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The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the impact of exchange rate changes on the trade balance of China and its major trading partners. In the past, many studies have been focussed on the linear effect of exchange rate change, but in this paper, a non-linear Autoregressive Distribution Lag (NARDL) model is proposed. Empirical results show that there are nonlinear and asymmetric effects on the trade balance of exchange rate. In particular, the effect of exchange rate appreciation on Sino-US trade balance is more significant than that of depreciation. A genuine devaluation of the domestic currency would improve the balance of the domestic trade. However, the opposite effect is found in the case of Sino-Japan and the Euro, and the depreciation of the currency will make the trade balance worse. These results provide a solid basis for understanding the relation of exchange rate variation and trade balance. In terms of economic reality, it is also a useful reference for adjusting exchange rate and commercial policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to survey the findings of phenomenological studies built up in the field of diabetes care in Sweden. This is a meta-synthesis of phenomenological studies on experiences related to diabetes in Sweden focusing on learning to live with diabetes. We proceeded by reference to the seven phases of Noblit & Hare. We examined papers from seven phenomenological studies on learning to live with diabetes in Sweden. From the papers, which describe the experience of living with diabetes, three overarching themes were selected—perception and awareness of the body; integration and responsibility; and presence of others who provide support. From those describing the expert's experience, an overarching theme emerged—encouraging reflection in persons with diabetes. We interpreted each of these themes in phenomenological terms and compared them with theories in Japan. Persons with diabetes take responsibility for coping with a range of things brought on by the illness and learn to live with diabetes. Experts support these persons so they can see their world objectively and critically scrutinize it. By building a model of diabetes care in Japan that references Scandinavian human science, it will be possible to find new approaches that support learning at the existential level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubus chingii Hu 1925 is an important medicinal vine shrub in the Rosaceae family, widely distributed in China and Japan. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of R. chingii was sequenced and identified. The chloroplast genome was 155,563 bp in size with a total GC content of 37.06%. Two 25,749-bp inverted repeat (IRA and IRB) regions divided the genome as four sections, with the remainder forming a large single-copy (LSC, 85,322 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC, 18,743 bp) regions. This genome contained a total of 131 genes, of which 86 were protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that R. chingii, along with several other R. longisepalus, R. tsangii, R. hirsutus, R. taiwanicola, R. rubroangustifolius, and R. glandulosopunctatus, formed the monophylic group. Interestingly, the chloroplast genome structure we reported was different from the previously reported structure and provided richer phylogenetic analysis information in the Rubus genus compared to previous studies. The genome information reported in this paper will provide some useful information for further investigation on the evolution of the family Rosaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data mining from published papers can generate large experimental datasets that have been overlooked in computational materials informatics. We developed an open web system Starrydata2 to accelerate a comprehensive digitization of data of materials from as-reported plot images in published papers, without sample selection based on performance. By plotting results obtained from our dataset on experimental thermoelectric properties of 434 samples of rock-salt-type (PbTe-type) thermoelectric materials, we revealed differences in electronic structure of parent compounds PbTe, PbSe, PbS, and SnTe from just experimental data. We observed that the calculated Seebeck coefficients were fairly consistent with experimental data for n-type PbTe but not for p-type PbTe, indicating possible modifications in its valence-band electronic structure. We evaluated the electron relaxation time τel from 207 reported samples of n-type PbTe by combining calculations and experimental data. We found that τel is not a constant but varies by at least two orders of magnitude. Achieving long τel was suggested to be critical in increasing the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. Reproduced with permission from Thermoelectrics Society of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greater argonaut Argonauta argo is a species of the paper nautilus (Argonautidae), which is a family in Octopoda. In this paper, we report its full mitogenome sequence, which was obtained from a specimen collected in the Japan Seas near Oki Island, Shimane Prefecture, in Japan. The sequence was determined using the NGS Illumina HiSeq platform. With its 37 genes, the mitogenome shows a typical metazoan and Octopoda genomic structure, and similar to the mitogenome of the previously reported congener, A. hians. To confirm A. argo phylogenetic position in Octopoda, we conducted maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, using a data set including publicly available 17 Octopodiformes, five Decapodiformes, three Nautiloids and two outgroup Conchiferans. The result confirmed the affinity of Argonautidae to Tremoctopus, and the sister group position of this clade against the rest of incirrate Octopods. The mitogenome and phylogeny of A. argo reported here will be useful for future studies involving this enigmatic species, including on the reacquisition of external calcified shell structures in mollusks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the significant importance of environmental sustainability, it is vital to understand the determinants of environmental sustainability and to draw the policy implications for a sustainable environment. This paper examines the impacts of financial development and industrial structure on environmental sustainability in China from 1995 to 2020 using the A.R.D.L. approach. The result indicates that financial development negatively impacts CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas emissions in the long-run. The impact of industrial structure is also enormous. The results also suggest that industrial structure negatively impacts environmental sustainability by decreasing CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas