the purpose of practice and the meaning of progress, all of which was characterised in the dictum of less-is-more. The paper highlights the process in which spiritual development and musical growth are linked and support positive ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arte, Individuo y Sociedad is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cross-regional free trade agreements (FTAs) have flourished in East Asia since the late 1990s. Japan and Korea were at the forefront of this trend. Nevertheless, most policymakers' preferences orbited around region-oriented FTAs out of reluctance to make a sudden policy shift away from their conventional emphasis on World Trade Organization-based multilateral negotiations. The trend continued in Japan throughout the 2000s. In contrast, Korea took a sharp turn toward a cross-regional strategy in 2003. By the mid-2010s, this had created a significant gap in the two countries' overall FTA partner choices. What caused policymakers' ideas in the two countries to diverge from their initial focus on region-oriented FTAs? This paper focuses on the conditions that enabled policymakers' ideas to explain the divergence by developing the contextual‒dynamic framework of FTA policies. At the dynamic level, individuals are more likely to emerge with new ideas when their expertise comes from outside the decision-making body, accompanied by their social qualities and power. Contextual conditions should also be met: the trade policy environment should reciprocate agent-level qualities to create a supportive atmosphere for policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its high life expectancy and simultaneously declining birth rate, Japan has been experiencing a fast demographic transition since the mid-twentieth century. The number of people in the so-called Third and Fourth Age is gradually increasing and already constituted 28% of the Japanese population in 2019. This situation led to the introduction of long-term care insurance in 2000, which indirectly promoted an increase of small local care services. Given their size, these care services are more flexible and quicker to implement new concepts. A noticeable trend in this regard is the spread of intergenerational care approaches. This paper describes selected local care institutions and analyzes whether some intergenerational day care centers provide an extension of the nuclear family and its support services. The analysis is based on a six-month field research project in cooperation with different institutions (N=14) in Japan. The data was mainly collected through participant observation. The findings, when compared with Jurczyk's »Doing Family« concept and Erikson's view of generativity, indicate that certain institutions indeed function as an extension of the modern nuclear family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at recent isekai ('different world') anime in relation to 2018s Goblin Slayer. It argues the latter is a settler-colonialist critique of the unconscious structural violence within former's tropes and presumptions. Isekai anime provide a space where superexploitation and the redistribution of surplus value are buried within a fantasy of non-alienated, non-commodified labor, and Goblin Slayer represents the exhaustion of this fantasy and the return of the repressed unconscious of settler violence on the frontier. Using Patrick Wolfe's theorization of a neoliberal settler-colonialism, this paper argues that Japanese settler-colonialism is not a primitive form of capitalism or a historical episode shed by postcolonialism but a contemporary mode of production that coexists alongside imperialism. Through an analysis of the historiography of the Japanese Empire, this paper constructs a general theory of settler-colonialism that situates Japan at the forefront of the late capitalist world system, anime as the system's cultural representation, and otakudom as its labor regime. Finally, it asks what lies beyond the settler-colonialist critique and the space Goblin Slayer opens up against its own ideological limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how the conceptual and therapeutic formation of Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo) has been socially constructed through interactions with popular interpretations of illness. Taking the example of emotion-related disorders, this paper focuses on the changing meaning of constraint (utsu) in Kampo medicine. Utsu was once a name for one of the most frequently cited emotion-related disorders and pathological concerns during the Edo period. With the spread of Western medicine in the Meiji period, neurasthenia replaced utsu as the dominant emotion-related disorder in Japanese society. As a result, post-Meiji doctors developed other conceptual tools and strategies to respond to these new disease categories, innovations that continue to influence contemporary practitioners. I begin this history by focusing on Wada Tōkaku, a Japanese doctor of the Edo period who developed a unique theory and treatment strategy for utsu. Secondly, I examine. Yomuto Kyūshin and Mori Dōhaku, Kampo doctors of the early twentieth century, who privileged neurasthenia over utsu in their medical practice. The paper concludes with a discussion of the flexibility and complexity of Kampo medicine, how its theory and practices have been influenced by cross-cultural changes in medicine and society, while incorporating the popular experience of illness as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relative validity of food and nutrient intakes and overall diet quality scores derived using a newly developed dietary assessment questionnaire (food combination questionnaire, FCQ). Dietary data were collected from 222 Japanese adults (111 for each sex) aged 30–76 years using the online FCQ and then the 4-non-consective-day weighed dietary record (DR). The median of Spearman correlation coefficients for sixteen food groups was 0⋅32 among women and 0⋅38 among men. The median of Pearson correlation coefficients for forty-six nutrients was 0⋅34 among women and 0⋅31 among men. