The Japanese Government, since the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol, has failed in effectively addressing climate change. Research has shown that the Japanese Government’s failure in combination...Show moreThe Japanese Government, since the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol, has failed in effectively addressing climate change. Research has shown that the Japanese Government’s failure in combination with its control over the media developed a misleading conception among the Japanese population of its efficacy in implementing environmentally-friendly policies, thus different kinds of communication are needed. This study aims to determine how employing art as a surrogate form of communication might raise awareness on the necessity and urgency of tackling environmental issues in Japan. Building on an alternative conception of the human-nature relationship arising from Zen Buddhist and Shinto values, this study asks: “To what extent can ecological art in Japan promote a message of sustainability that raises awareness and enhances the action of everyday actors?” By means of process-tracing combined with a case study analysis, this study illustrates the causal mechanisms between the Japanese religio-cultural inspired conception of the human-nature relationship, ecoart, and the establishment of a more environmentally friendly society. The case study analyses on the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field (ETAF) initiative showed that, by means of ecoart focused on community, locality and emotions, ETAF represents a viable model for Japan to increase ecoart initiatives and stimulate grassroots efforts towards environmental protection by means of art. Further research is needed on the initiatives engaging with the Japanese public aimed at delivering a message of environmental betterment by means of art and culture, as well as to determine the effects of ecoart in other parts of the world.Show less
Aid practices are often not leading to inclusive human development. Research has shown that recipient countries face challenges to foster social progress, which is here to be understood as...Show moreAid practices are often not leading to inclusive human development. Research has shown that recipient countries face challenges to foster social progress, which is here to be understood as aggregate improvement of income, health status, and freedoms of the population. The challenges are often stemming from ineffective financial allocation of capital. This often forms the foundation for experts’ criticism of the effectiveness of aid efforts. Official Development Assistance (ODA), for example, can be deemed to be one form of partially ineffective aid practice. This study aims at identifying the causal mechanisms, triggered by ODA disbursements, that hinder social development. More specifically, the case of Japanese ODA in Myanmar shall be the focus of this study. Building on existing work, this paper asks: to what extent is Japanese ODA contributing to social progress in Myanmar? Based on an in-depth case study analysis of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, this study seeks to demonstrate how the Japanese ODA project has not been successfully contributing to social development in Myanmar. The assessment of the results illustrated that the enhancement of human capabilities, understood with the Capability Approach developed by Amartya Sen, has not been verified.Show less
Memory is a dialectical process of remembering and forgetting. When a memory is perceived by a community, the community can strategically choose either to remember or to forget a certain part of...Show moreMemory is a dialectical process of remembering and forgetting. When a memory is perceived by a community, the community can strategically choose either to remember or to forget a certain part of memory, depending on their aim. This memory can be called ‘collective memory’, since it involves memory that is shared by the community, such as nations. It is not just memories of a single individual’s experience or a collection of past events, rather it is memory that is reformulated. It is often symbolized by monuments and statues. Furthermore, it consists of various communications and negotiations from one generation to the later generations. History textbooks, for example, in advanced learning institutions or the rhetoric of political leaders can be involved in forming collective memory. The thesis will focus on the practical function of collective memories, which form individual or national identity, especially in post-war periods. As case studies, West Germany and Japan will be used and their post-war collective memory will be analysed, for the period between 1950-1980. It will examine how war memory was utilized in collective memory in both countries.Show less
This research paper examines the role and influence of women in Japanese organizational cultures since their involvement in the labor force starting in the 1990s. This new labor force consisted of...Show moreThis research paper examines the role and influence of women in Japanese organizational cultures since their involvement in the labor force starting in the 1990s. This new labor force consisted of educated and highly-skilled women and was partly made possible due to the social visibility Japanese women started to receive during this time. As a result, Japanese organizational culture as we know it has gradually changed as well. Previous findings have suggested that women somewhat differ in some features of organizational culture, such as speech, dress code, and behavior. Due to these slight differences in these features, Japanese organizations began to change some of their policies and thus their organizational culture in order to develop a more inclusive environment. By analyzing several traditional Japanese organizations and their cultures, this paper demonstrates that Japanese women have influenced their organizational cultures to a certain extent. We can see that even the most traditional Japanese organizations have started to become more inclusive and open-minded towards gender equality which is, for example, visible in their women empowerment programs.Show less
The thesis makes an important point in emphasizing- against much of the conventional scholarly literature on the subject- that the Russo-Japanese War is usefully seen in a broader context of...Show moreThe thesis makes an important point in emphasizing- against much of the conventional scholarly literature on the subject- that the Russo-Japanese War is usefully seen in a broader context of competing imperial powers. The conclusion brings together the various players and the war's implications for each fairly effectively.Show less
With about two thirds of the population commuting every day, the railways system is the beating heart of Tokyo’s urban daily life. Major railway stations, which primarily function as nodes in the...Show moreWith about two thirds of the population commuting every day, the railways system is the beating heart of Tokyo’s urban daily life. Major railway stations, which primarily function as nodes in the transportation network, have developed from humble wooden structures into massive sites of consumption, destination themselves, which act as economic, social and cultural hubs. A major factor behind this development is private railway companies' extensive engagement in the real estate sector, which throughout the 20th century has resulted in the birth of new commercial spaces within the context of the station: the terminal department store (a department store inside of the station managed by a railway company), the ekichika (an underground area of the station), and more recently, the ekinaka (the area within the gates of the station). This thesis explores the relationship between city and railway station through a contextualization of the three spaces mentioned above and the case study of Shinjuku, the busiest station in the world. The analysis shows that by reintegrating urban spaces in the context of the station, private railway companies have created a new urban playground for the passenger, decontextualized from the idea of commuting.Show less
This thesis focuses on recent developments within the Japanese migration policy. It highlights the different roles that local and national governments play in creating a migration/integration policy.