emissions in the long-run. While Internet development accelerates environmental sustainability in Japan in the long run, economic development and energy negatively impact environmental sustainability in the long run. The findings of this study add to the current literature and provide some significant policy implications for improving environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population decline is expected to continue to be a prominent feature of Japanese demography in future decades. Internal migration plays a significant role in dictating the intensity of population decline at the regional level. In this paper we visualize inter-prefecture internal migration flows between the eight regions of Japan in 2020 using a chord diagram to show the relative scales of the origin-destination migration flows between each region. In addition, we use an animated series of chord diagrams to show the development of internal migration between 1954 and 2020. We fix the axis of the sectors of the chord diagram in the animation to illustrate the rapid growth and then slow decline (post-1972) in the regional migration system, as well as the interruption in the movement patterns during 2011, due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in Japan, the UK and Germany and speculates on the implications for policy and practice. Three on-line surveys of 3,000 members of the public in total, which were conducted in January 2017 (Japan), March 2018 (UK) and November/December 2018 (Germany) were analysed using Principal Component Analysis and then with an Ordered Logit Model. It finds that acceptance of AVs was higher amongst people with higher expectations of the benefits of AVs, those with less knowledge of AVs, and those with lower perceptions of risk. It also finds frequent drivers and car passengers to be more accepting, but that socio-economic factors were mostly insignificant. Finally, there were significant cultural differences between the levels of acceptance between Japan (broadly positive), the UK (broadly neutral) and Germany (broadly negative). These findings suggest that AV promoters should raise (or at least maintain) expectations of AVs among the public; engage with the public to reverse the negative perception of AVs; address AV-generated fears; not bother targeting people by socio-economic group; target frequent car drivers and passengers with information about what AVs could do for them; and target countries where AVs already enjoy a positive image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major limitations of using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) in time series analysis is the low-phase coherence associated with rough terrain and vegetated areas, which results in limited spatial coverage in such regions. Permanent scatterers technique was introduced to overcome this limitation using time-series analysis. However, identifying major scatterers within a pixel requires the single-looked pixels oversampling which can be a demanding process especially with large interferometric stacks and vast study areas. Therefore, using multilooked temporal coherent pixels was proposed to increase processing efficiency and coverage by utilizing distributed targets, but this technique may exclude pixels with reliable phase returns because of their temporal varying neighboring pixels. In this paper, we propose a technique to identify multilooked temporal stable pixels with reliable phase returns independent of their neighboring pixels. We conduct a simulation analysis to relate the spatial coherence of a pixel with its expected temporal correlation in the time series analysis module. We found that a liberal temporal correlation threshold of 0.53 in multilooked pixels stack is equivalent to a spatial coherence threshold of 0.2 when using number of looks of 9, which is considered acceptable in temporal coherent pixels, in terms of phase standard deviation. Applying these findings to study the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in the northeastern part of Japan resulted in increasing the number of usable pixels and spatial coverage index by nearly 50.4% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to the temporal coherent pixels. Furthermore, we propose an approach to integrate GPS observations with InSAR time series analysis, which resulted in deformation maps of the megathrust 2011 Tohoku earthquake with mean RMSE of 11.4 mm and a correlation of 98% in comparison to GPS observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central model of Japan's North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again.Purpose: This paper summarizes Japan's policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan's current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future.Main Argument: Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan's policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan's economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan's policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan's domestic politics also determine Japan's North Korea policy.Conclusion: While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan's attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. He central model of Japan's North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again. This paper summarizes Japan's policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan's current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future. Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan's policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan's economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan's policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan's domestic politics also determine Japan's North Korea policy. While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan's attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses questions seeking to clarify the nature of personal networking between modern Japan's wealthy economic elite and the Japanese nobility. In particular, to explore whether the social connections between the wealthy and the nobility led to changes in behaviour and formation of social ties, the marriages between the wealthy economic elite and the Japanese aristocracy, will be the focus of this study. The general overview, the motives, causes and effects of marriage alliances will be explored. And the examination of the cases of aristocratic elite who entered into business through the choice of entrepreneurial occupation will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper it is assumed that equity markets reflect the development of the overall economy of a country. Equity markets, among other factors, are considerably affected by factors such as inflation or deflation. Therefore, when inflationary or deflationary pressures appear, Central