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the total scores of Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) derived from the DR and FCQ was 0⋅37 among women and 0⋅39 among men. The corresponding value for the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3) total scores was 0⋅39 among women and 0⋅46 among men. Bland–Altman plots for these diet quality scores showed poor agreement at the individual level, although mean difference was small for the HEI-2015 (but not NRF9.3). Similar results were obtained using the paper version of FCQ, which was answered after conducting the DR, except for somewhat high Pearson correlation coefficients for the total scores of HEI-2015 (0⋅50 among both women and men) and NRF9.3 (0⋅37 among women and 0⋅53 among men). In conclusion, this analysis may lend support to the possible use of the FCQ as a rapid dietary assessment tool in large-scale epidemiologic studies in Japan, but further refinement of this tool should be pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the idea that Japanese people are not good at English (the "Japanese incompetence in English" discourse), by statistical crossnational comparison. This view is usually based on invalid data such as TOEFL scores; therefore it is still uncertain whether the view properly reflects the realities of Japan and other countries. This paper, therefore, empirically examines this by statistically analyzing the data of Asia Europe Survey, which is well suited for this purpose. The results indicate that, although many Japanese do not have proficient English skills, it is not necessarily true that only Japanese people are at the lowest-level of English skills in the world, because some countries (especially East Asian and European ones) also show a quite low percentage of people with English skills. This result, which seems to be inconsistent with the assumption of the discourse of Japanese incompetence of English, is explained by analyzing the data in terms of generational, socioeconomic, and regional factors. The analysis reveals that the Japanese incompetence among the other countries becomes obvious when comparing young people, people with high socioeconomic status, and urban residents. Based on these findings, the author discusses that the discourse is constructed largely by an ideology of imagined communities. In addition, the validity of using TOEFL scores for cross-national comparison will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problematic issue of teaching English pronunciation to Japanese learners, advocating a shift away from the native speaker as a model. An argument is presented for the development and recognition of a distinct Japanese English pronunciation standard that can be used as a guideline to inform oral English teaching practices in the Japanese school system. Suggestions are made at the end of the paper for future research to contribute towards the development of such guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions: Japan has traditionally been thought of as a linguistically homogenous and therefore monolingual society. Consequently, very few Japanese people consider themselves bilingual, let alone translingual; however, the reality of Japanese society would suggest otherwise. This paper's objective was to shed light on the largely unrecognized translanguaging practices prevalent throughout Japanese society. It also attempts to address the question of why Japanese people largely fail to recognize their own translingual status despite their ability to live and act in an increasingly translingual society with few communicative issues. Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper takes a visual ethnography approach to examine an assortment of concrete photographic materials collected by the researcher. A descriptive qualitative framework was employed whereby written explanations and interpretation consolidate visual photographic representations to provide an insight into the translingual practices of Japanese society. Data and Analysis: Based on a descriptive qualitative framework, in which emphasis was placed on understanding the identified phenomena in their own right through analysis of emergent descriptions rather than predetermined options, 10 instances of translanguaging practices were analyzed in depth throughout this paper under six different themes: simple translation, intersentential practices, intrasentential, practices interlexical practices, intralexical practices, and semiotic-reliant practices. Findings/Conclusions: The findings provide concrete evidence of intersentential, intrasentential, interlexical, intralexical, and semiotic-reliant translingual practices working together to create a linguistically rich Japanese society that is undeniably deserving of a translingual accreditation. Originality: This is the first study that has looked at the translanguaging practices of Japanese society and identified it as being deserving of a translingual accreditation. Significance/Implications: This paper contributes toward an epistemological shift away from the erroneous