As a reaction to the poor handling by the Japanese government of the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Fukushima Children Network was established whose main goal it is to...Show moreAs a reaction to the poor handling by the Japanese government of the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Fukushima Children Network was established whose main goal it is to prevent children from being irradiated by radioactive materials. With the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, mother's would yet again take up their motherhood and use in such a way that they are supposedly the expert concerning their children's well being. This research will analyze the activities of the Fukushima Children Network in relation to the concept of civil society in Japan as coined by Jurgen Habermas. The main research question will be: What is the effect of Fukushima Children Network's actions in the public sphere? More specifically, did their actions lead to a growing awareness of the dangers, such as radioactive contamination, that the use of nuclear energy brings about? Starting with only a few people and setting out their course of action, they gained notoriety throughout the country. Also having inspired other members of the public to take action on their own, it can be argued that they have come quite far within the public sphere.Show less
This thesis explores one of the solutions to the problem of a declining labour force Japan is faced with: increasing women’s employment, also after marriage and/or childbirth. In Japan, women...Show moreThis thesis explores one of the solutions to the problem of a declining labour force Japan is faced with: increasing women’s employment, also after marriage and/or childbirth. In Japan, women generally occupy a significantly lower position than men in the workplace. Through in-depth interviews with Japanese women, I have found answers to the following questions: What do Japanese women think of this inequality? Are they demotivated by a lack of prospects? Additionally, I explore what they consider important in a job, taking both content and conditions of employment into account. I argue that when the elements women consider important in work are determined, future laws and regulations aimed at increasing women’s employment rate can take these elements into account. Consequently, such laws will be more efficient in drawing more women to the labour force.Show less
This thesis considers the role of social capital in the post-disaster recovery of fishermen and farmers in a coastal and rural region. Primarily focusing on two towns in Miyagi prefecture which...Show moreThis thesis considers the role of social capital in the post-disaster recovery of fishermen and farmers in a coastal and rural region. Primarily focusing on two towns in Miyagi prefecture which were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the resulting tsunami in 2011, this thesis considers how the possession of cultural and social capital can hinder or enable recovery and company growth. Through the use of three case studies involving local fishermen and farmers who were affected by the disaster, this thesis argues that social capital plays an important role in enabling the recovery and growth of affected individuals and companies. In addition, not only the possession, but also the characteristics of said social capital determines to what extent and for what purposes social capital can be used to achieve recovery.Show less
For China, 2013 was the year of anti-corruption. The starting point of my research is that anti-corruption is not just a process of punishing political or economic crimes or improving supervision...Show moreFor China, 2013 was the year of anti-corruption. The starting point of my research is that anti-corruption is not just a process of punishing political or economic crimes or improving supervision mechanisms, but also a process to reconstruct the Party’s legitimacy. Therefore, from the perspective of political legitimacy, questions concerning how to tell the story of corruption become crucial. My central research question focuses on (1) what the discursive range of anti-corruption reporting by different Chinese media was and (2) how these narratives related to the Party’s legitimacy.Show less
Minority languages worldwide are threatened with extinction as speakers shift to the majority language. The Ryukyuan languages spoken on the Ryukyu Islands, the most southern part of Japan,are no...Show moreMinority languages worldwide are threatened with extinction as speakers shift to the majority language. The Ryukyuan languages spoken on the Ryukyu Islands, the most southern part of Japan,are no exception. This thesis aims to foresee and advice on the future of one of these languages: uchināguchi, spoken on the largest island of the archipelago. Through interviews and (participant) observation the motives and goals of those learning the language in Tokyo are categorized and compared to those studying uchināguchi on the island itself. Applying theories from the field of language planning and sociolinguistics, the conclusion aims to help teachers and students alike, shaping the future of this particular minority language.Show less