Banks try to manage those pressures in order to minimise their impact on the economy. In this paper, the case of Japan will be examined. Japan can be considered an example of a country which was under extended deflationary pressures for about three decades. In this study, the authors investigate different time frames for the Japan equity market. The research is based on Japan equity market (NIKKEI) returns. The authors aim to answer the question of whether the Japanese market complies with the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) for different time frames, as well as test analytically if Japan's stock market and economy have improved after the implementation of different attempts at Quantitative Easing (QEs), a Zero Interest Rate Policy (ZIRP) or a Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP) to curb deflationary impacts on the economy. The analysis and obtained results could be useful for risk and portfolio management, and could be extended to other markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first study to examine the financial contagion from the U.S., Japanese and Chinese markets to Asian markets during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis. We employ the DCC-EGARCH methodology and daily data of stock returns from 2005 to 2021 to estimate the time-varying correlations and the volatilities of stock markets. Our results show that the correlation between the U.S. and Japanese markets with emerging Asian ones is quite high, implying the interdependence between these markets. Furthermore, we find significant contagion effects from the U.S. equity market to markets in both advanced and emerging economies during the GFC. Nonetheless, during the Covid-19 pandemic, only 3 out of 10 Asian emerging markets had experienced the contagion from the U.S. Our findings also suggest that contagion effects are not strongly related to the level of global integration and Asian markets seem to be more affected by the contagion from Japan and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the evaluation of the lighting policy that the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, Netherlands, developed for the display of its nineteenth-century Japanese woodblock prints. Colour measurements during one year on exhibition showed changes that exceeded the limit of one ‘just noticeable change’ in 50 years specified in the policy. In a series of experiments, members of a test panel were all able to perceive the magnitude of colour difference measured in the prints during exhibition when presented with patches of colour side by side, but only half the panel could distinguish the same change when it was seen in the context of a multicoloured image. The change measured in the prints was judged by the panel to represent an average ‘loss of value’ of 9%, and deemed to be acceptable over a period of 160 years. The outcome suggests exposure of the prints should be further limited for the benefit of future access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines educational policies toward indigenous minorities in Japan and Canada during the period of nation-building, from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century. Both Japan and Canada first segregated indigenous children into separate educational institutions and then tried to assimilate them into mainstream society. Beneath these broad policy similarities, however, lie different rationales, with substantially different implications for education and social policy in diverse societies. In Japan, national integration was promoted through a cultural or ethnic rationale, a socially coherent approach that nonetheless allows little room for minorities. Canada approached national integration using a notion of citizenship that both allows considerable space for minorities but is challenged by unity. These two strategies can be seen in two polar models of the state - a civic-assimilationist approach of the 'French model' and an ethnocultural exclusionist model of the formation of the German state. The paper argues for a multicultural pluralist model including both civic and cultural/ethnic identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a letter from the editor of "Comparative Education" concerning the February 2009 issue. The issue discusses the potential and impact of international collaboration in the areas of research, performance assessment, policy formulation, and international development cooperation. Papers in the issue include a paper concerning how international quality assurance and evaluation mechanisms are influencing policy formulation worldwide and a paper about the impact of educational innovations in Japan.

A new bio-economic model for managing population of non-renewable inland fishery resource in uncertain environment is presented. Population dynamics of the resource is described with stochastic differential equations (SDEs) having ambiguous growth and mortality rates. The performance index to be maximized by the manager of the resource while minimized by nature is presented in the context of differential game theory. The dynamic programming principle leads to a Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman-Isaacs (HJBI) equation that governs the optimal resource management strategy under the ambiguity. The main contribution of this paper is a series of theoretical analysis on the reduced HJBI equation for non-renewable fishery resources in a broad sense, indicating that the ambiguity critically affects the resulting optimal controls. Practical implications of the theoretical analysis results are also presented focusing on artificially hatched Plecoglossus altivelis (Ayu), an important inland fishery resource in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how cinema has represented the two sides of the industrial expansion and contraction process in the context of a peripheral shrinking region. It explores how the cinematic vision of regions helps one to understand the processes of spatial development that resulted from socio-economic changes. Classic and contemporary filmmakers have shown the social problems associated with industrialization as well as deindustrialization. The paper focuses on the Northern Kyushu Region in Japan, which due to its own history epitomizes the problematic that affects Japan's peripheral territories - those outside the Pacific Industrial Belt. Through this analysis, it is argued that films can reveal aspects that other kinds of data cannot convey and, therefore, the cinematic analysis of regions has the potential to identify and reveal problems that otherwise would have remained unnoticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a brief explanation of the Japanese public credit guarantee system and analyzes what role it played during the global financial crisis. The author conducted a questionnaire