notion that Japan is a monolingual nation, and brings about awareness to celebrate the underlying translingualism that runs prevalent throughout modern Japanese society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diplomacy of Japan towards its Asian neighbours has always been a complex issue. Throughout the years, the foreign policy of Japan has witnessed severe alterations specifically after the Second World War. Since then, new challenges and opportunities have risen which have formed a new, adapted Japanese diplomacy, albeit not disconnected from its traditional aspects and its past. The current purpose of the paper is to highlight these evolutions and challenges of the post WWII Japanese diplomacy. The focus will be on the two main neighbours and traditional partners of Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. There will be an effort to highlight the challenges that Japan experiences with the aforementioned countries, its diplomatic approaches and how these could be evolved in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the first systematic analysis of China's conduct in its offshore territorial conflict with Japan to contend that Beijing has adopted a wedging strategy aimed at weakening the U.S.-Japan alliance. Building on previous scholarship, the article demonstrates that over the post-Cold War era China has consistently subordinated its territorial interests in the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute to help advance broader political and strategic goals. Drawing on Chinese writings, I argue that since 2010 Beijing has viewed U.S. and Japanese strategy in the conflict to be intended to contain it and that the empirical record suggests China's conduct has, in turn, sought to counter this perceived threat by weakening the alliance at its core. Beijing, it is argued, has aimed to sow discord in the U.S.-Japan alliance by "making use of contradictions" perceived to afflict U.S. strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Theory & Practice in Education (JTPE) / Eğitimde Kuram ve Uygulama is the property of Journal of Theory & Practice in Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to explore writing in sixth-grade textbooks in Japan and the affordances of contemporary everyday texts to be used alongside textbooks as mentor texts for writing. Mentor texts are often used in writing instruction; however, their affordances have not been well-researched. Considering that Japanese teachers modify textbook lessons with other materials, we sought out everyday adult and children's texts found in newsstands, bookstores, convenience stores, internet sources, and libraries that shared some features with textbook genres of writing. Textbook lessons and everyday texts were analyzed using concepts from social semiotics to discover their organization, producer, user, design, layout and multimodal elements. The affordances of textbook lessons and everyday texts functioning as material resources are developed in this paper through three focal genres, poetry, informative, and persuasive writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors compared garments made in Poland, Japan and China to investigate the effect of country of manufacture (COM) on garment marketability by Japanese and Chinese experts. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences between the Japanese and Chinese experts. Design/methodology/approach: The authors compared ten jackets and ten skirts manufactured by four factories in Poland, Japan and China and one Japanese sample maker using five different textiles. The authors provided the same specifications and sample pattern to each of the garment makers. The garment's marketability was evaluated by 16 Japanese and 18 Chinese experts using a questionnaire survey, considering garment shape, silhouette, face fabric, sub-materials, anticipated appeal to consumers, sewing and ironing skills, and estimated selling price. Findings: There were high correlations between the Japanese experts' estimated selling price and evaluation scores in relation to shape, silhouette and face fabric. There were high correlations between the Chinese experts' estimated selling price and evaluation scores in relation to all items except for face fabric and buttons. However, there were no significant differences between manufacturing countries. Therefore, the garment quality was not dependent on COM because the manufacturing skills of all selected factories were adequate. Originality/value: This study experimentally investigated the effect of COM on garment marketability by evaluating garments manufactured in Japan, China and Poland using the same pattern and specification sheet. Moreover, these results show differences between the Japanese and Chinese experts for the COM effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper explores the social lives of European timepieces as a particular set of objects in late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century Japan, when the archipelago first encountered the "Southern Barbarians" from Portugal and Spain. Rather than viewing them solely as instruments of time measurement or as decorative objects, I discuss clocks as actors that moved within networks of exchange primarily between Europe and Japan, but also, significantly, within East Asia and Japan itself. Along their trajectory, these devices assumed shifting and at times contradictory meanings for various actors; this is particularly true in view of the fundamental clash between European and Japanese systems of time-reckoning, which essentially rendered early