Japan and China are competing for infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia. They have both launched their own international infrastructure development strategies: China’s Belt and Road Initiative...Show moreJapan and China are competing for infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia. They have both launched their own international infrastructure development strategies: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Japan’s Partnership for Quality Infrastructure and Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy. This paper will investigate how China and Japan frame their respective strategies and how they occupy different roles in Southeast Asian infrastructure development.Show less
Between 1639 and 1854 was the Netherlands the only European country allowed to trade with Japan. After 1854, when Commodore Perry uses gunboat diplomacy to open diplomatic contact with Japan, the...Show moreBetween 1639 and 1854 was the Netherlands the only European country allowed to trade with Japan. After 1854, when Commodore Perry uses gunboat diplomacy to open diplomatic contact with Japan, the unique position of the Netherlands had changed drastically. Nonetheless, the Dutch government was not eager to give up its monopoly on Japan that easily. As a result, after Japan opened, the Dutch government can be observed undertaking many projects in Japan to convince the Japanese that unique relations with the Dutch were still in the Japanese interest. Especially in Nagasaki, where the Dutch had a trading post for since the 17th century, the Dutch undertook many projects and this started to shape the city going forward. This thesis examines how Dutch influence shaped three prominent sectors in Nagasaki throughout the nineteenth century; the rising military & industrial sectors and the declining trade sector in Nagasaki. The developments in these sectors are framed within wider Japanese history of that era and also the decline of Dutch influence in the nineteenth century. The conclusion of this thesis is that the Dutch still fulfilled a prominent position within Japanese, and then especially Nagasaki, after the years of the opening in 1854. The Dutch worked hard to introduce Japan with new military and industrial knowledge, while simulataneously aiming to include within a new trade network. The Dutch supplied new materials, worked as teacher and also worked as intermediaries with other Western nations. Eventually the Dutch could not keep up with other Western nations and by the 1870s most Dutch experts had disappeared from Japan. Nonetheless, by this time their influence had played a major role in Nagasaki. The basis had been laid for the rise of many factories in the city, the city had become a centre for military knowledge and trade had dwindled from the city. Byt the time the last of the Dutch experts left, Nagasaki had been set on a course to become a military-industrial complex, which would play an important part in the next century.Show less
Japan’s immigration policy seems to be a popular subject nowadays, due to Japan’s rapidly aging society. When looking at the subject of immigration regarding Japanese society, the common conception...Show moreJapan’s immigration policy seems to be a popular subject nowadays, due to Japan’s rapidly aging society. When looking at the subject of immigration regarding Japanese society, the common conception seems that Japan is reluctant to implement an immigration policy, being that the main reason for this reluctancy lies in Japan’s unique history. Over the years, changes have been made to Japan’s immigration policy. From introducing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to entice foreign health care workers from the Philippines and Indonesia, to the development of a point-based system for highly skilled workers, to opening up more work sectors for foreign workers that enter under the newest visa category of ‘specified skills’ in 2019. This thesis examines the current (2019) immigration policy and analyses its most recent changes, in order to find out the political sentiments behind Japan's immigration policy. This thesis illustrates the difference between policy-making and policy-outcome.Show less
This thesis explores the ongoing international dispute between Japan and South Korea concerning the issue of WWII sex-slaves known as ‘comfort women’. The main focus lies on the question how...Show moreThis thesis explores the ongoing international dispute between Japan and South Korea concerning the issue of WWII sex-slaves known as ‘comfort women’. The main focus lies on the question how Japanese official apologies for this issue contribute to the successful reconciliation between South Korea and Japan. By using soft power theory to look at the transmission, context and reception of three major Japanese apologies from the 1990s until today, this thesis finds that, Japanese national apologies do not contribute to successful postwar reconciliation. Due to a mismatch between Japanese presentation, compensation and South Korean expectation, the apologies do not lead towards soft power. Domestic political context only further amplifies the gap between transmission and reception, while international pressure does not manage to bridge the gap either. Therefore, this thesis argues that current Japanese apologies for the issue known as the ‘comfort women issue’ do not positively contribute towards successful reconciliation. The potential that future apologies can contribute however, cannot be ruled out.Show less
This paper looks at the representation of the comfort women dispute between South Korea and Japan in popular culture. Through the lens of popular culture, the representation of the dispute is...Show moreThis paper looks at the representation of the comfort women dispute between South Korea and Japan in popular culture. Through the lens of popular culture, the representation of the dispute is analysed and it is discussed how this influences the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan.Show less
In the beginning of 2018, The United States under President Trump started a trade war with China. At the same time Japan-United States relations experienced similar tensions due to a trade deficit....Show moreIn the beginning of 2018, The United States under President Trump started a trade war with China. At the same time Japan-United States relations experienced similar tensions due to a trade deficit. This paper will investigate Japan’s changed diplomacy towards China amidst the ongoing China-United States trade war. The study focuses on a recent official visit by Japan’s Prime Minister Abe to China that took place from the 25th to the 27th of October 2018. The visit was to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. In order to portray Japan’s changed diplomacy primary sources of the visit will be used, as well as secondary sources from Chinese and Japanese media (such as the Japan Times and South China Morning Post). To further answer this question, economic diplomacy is used as a theoretical framework. This thesis finds that Sino-Japanese relations have stabilized due to tensions from the United States and both parties seek to improve economic relations. The visit also paved a way for future visits and thus a continued strengthening of Sino-Japanese relations and building of trust. However, bilateral historical and territorial issues remain unresolved.Show less