survey of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Aichi Prefecture, the prefecture most seriously hit by the crisis, in collaboration with the Aichi-ken Credit Guarantee Corporation. Using the survey, which provides valuable information about the usage of the credit guarantee program, this paper finds that the credit guarantee system was effective in protecting the economy from collapsing. The system was so generous that now almost all SMEs want it to remain unchanged. However, as the generous system brings heavy financial burdens on the Japanese government and, more seriously, discourages firms and banks from improving their efficiencies, the author insists that reforms, such as limiting the target and the guarantee coverage, are inevitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades, chronic fiscal deficits have led to elevated and rising ratios of government debt to nominal GDP in Japan. Nevertheless, long-term Japanese government bonds' (JGBs) nominal yields initially declined, and have since stayed remarkably low and stable. This is contrary to the received wisdom which holds that higher government deficits and indebtedness will exert upward pressures on nominal yields. This paper examines the relationship between JGBs' nominal yields and short-term interest rates, as well as other factors, such as low inflation, persistent deflationary pressures, and tepid growth. We also argue that Japan has monetary sovereignty, which gives the Japanese government the ability to service its debt, and enables the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to keep JGBs' nominal yields low by ensuring that short-term interest rates are low, and by using various other tools of monetary policy. The argument that short-term interest rates and monetary policy are the primarily drivers of long-term interest rates follows John Maynard Keynes's (1930) insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese archivists believe that they have incorporated the theory and practice of the West and that one of the most successful results is the method of Phased Archival Processing (PAP), invented for arrangement and description. The first phase of PAP records the existing order or chaos of archival materials. However, it is believed to be indispensable only in Japan. This article argues that this phenomenon occurs because the Japanese understanding of the principles of respect for provenance and the original order is different from that in the West. It traces the history of the development of Japanese archival science and sets it in the Western context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify economic shocks in four developed countries that authorize different buyback programs. Previous research has revealed that there are few public debates about buyback activities and economic conditions. According to the free cash flow hypothesis, the total payout policy is in line with the real economy of each country. Using linear and non-linear bivariate causality tests, we find that buybacks and industrial production are endogeniously determined. In Japan, prior buyback programs indicated a change in economic growth. However, in the United States, changes in economic growth will increase repurchase activity before the financial crisis. This finding is interesting because it supports the idea that repurchase programs are a significant factor in determining economic shocks. It has extended and confirmed the knowledge and perception that stock repurchases could be used by financial economists to predict economic shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses some key issues for digital archives and metadata in a networked information environment to keep our community memory for the future. The paper is based primarily on the experiences and lessons learnt by the author from his research activities on metadata and digital archives. The author participated in a study group on digital archives hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Japanese Government from February 2011 to March 2012. The group discussed the promotion of digital archives in Japan, particularly at memory institutions. The Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011 caused serious damage in the north-eastern part of Japan, especially the Pacific coastal regions. This disaster significantly affected the discussions of the group. The basic lesson that the author learned is that digital archives built on a robust information environment are essential for keeping our community memory safe for the future. Not only do the primary digital resources need to be properly maintained and preserved for the future but also secondary resources, metadata and meta-metadata. We need to use Linked Open Data technologies to enhance the usability of such digital resources in the archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed weekday shopping behavior from a home base to a destination using data from the 4th Keihanshin metropolitan area person trip survey. We first analyzed the relationships between occupation and transportation means, transportation means and travel time, and transportation means and duration of time at the destination. Results of a chi-square test, residual analysis, and correspondence analysis confirmed that employed persons tend to travel by cars while unemployed persons tend to travel by bus or walk. The relationship between travel time and duration of time at the destination was also revealed according to transportation means. Results of a cluster analysis then classified shopping behaviors to expose four patterns. Finally, multiple regression analyzed the degree to which certain variables were related to duration of time at the destination. Results confirmed a strong relationship between duration of time at the destination and travel time. The degree of this factor's influence on other variables was also clarified. The value of these findings is that the relationship between travel time by means of transportation and the duration of time at the destination was clarified using statistical analysis. We then found a highly accurate equation that estimates the duration of time at a destination from the travel time. If the duration of time at a destination can be estimated, it may be possible to more accurately develop the structure of rest facilities, the number of parking lots, the degree of congestion, and so on, which can be associated with the customer's usage behavior in a shopping site. This research in this paper contributes to the field of urban analysis and marketing by presenting a new effective method for person trip survey and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of distribution centres for online retailers has become an important issue for many companies. The operation of the distribution centre for e-commerce seems to be different from the