European-style mechanical clocks 'timeless' in Japan, with its equinoctial system of variable hours. For Jesuit missionaries and foreign emissaries who brought these early devices to Japan, they were timekeepers, objects of ecclesiastical use, paragons of European ingenuity, and above all diplomatic tools that granted access and established connections with the Japanese ruling elite. For the Japanese, by contrast, these global objects assumed meaning within their highly developed local gift-culture as desirable novelty items, particularly within the socially volatile environment of the unification of the country under Tokugawa control. My contention is that these microhistories of exchange help us understand why mechanical clocks did not have the same 'revolutionary' effect on time-reckoning in Japan as they did in Europe; the social lives of these objects strikingly illustrate the power imbalances in diplomatic negotiations that made Japan impervious to coercion by the European powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of sheepskin effects in the return to education in Japan. Design/methodology/approach - The paper provides a short description of the Japanese schooling and recruitment system. It then describes the data set and the empirical approach. Estimation results are presented for the various specifications. The baseline specification closely follows existing studies for the USA to facilitate comparability across the two countries. The paper further investigates whether there are significant firm-size differences in the estimated sheepskin effects and whether sheepskin effects disappear with increasing job tenure. Findings - The estimation results indicate that sheepskin effects explain about 50 percent of the total returns to schooling. The paper further finds that education as a signal is only important for workers in small firms with the size of these effects being similar to comparable estimates for the USA. Finally, the estimated degree effects decrease with firm tenure, in particular for small firms. These results could be explained by the particular recruitment system of large firms in Japan, which makes university diploma as a screening device unimportant for large firms and the admission policy of Japanese universities. Originality/value - By investigating the role of sheepskin effects in a labor market that differs substantially from the labor market in the USA, the paper provides additional insights to the human capital theory-screening hypothesis debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese children had to live with strict mitigation measures at school, such as eating school lunches silently and wearing masks during physical exercise classes, even after those mitigation measures have been relaxed worldwide. Excursions and other school events were frequently cancelled, especially in 2020 and 2021. This study conducts a retrospective survey on school experiences to understand how the strict mitigation measures were related to children's mental health and well-being. Results revealed school excursion cancellation to be associated with a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms {odds ratio [OR] 1.543 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.109–2.148]}, and high cancellation rate of other school events to be associated with dissatisfaction in school experience [OR 1.650 (95% CI 1.222–2.228)]. In the subsample analysis, we found that girls and children with no extracurricular activities tended to exhibit depressive symptoms due to the cancellation of school excursions. Overall, the study demonstrated that persistent strict mitigation measures at schools might be a key factor in understanding children's mental health and psychological well-being during a long-lasting pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article re-examines Japan's entry into international society, focusing on leading Japanese diplomats. It has been believed that Meiji leaders' interpretation of international society and diplomacy was characterized by power-political and zero-sum thinking, and they took a realistic approach in an imperialistic system. However, the present article demonstrates that Japanese diplomacy in and after the 1890s was basically guided by interest-oriented and non–zero-sum thinking which was closely tied to the international order. Leading Japanese diplomats, who learned from their experiences in diplomacy with Western countries, understood the significance of norms as well as the importance of military power, and pursued Japan's national interests within the rules and norms of international society. These findings offer a new image of the principles of modern Japanese diplomacy, the mechanisms of Japanese imperial expansion, and the process of the spread of norms in international society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is an excessive fear of social situations that can lead to serious functional impairment. The prevalence of SAD has increased over the past four decades, making it one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in Japan. Therefore, more effective interventions are needed to treat this disorder. False safety behavior elimination therapy (F-SET), which eliminates safety behavior (i.e., strategies that reduce anxiety), was administered in our study to six Japanese patients with SAD. This is the first adaptation of F-SET into Japanese. Patients were diagnosed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale was used as the primary outcome measure to evaluate the change in symptoms. All patients received five weekly 60-minute