Search

The article presents an analysis of the "Proceedings of the Fourth Tokyo Conference of Argumentation," a collection of papers presented at the convention held in Japan on August 2012. Among the papers discussed at the conference focus on topics like the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, the role of nuclear power argumentation in the society and the characteristics and functions of the argumentation. Bridging the gap between the practical and theoretical analyses of the argumentation is noted.

Purpose : To study the status of contribution by non-English speaking countries to international rehabilitation literature taking Japan as an example, and to suggest recommendations to overcome the language barrier. Method : Descriptive study using a systematic MEDLINE search with outcome measures of annual numbers and proportions of articles by Japanese physiatrists published in peer-reviewed English rehabilitation journals, and of categories and types of studies. A database containing 292 relevant articles were used for analysis. Results : The publications have steadily increased annually both in absolute number and in proportion. The number was the largest for Arch Phys Med Rehabil (16.8%), followed by Am J Phys Med Rehabil (12.3%), Prosthet Orthot Int (8.6%), Disabil Rehabil (5.1 %) and so on. The percentage by category was the highest for stroke (26.0%), followed by spinal cord injury (11.6%), neurophysiology (11.6%) and amputation (6.2%), 67.8% of the articles were related to evaluation, 6.5% to outcome studies and 25.7% to therapy. The majority were descriptive studies (45.5%), followed by case control studies (13.0%), before-and-after trials (12.3%), case reports (7.2%) and others. Conclusion : The contribution from Japan to international rehabilitation literature is increasing. Measures were suggested to facilitate more scientific contribution by non-English speaking researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "Canada's 1960s: The Ironies of Identity in a Rebellious Era," by Bryan D. Palmer.

The article reviews the book "Koreans in Japan: Critical Voices from the Margin," edited by Sonia Ryang.

Reviews the book 'Women, Media and Consumption in Japan,' edited by Lise Skov and Brian Moeran.

Reviews the book 'Social Structures and Economic Dynamics in Japan Up to 1980,' edited by Gianni Podella.