traditional concept of distribution centres. This study considers how the location of distribution centres are designed and operated for online retailing using a computer simulation with actual data. This paper analyses current issues in order to propose an effective location for e-commerce distribution centres. An effective location for a multi-distribution system over a wide geographical area is required. This paper clearly points out the importance of locating e-commerce distribution centres over a wide geographical area by performing a computer simulation using actual data on the assumption that online resale business customers live in a metropolitan area. The study created a business model in which a buffer warehouse, which primarily handled commodities with high-frequency shipments, was located near a large consumption area and was used in addition to a large-scale distribution centre. The validity of the created business model was verified by performing a simulation based on actual data. The result revealed that these recommended improvement measures for the location of e-commerce distribution centres can function effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Most economists examining the question of 'pollution havens' have concluded that the level of environmental regulation and activism in different states is not generally a significant determinant of international patterns of trade and foreign direct investment. This paper argues on the basis of extensive primary research that with respect to Japan's foreign direct investment during the 1970s, at any rate, this conclusion needs to be rethought. In the early 1970s, Japanese actors were remarkably forthright in ascribing their investment decisions to a desire to move polluting industry overseas. These statements allow us to examine 'pollution export' as a state strategy, a project advocated by industry organizations, and a response of individual firms to high levels of protest and regulation. The paper also traces the development of the Japanese debate over pollution export through the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the political-economic analysis of globalisation and education as well as a culturalist approach to education policy borrowing, the paper analyses the role of local actors, specifically, national newspapers and the Ministry of Education, in mediating the potentially homogenising curricular policy pressure of globalisation exerted through the PISA league tables. Using the recent Japanese education policy debate as a case study, the author demonstrates how the Japanese media interpreted the PISA 2003 findings in a way that resonated with the specific cultural, political, and economic context of the time and how the Ministry used the findings to legitimise otherwise highly contentious policy measures. Questioning the conventional interpretation that the PISA 2003 shock caused the Ministry to redirect its controversial yutori (low pressure) curricular policy, the paper reconstitutes the Ministry as an active agent that capitalised on an external reference (PISA) to re-establish its political legitimacy in a time of increasing neo-liberal state-restructuring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines interactions between the global and the local in the context of Japanese mainstream schooling, by focusing on the development of local government policies to manage diversity in schools. This paper reveals how local governments developed education policies in interaction with grassroots professional groups, activists and schools, and by selectively incorporating national policies. These local policies are multicultural education policies but differ in two significant ways. The first is their predominant concern with human rights education, leaving celebration of cultural diversity as a marginal consideration, and the other is the official use of the term ‘foreigners’ in the title of these policies; both of which reflect the pre‐existing local context. The paper demonstrates that new immigrants do not unilaterally impact on supposedly ethnically homogeneous Japanese classrooms, but that the pre‐existing local contexts (national, local and institutional) have mediated global forces in effecting changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do major economic powers seek more and more free trade agreements (FTAs) with smaller partners? Recently, Japan has joined the bandwagon by signing its first bilateral FTA. The decision, highly contested domestically, represents a sea change in Japanese trade policy and a challenging case for theories of regionalism. This paper lays out a theoretical appraisal for why more and more industrialized countries join FTAs with emerging markets and illustrates the argument with an analysis of the Japanese case. The paper argues that foreign direct investment (FDI) changes the incentives for states in favour of preferential trade agreements. Increased FDI and shifts in multinational firm strategies increase flows of intermediate goods. As a result, firms lobby their home governments to bolster their competitive position by signing preferential agreements. Yet, FTAs also discriminate against firms from third parties, motivating them to lobby for defensive agreements. The qualitative case studies show how NAFTA discriminates against Japanese FDI in Mexico. As a result, firms began to lobby the Japanese trade bureaucracy, changing the perception of key policymakers who developed a strategy of pursuing preferential trade agreements in the Asia Pacific region, as shown in a case study of the initiative for an FTA with Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A comparative assessment of pandemic governance in Japan and the United States helps explain the strikingly different shapes of the Covid-19 pandemic in these two countries. Japan has more successfully managed the pandemic compared to the striking failure of the US response. This paper uses the metaphor of the control tower of an airport to examine four aspects of pandemic governance: (1) the culture of the control tower, showing strikingly different cultures of mask-wearing; (2) the social value context of the control tower, reflecting a greater tendency in Japan for people to follow government advice, compared to the US libertarian values of emphasizing personal liberty and disregarding official advice; (3) the role of national leadership, especially who is sitting in the control tower making decisions, with Prime Minister Abe largely taking responsibility while President Trump effectively left decisions up to markets and individual states; and (4) the use and clarity of information provided by control-tower authorities, showing greater clarity and consistency in Japan compared to the confused and contradictory messages in the US. These differences in control-tower governance have had marked