F-SET sessions. Participants who completed the treatment exhibited a substantial decrease in SAD symptoms, providing preliminary support for the adapted treatment's efficacy. We have discussed the cultural differences in SAD and the adaptation of F-SET. What is already known about this topic: (1) Transdiagnostic group CBT is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. (2) Few studies have examined the effectiveness of transdiagnostic group CBT in naturalistic settings. (3) Few studies have examined the effectiveness of treatments as implemented by clinicians in routine clinical practice. What this paper adds: (1) Eight to ten sessions of transdiagnostic group CBT developed by practising clinicians seemed sufficient in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms, daily functioning, and quality of life in patients from an outpatient anxiety disorders clinic in a hospital setting. (2) Patients that completed treatment reported significantly more impairment in daily functioning before treatment than participants who dropped out. (3) High attrition rates suggest that organisational factors need to be considered while implementing evidence-based treatments into routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows how a series of institutional reforms since 1994 have transformed the Japanese prime minister's relationship with other actors in the Japanese parliamentary system and expanded his power. It further discloses that his power has grown even more since the formation of the second Abe administration in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sur le Journalisme, About Journalism, Sobre Jornalismo is the property of Sur le journalisme, About journalism, Sobre jornalismo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Japanese business ethics, culture, and practice are unique to Japan, and there is limited academic literature in the West (Fukukawa, & Teramoto, 2009; Iwao, 1997; Mizuo, 1998; Oh, & Koh, 2016; Todeschini, 2012; Tsalikis, & Seaton, 2008; von Staden, 2016; Wagner-Tsukamoto, 2008; Wang, 2010). The objective of this literature review is to research 1) traditional business ethics concepts and its development in Japan, 2) Japanese corporate citizenship behavior, and 3) Japanese managerial and employee business ethics to help American business leaders better understand Japanese business ethics culture. Current trends relative to business ethics in Japan are being discussed as needed throughout this paper. Finally, this paper draws a conclusion and practitioner implications. How Japanese business people perceive the U.S. business practices and approach are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the development of the ‘New Asianism’ in Japan over the past quarter of a century. It identifies three broad trajectories or normative positions in the debate: those advocating the replication of a Japanese model in Asia, those in favour of a genuine community of equals, and those who see Asia as the only future for Japan and as a solution for the country's economic and social problems. The paper argues that the evolution and shifting prominence of each trajectory over time is indicative of the ways globalization and regionalization are impinging on imaginations of the nation and facilitating novel perspectives on East Asia in Japan. Although the nation-state is, and will probably remain, an important force behind Japan's relations in Asia for the foreseeable future, the New Asianism may be indicative of its gradual relativization and the beginning of a new, more multidimensional understanding of Asia in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In Japan, where a prominent gap exists in what is considered a patient's best interest between the medical and patient sides, appropriate decision-making can be difficult to achieve. In Japanese clinical settings, decision-making is considered an act of choice-making from multiple potential options. With many ethical dilemmas still remaining, establishing an appropriate decision-making process is an urgent task in modern Japanese healthcare. This paper examines ethical issues related to shared decision-making (SDM) in clinical settings in modern Japan from the psychocultural-social perspective and discusses the ideal decision-making process in present Japan. Specifically, we discuss how five psychocultural-social tendencies – "surmise (Sontaku)," "self-restraint (Jishuku)," "air (atmosphere or mood, Kuuki)," "peer pressure (or tuning pressure, Docho-Atsuryoku)," and "community (Seken)"—which have often been referred to as characteristics of present-day Japanese people, may affect the ideal practice of SDM in Japanese clinical settings. We conclude that health care professionals must be aware of the possible adverse effects of the above Japanese psychocultural-social tendencies on the implementation of SDM and attempt to promote autonomous decision-making, thereby allowing patients to make treatment choices that sufficiently reflect their individual and personal views of life, experiences, goals, preferences, and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Focusing on the late 1920s to the mid‐1930s, this paper determines and analyses the societal conditions and structures leading to the immiseration of Korean farmers during the colonial period. Specifically, these were the deterioration of aspects of traditional society, indebtedness, and interest rates. These led to wide‐scale smallholder bankruptcies, resulting in their transformation into landless tenants, and ultimately resulting in a bifurcation into the “haves” and the “have‐nots” in