effects on the pandemic responses of the two countries and have important implications for sustaining democratic traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Group of 20 Summit (G20) in Osaka, which Japan chaired for the first time in June 2019 has created a tailwind for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) globally. In response to the rapid digitalization, the G20 leaders commenced negotiations for the Osaka Track framework to formulate international rules on data flow across borders and systematize the concept of 'Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT).' The strategic harnessing of the power of data to strengthen the healthcare system can allow for rapid and affordable progress toward achieving UHC. However, world leaders have yet to discuss what data governance approaches the Osaka Track will follow, or even on what values it will seek to create and maximize. In this paper, we propose a people-centered, trust-oriented approach as the key principle of data governance toward achieving UHC, using Japan's experience as an example. We believe that this approach is compatible with other prevailing approaches (e.g. the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union), and can serve as a bridge to their conceptual differences. We hope that our proposed principles will be fully discussed in post-G20 Osaka Summit meetings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of seismo-lower ionospheric perturbation for the Kobe earthquake (EQ) has been revisited with a relatively new phenomenon of ULF (ultra-low-frequency) magnetic field depression effect. By using the ULF data in Japan only at Kakioka belonging to Japan Meteorological Agency (because data from Memambetsu and Kanoya were not available), we have found that a very clear ULF depression was observed at Kakioka on 14 January 1995. A comparison with our former result on subionospheric VLF (very low frequency) propagation anomaly indicates that the occurrence of ULF depression exhibits a temporal coincidence (synchronization) with that of subionospheric VLF anomaly. This may be acceptable because the ULF depression can be explained in terms of enhanced absorption of magnetospheric ULF waves through the disturbed lower ionosphere prior to an EQ. The result of ULF magnetic field depression in this paper is likely to provide a further support to the presence of the lower ionospheric perturbation before the Kobe EQ. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

American business practices and views on Japanese management tend to dominate the management literature worldwide. This domination is at odds with the relatively meager attention given to the management practices of other successful countries in the world. This paper focuses on Germany, Europe's "economic giant." In 1990, West Germany produced 40 percent of the European Community's manufactured output (Warner and Campbell, 1993). Its export power is unparalleled; Germany's volume of world trade nearly equals that of the much larger United States. Its exports are, and have been since the 1960s, twice as high, per capita, as Japan's (e.g., Heiduk and Yamamura, 1990; The Economist, 1993). This paper aims to identify the key to German-style management, by which we mean the unique, culturally embedded management practices within Germany. In order to provide a realistic picture of a national management style, one has to consider behavioral as well as institutional aspects of the business system (see Whitley, 1992, 1994). In this paper, both types of aspects are combined in an integrative fashion. Compared with management in other European countries, German-style management has received a lot of academic attention. Surprisingly, however, the number of empirical studies on this topic is rather limited. In order to identify the key to German-style management, we analyzed a representative set of empirical research studies that focused on management styles and systems in different countries, including Germany. To enrich our analysis, we also considered essays and noncomparative literature on German management. These essays provide information on the background conditions of the German business system which cannot be neglected in order to achieve an understanding of German-style management. After characterizing the empirical literature, this paper offers an overview of the unique features of German-style management. Attention is then focused on the current economic situation in Germany and the future potential of German-style management. The epilogue points out knowledge gaps and formulates needs for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shows how wartime conditions transformed the waste business in Japan. Hygiene regulations from 1900 to the 1920s followed by an influx of Korean migrant labour disrupted the traditional waste trade. The conquest of Manchuria opened up new export markets for Japanese waste and increased the demand for munitions, causing scrap metal prices to skyrocket. These new economic conditions created opportunities for Korean-owned waste businesses. In 1938 the Japanese Ministry of Commerce and Industry imposed a control system on kuzuya scrap dealers consciously modelled on Nazi Germany to keep scrap prices as low as possible and to prevent criminal activity through extensive surveillance. These price controls privileged wholesalers and harmed waste-pickers; Koreans remained in the trade because of their cheap labour. Economic mobilization under conditions of total war after 1941 temporarily rehabilitated the marginalized image of kuzuya in government propaganda, but the end of the war shattered that illusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How did incumbents in Japanese publishing maintain resale price maintenance (RPM)? This article sheds light on the inter- and intra- industrial structure that enabled the protection of RPM, or the fixed price system, amid the country-wide liberalisation in the 1990s. By analysing textual data including governmental reports, trade papers in publishing and leaflets adopted for lobbying, the critical decade was reconstructed. It addresses a scarcity of business history literature about the link between RPM and business organisations, particularly concerning lobbying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented which discusses the articles within the issue on topics including digital photographs, digital archives in Japan and the South Asian American Digital Archive project's documenting of South Asians' first days in the U.S.

We conducted a global survey on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research activities of materials scientists by distributing a questionnaire on 9 October 2020 with a response deadline of 23 October 2020. The questions covered issues such as access to labs, effectiveness of online conferences, and effects on doctoral students for the period covering the first lockdowns until the relaxation of restrictions in late September 2020 in many countries. The survey also included online interviews with eminent materials scientists who shared their local experiences during this period. The interviews were compiled as a series of audio conversations for The STAM Podcast that is freely available worldwide. Our findings included that the majority of institutes were not prepared for such a crisis; researchers in China, Japan, and Singapore were able to resume research much quicker - for example after approximately one month in Japan - than their counterparts in the US and Europe after the first lockdowns; researchers adapted to using virtual teleconferencing to maintain contact with colleagues; and doctoral students were the hardest hit by the pandemic with deep concerns about completing their research and career prospects. We hope that the analysis from this survey will enable the global materials science community to learn from each other's experiences and move forward from the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destructive impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011 has enhanced consumer's earthquake preparedness even in unaffected areas. This paper uses unique survey data collected after the earthquake to study how consumers reacted to this catastrophic event. We find that self-reported, perceived preparedness for natural disasters has significantly improved even among low-income households after March 11, but that post-quake intentions for more specific risk mitigation activities were systematically associated with household income and wealth levels. Our results indicate that the recent events might have widened the gap in disaster preparedness between rich and poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the natural monopoly features of infrastructure industries, together with their strategic roles, have been important elements in state intervention. The aim of this paper is to evaluate what relative weight was attached to market failure problems on the one hand and geo-political factors on the other. For the period 1830-1939, how far were geo-political factors stronger than natural monopoly problems in accounting for the scale of intervention in the various countries of the Western World? How far did the policy instruments for security and market failure overlap? Whilst most of the infrastructure sectors are covered - including internal telecommunications, coal, gas, shipping, electricity and water - special attention is devoted to international submarine telegraph tables and railways. The paper concludes by demonstrating strong differences between Britain and USA on the one hand and Continental Europe plus Japan on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the possible causes and social background of the rising suicide rate among middle-age or older Japanese male workers, particularly a certain type of suicide called karo-jisatsu (suicide by overwork). The image of Japan as a culture that considers suicide a method of personal distress resolution is widespread overseas. Although such a cultural explanation holds somewhat true, other social structural factors should be taken into consideration before resorting to the historical and cultural explanations. This paper presents, based on the existing data and facts, a balanced view of both cultural and social structural explanatory models, analyzes the changing situation at Japanese workplaces, and strives to deepen the understanding of the reality of suicide in today's Japan. Pressures resulting from a long economic recession, a new evaluation system in the workplace, and the widening gap between the traditional concept of work and a new reality are some of the reasons behind karo-jisatsu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the determination of investment in the monetary production economy. We test the empirical validity of a model based on Davidson and Minsky's examples in the Post Keynesian tradition. Based on Davidson and Minsky, we construct a simple model of the endogenous determination of investment. An empirical model is tested based on the spirit of the Davidson—Minsky approach for Japan. The results suggest that the Post Keynesian approach has an interpretative value both theoretically and empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on bullying at school proliferate, but the discourse is seriously lacking in sociological perspective. The explanation as to why some students bully others has been sought primarily within the personal attributes of the bully and the victim. Despite the fact that the school is the place where most bullying occurs, school factors that are correlated with the prevalence of bullying have been under-investigated. In Japan, however, schools have been subject to great scrutiny. By reviewing the Japanese literature on bullying (ijime), this paper discusses factors that appear to contribute to the school climate in which bullying among students becomes commonplace. These include authoritarian, hierarchical, and power-dominant human relationships, alienating modes of learning, high levels of regimentation, dehumanising methods of discipline, and highly interventionist human relationships in an excessively group-oriented social environment. The paper suggests the paradigm of student bullying needs to be re-thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How evident is democracy within education in Japan, and is current practice different from elsewhere? This paper assesses the perception that Japanese political and educational practices are not fully 'democratic'. The first part examines the Japanese perspective on democracy, and then considers democracy and education in Japan. From a school-based study, the second part discusses examples of class practice concerning decision-making. The paper concludes that democracy is deeply rooted in Japanese history, but not in a form that is readily recognisable to Western observers. Consensus has been more significant than voting. The view that the US administration had a strong influence probably reflects policy rhetoric, not the reality in schools. But this rhetoric may have led to a belief that 'democracy' is not an appropriate term within contemporary Japanese education. However, what happens in Japanese classrooms equates with 'democratic' practice elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epimedium L. is an important genus in the family Berberidaceae. Epimedium trifoliolatobinatum (Koidz.) Koidz. 1939 is inhabited on the west side of the Shikoku, Japan. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of E. trifoliolatobinatum was assembled with Illumina paired-end sequencing data, which was 157,272 bp in length with a total GC content of 38.70%. A total of 112 unique genes were annotated, comprising 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that E. trifoliolatobinatum was sister to E. koreanum. The current results provided fundamental information for further conducting molecular systematics and phylogenetic research of Epimedium genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how the Japanese and Korean governments use multi-bi aid to complement their bilateral aid and compares their allocation behaviors. As opposed to traditional multilateral aid, multi-bi aid is earmarked for a specific country, project, region, sector, or theme. Japan—a traditional leading donor—and Korea—a small but growing donor—are considerably different in terms of their ODA history and size; although, they are comparable in meaningful manners in terms of their level of cooperation with multilateral organizations. Over the past 10 years, both countries used the multilateral system to a significantly lesser extent yet showed a higher proportion of earmarked funding within multilateral aid compared to the average DAC donor. This study identified more similarities than differences between Japan and South Korea—both countries commit a large proportion of their multi-bi to fragile and conflict-affected states, countries under-represented in their bilateral aid programs. Accordingly, a large proportion of their aid has been channeled through multilateral organizations leading the sectors that are not prioritized with their bilateral aid. Overall, this study identified strong complementarities between the composition of Japan's and Korea's bilateral and multi-bi aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate risk factors of paternal perinatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online cross-sectional study of 473 prenatal fathers and 1246 postnatal fathers in August 2021. We applied a modified Poisson regression to estimate relative risk ratios of possible factors for paternal perinatal depression (measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), sequentially introducing the following factors into the model: individual factors, interpersonal factors, obstetric/pediatric factors, and service utilization factors. Prenatal fathers with the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: adverse childhood experiences (risk ratio; RR 1.61), past depression (RR 1.63), fear of COVID-19 (RR 2.09), lower social support (RR 1.91), low family resources (RR 1.95), and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (RR 1.29). Postnatal fathers having the following risk factors were at an increased risk for having depressive symptoms: past depression (RR 1.67), fear of COVID-19 (RR 1.26), low family resources (RR 1.85), IPV victimization. (RR 1.18), and preterm birth (RR 1.18). The study showed risk factors such as past history of depression, high fear of COVID-19, low family functionality, and IPV victimization were associated with perinatal depressive symptoms. The findings should contribute to future directions of interventions for paternal perinatal mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Gout is a chronic disease that imposes a huge financial and health burden on patients, which might diminish quality of life. Qin Jiao, a perennial herb found in northwestern China and Japan, is commonly used for treating various ailments. Objective: This study investigates the effects of Qin Jiao on gout and joint inflammation and elucidates its potential mechanism for gouty arthritis. Materials and methods: Study 1, a literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI to assess the applications of Qin Jiao in arthritis treatment. Study 2 was performed to discover the component targets and gouty disease targets via TCMSP, OMIM, GeneCards and DRUGBANK, and network pharmacology analysis. Study 3, male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal, model, colchicine, Qin Jiao low-dose (QJL), and Qin Jiao high-dose group (QJH), oral gavage for 40 d. Serum, synovial fluid, and synovial membrane tissue were collected to measure the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and STAT3. Results: The research also identified potential targets and pharmacological pathways of Qin Jiao for gout treatment. In vivo study demonstrated Qin Jiao can reduce IL-1β levels in serum and ankle flushing fluid. ELISA analysis confirmed that Qin Jiao significantly reduces the protein expression of IL-6 and STAT3. Discussion and conclusion: Qin Jiao exerts anti-inflammatory effects on gouty arthritis by modulating the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. This study provides a biological basis for the use of Qin Jiao in treating arthritis-related diseases and offers experimental evidence for potential future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is very common and sometimes refractory to treatment in hemodialysis patients. In a trial conducted in Japan, nalfurafine, effectively reduced itching of treatment-resistant CKD-aP. Our present bridging study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nalfurafine in Chinese cohort with refractory CKD-aP. In this phase III, multicenter bridging study conducted at 22 sites in China, 141 Chinese cases with refractory CKD-aP were randomly (2:2:1) assigned to receive 5 μg, 2.5 μg of nalfurafine or a placebo orally for 14 days in a double-blind manner. The primary end point was the mean decrease in the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) from baseline. A total of 141 patients were included. The primary endpoint analysis based on full analysis set (FAS), the difference of mean VAS decrease between 5 μg nalfurafine and placebo group was 11.37 mm (p =.041); the difference of mean VAS decrease between 2.5 μg and placebo group was 8.81 mm (p =.110). Both differences were greater than 4.13 mm, which met its predefined success criterion of at least 50% efficacy of the key Japanese clinical trial. The per protocol set (PPS) analysis got similar results. The incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 49.1% in 5μg, 38.6% in 2.5 μg and 33.3% in placebo group. The most common ADR was insomnia, seen in 21 of the 114 nalfurafine patients. Oral nalfurafine effectively reduced itching with few significant ADRs in Chinese hemodialysis patients with refractory pruritus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper illustrates the contributors of three major social movement perspectives, macro, micro, and participant mobilization, to the cross-cultural analysis of social movements. It examines an emerging citizen' movement in Japan which aims to improve social welfare services in its region A particular movement event the International Forum, demonstrates the significance of symbol and ritual in understanding the formation of collective identity in the leaders' attempts in mobilize participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]