the Korean countryside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article studies urban–rural mobilities in contemporary Japan using several island communities in the Setouchi region of the Seto Inland Sea as a case study. It seeks to examine the phenomenon of den-en kaiki (rural return) with a focus on young Japanese urbanites moving to depopulated regions outside large cities. Based on a 15-month ethnographic study, the paper draws on original in-depth qualitative interviews with 35 individuals in their 20s–40s. The findings show that while some may be more traditional "lifestyle migrants," many are adopting rural living as a temporary escape from the city and are not necessarily committed to staying long term. The narratives reveal diverse mobilities as a reflection of the changing attitudes of young Japanese attempting to find meaning and satisfaction while sustaining a livelihood in post-growth Japan. The growing importance of the "relationship population," referring to urbanites who spend extended time in rural communities but do not live there, is discussed to broaden existing conceptions of rural mobilities from the Japanese context. The messiness of rural mobilities in contemporary Japan highlights the need for an expanded understanding of concepts such as counter-urbanization to include various forms of exchange and consider how they can contribute to the future sustainability of rural spaces. • Fluid urban-rural mobilities are reflective of new values amongst young Japanese. • I-turners displayed varying levels of commitment to rural living while U-turners are more likely to settle. • Ethnographic data reveal a desire to explore alternatives to traditional lifelong employment. • Urban-rural migrants struggle to balance financial security with lifestyle aspirations. • More study on the 'relationship population' as a growing influence on the future of rural Japan is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cognitive distortion scale (CDS) is a self-rated measure to assess the degree of cognitive distortion which is 10 thinking errors commonly seen in depression. However, there is no scale to measure 10 types cognitive distortions specific to depression in Japan. Therefore, this study translated the CDS into Japanese (CDS-J), and examined its factor structure, validity, and reliability in a Japanese population. A total of 237 healthy individuals and 39 individuals with depression participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the appropriateness of the CDS-J's 10-factor structure. Regarding convergent validity, CDS-J was significantly correlated with dysfunctional attitudes, negative automatic thoughts, and depression. Regarding discriminant validity, the CDS-J showed no significant correlation with positive automatic thoughts. The total CDS-J scores of the healthy participants and of those with major depression were compared. The results showed significant differences between groups. Finally, the CDS-J was found to have a high test--retest reliability. Therefore, the CDS-J is a valid and reliable tool for assessing cognitive distortions in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A decrease in populations could affect healthcare access and systems, particularly in medically underserved areas (MUAs) where depopulation is becoming more prevalent. This study aimed to simulate the future population and land areas of MUAs in Japan. Methods: This study covered 380,948 1 km meshes, 87,942 clinics, and 8354 hospitals throughout Japan as of 2020. The areas outside a 4 km radius of medical institutions were considered as MUAs, based on the measure of areas in the current Japanese Medical Care Act. Based on the population estimate for a 1 km mesh, the population of mesh numbers of MUAs was predicted for every 10 years from 2020 to 2050 using geographic information system analysis. If the population within a 4 km radius from a medical institution fell below 1000, the institution was operationally assumed to be closed. Results: The number of MUAs was predicted to decrease from 964,310 (0.77% of the total Japanese population) in 2020 to 763,410 (0.75%) by 2050. By 2050, 48,105 meshes (13% of the total meshes in Japan) were predicted to be new MUAs, indicating a 31% increase in MUAs from 2020 to 2050. By 2050, 1601 medical institutions were tentatively estimated to be in close proximity. Conclusions: In Japan, the population of MUAs will decrease, while the land area of MUAs will increase. Such changes may reform rural healthcare policy and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors have been increasingly used in ovarian cancer treatment. However, the real-world safety data of these drugs in Japanese patients are limited. This retrospective study included 181 patients with ovarian cancer who received olaparib or niraparib at two independent hospitals in Japan between May 2018 and December 2022. Clinical information and blood sampling data were collected. Regarding patient backgrounds, the olaparib group had higher proportions of patients with serous carcinoma, BRCA positivity, homologous recombination deficiency, and those receiving maintenance therapy after recurrence treatment than the niraparib group. Regarding toxicity properties, the most common reasons for discontinuation in the olaparib group were anemia, fatigue, and nausea, while the reason in the niraparib was thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia caused by niraparib treatment occurred earlier than anemia caused by olaparib treatment. Patients with a low body mass index or who had undergone several previous treatment regimens were more likely to discontinue treatment within the first 3 months. Although we analyzed blood collection data, predicting treatment interruptions due to blood toxicity was challenging. In this study, we revealed the characteristics of patients and the timing of interruptions for each drug, highlighting the importance of carefully managing adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: As part of the Toon Health Study, which is an ongoing population‐based cohort study, we aimed to develop a prediction model for N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in a general Japanese population. We sought to explore the influence of various demographic and clinical factors on NT‐proBNP levels and assess the model's performance. In addition, our objectives included internal validation and investigation of the diagnostic potential of the observed‐to‐predicted NT‐proBNP ratio (OPR) at baseline for predicting the risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods and results: In this prospective cohort study, participants were recruited from Toon City, Japan, as part of the larger Toon Health Study, focusing on cardiovascular risk factors. We measured the NT‐proBNP levels and used linear regression with penalization (ridge regression) to develop the model. The model incorporated 10 prespecified predictors (age, gender, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, haemoglobin, albumin, total cholesterol, haemoglobin A1c, and estimated glomerular filtration rate) and underwent assessment using R2 and root mean squared error (RMSE). Internal validation was conducted through bootstrapping. In a post hoc analysis, we explored the OPR's diagnostic potential using 5 year follow‐up data (n = 636) to predict the elevation of NT‐proBNP > 125 pg/mL at the 5 year follow‐up as the risk of HFpEF. A total of 2505 participants (age: 60.4 ± 12.9 years, men: 35%) were enrolled in this study. There was a linear relationship between the observed and predicted values of NT‐proBNP in which the logarithm of observed NT‐proBNP was <6, which corresponds to 403 pg/mL in NT‐proBNP. The prediction model demonstrated satisfactory performance (R2: 0.291, RMSE: 0.688), with age identified as a dominant predictor. The stability of the model was underscored by the internal validation. The OPR at baseline predicted NT‐proBNP > 125 pg/mL at the 5 year follow‐up with an area under the curve of 0.793. Conclusions: This study introduces the first prediction model for NT‐proBNP in a general Japanese population. Although the model has acceptable performance, ongoing refinement is essential. Our transparent approach to model development, alongside a web‐based interactive tool, lays the groundwork for further improvements and external validation. The OPR holds potential for predicting the future risk of HFpEF. This research contributes to understanding the nuanced influence of patient backgrounds on levels of NT‐proBNP in asymptomatic individuals within the context of a broader population‐based cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the lives of those who are the target of community health nursing, it is important to collaborate with individuals and communities to improve their quality of life. Herein, we aimed to determine the association between Internet use among older individuals and locomotive syndrome (LS), frailty, and sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study conducted between July 2022 and March 2023, we recruited 105 community-dwelling older Japanese adults who participated in a care prevention project called "Kayoi-no-ba". All participants were divided into Internet and non-Internet user groups according to the classification of a previous study. We assessed LS (standing test, two-step test, and five-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale), frailty (through the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old), and sarcopenia (grip strength, normal walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass index) and made group comparisons between Internet users and non-users. Binomial logistic regression analyses were performed with Internet use as the independent variable and sarcopenia or LS as the dependent variables. The Internet and non-Internet user groups had 69 and 36 participants, respectively. The Internet user group comprised 65.7% of all participants, which was similar to that reported in a previous study of the same age group. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in sarcopenia and LS items, whereas adjusted binomial logistic analysis showed a significant association between sarcopenia and Internet use. In summary, among LS, frailty, and sarcopenia, sarcopenia showed the highest association with Internet use. Older adults without sarcopenia having good physical functions, such as grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle index, more likely used the Internet; while older adults with sarcopenia were less likely to use the Internet. This implied that Internet use may be associated with physical function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a Western diet has been identified as a risk factor for Crohn's disease (CD), there is still controversy surrounding the specific foods that may contribute to the development of the disease. In this study, we examined the association between food intake and the prevalence of CD in Japan, as Japanese patients with CD are known to have limited genetic involvement. We identified changes in food intake associated with an increase in the number of patients with CD by analyzing the per capita consumption of food types from 1981 to 2014. Additionally, we examined the association between CD prevalence and food intake in each prefecture. Finally, the relationship between food intake and estimated age at CD onset was also investigated. Between 1981 and 2014, we observed Increased consumption of meat, eggs, milk and dairy products, oil, and potatoes and decreased consumption of grains, beans, vegetables, fruit, fish, sugar, and seaweed. The annual incidence of CD increased by 1388% over the same period. We found that meat consumption was significantly associated with CD prevalence (β = 0.503, p = 0.0003), while a significant negative correlation was observed between CD prevalence and fruit and vegetable consumption (fruit, β = 0.464, p = 0.0012; vegetables, β = 0.404, p = 0.0023). Furthermore, we estimated that the peak consumption of more meat and less fruit and vegetables and the peak age of CD onset occurred within the age range of 20–24 years. Our study identified a clear correlation between the consumption of meat, fruits, and vegetables and the prevalence of CD in Japan. Additionally, we found an association between meat, fruit, and vegetable consumption and the age at CD onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age-standardized incidence of head trauma in 2016 was 369 per 100,000 people worldwide. The Western Pacific region, including Japan, had the highest incidence. This study aimed to extract ICD-10 code data for intracranial injury (S06) and external causes of morbidity and mortality (V01–Y89), analyze their characteristics and interrelationships, and contribute to these diseases' prevention, treatment, and prognosis. The number of deaths according to injury type and external cause type of intracranial injury published by the Japanese government was statistically analyzed using JoinPoint, and univariate distribution and multivariate correlation were conducted using JMP Software. From 1999–2021, there was a downward trend in the number of deaths because of intracranial injuries: mortality from intracranial injuries was higher among those aged ≥65 years. Conversely, mortality from intracranial injuries was lower among those aged ≤14 years. Among deaths from intracranial injury, mortality from diffuse brain injury and traumatic subdural hemorrhage was more common. Among deaths from external causes of intracranial injury, mortality from falls, transport accidents, and other unforeseen accidents was more common. Mortality because of intracranial injuries increased significantly during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. For some age groups and sexes, there were significant inverse correlations of mortality with traumatic subdural hemorrhage and traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage for transport accidents, intentional self-harm and assault, and diffuse brain injury and focal brain injury for falls. We believe that the data presented in this study will be useful for preventing and treating intracranial injuries and for developing administrative measures to reduce intracranial injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the patterns of educational attainment and first employment among young Japanese, and their effects on the likelihood of first marriage, using micro-level data drawn from a national family survey in 2004 and its follow-up in 2007. Attainment of higher education increased dramatically in postwar Japan, and such gains were especially notable for women. Meanwhile, regular employment has decreased, and temporary employment has risen rapidly among young Japanese since the 1990s. The study reveals that obtaining regular employment as the first job strongly enhances the likelihood of first marriage for both genders although the marriage-enhancing effect is stronger for men than for women. First entry to the labor market as a temporary worker also significantly diminishes the likelihood of first marriage for men. Like other industrialized economies in Asia, improving educational attainment is found to be a factor causing declining first marriage among young Japanese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite encouraging multi-generational cohabitation, the population of Japanese people living alone has increased. However, little is known about the association between health and multigenerational cohabitation. This study examined the relationship between self-rated health and living arrangements among Japanese adults using data from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study (2013-2017). The analysis employed multivariate logistic regression to examine the associations. Our results showed no association between living arrangements and self-rated health when stratified by gender. Living alone was found to be associated with poor self-rated health among women aged 65 and above. A similar association may exist among men in the same age group. Among women aged < 65 years, two-generation cohabitation was associated with a good self-rated health, similar to those living alone. Among men aged < 65 years, neither living alone nor two-generation cohabitation was significantly associated with good self-rated health. We found no association between three- or plus-generation cohabitation and self-rated health. Therefore, our findings indicate associations between multigenerational cohabitation and self-rated health, but they vary by gender and age. Invested stakeholders in the public health field should consider the potential impact of living arrangements on health based on gender and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]