Over the course of the last century, the Japanese population has left their humble hometowns and moved to large population centres. Now Japan experiences one of the worst population declines in the...Show moreOver the course of the last century, the Japanese population has left their humble hometowns and moved to large population centres. Now Japan experiences one of the worst population declines in the modern era and especially the countryside is shrinking at a rapid rate. This has prompted the government to implement measures to slow down the depopulation of the countryside and boost local economies. One of these measures is the furusato nozei tax system, which distributes a part of people’s inhabitant taxes towards other municipalities than the one they live in so that people may donate a share of their taxes to their hometown or any other municipality. This system may be tied to a general feeling of nostalgia that the Japanese people have towards their hometown or other places that generally evoke a sense of nostalgia as people have become desensitized with their current lives that sharply contrast with the calm and peaceful image of the Japanese countryside. Within the furusato nozei system, municipalities advertise themselves as the ‘ideal hometown’ by catering to peoples’ emotions towards those towns that people feel a certain connection with, but how do these emotions of nostalgia emerge in practice within the program? Do municipalities utilise nostalgia as a tool to draw in donations, and in what ways do they do this? Furusato on itself means something like ‘hometown’ or ‘native place’, but does this materialise in the self-marketing schemes of certain municipalities? By looking at two municipalities’ homepages and other websites, this paper determines that symbols of nostalgia are indeed drawn upon in the self-marketing schemes to gain more revenue in the program in the form of images, phrases, etc. These symbols evoke warm and nostalgic feelings and in a way reflect the state of the towns. Moreover, one may identify two ‘types’ of furusato on these homepages: either ‘emotional longing to one’s hometown’ or ‘nostalgia towards an older version of Japan in general’, which materialise to various degrees depending on the image that the towns want to impose on itself and the audience that they are trying to reach.Show less
The main focus of this thesis is the humorous aspect of the Hokusai Manga, which is a 15-volume containing series made by Japanese ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist Katsushika Hokusai.
This thesis discusses the question as to how Yoshiwara was envisioned as a virtual place of escape in prints of the Edo-period (1603-1867). This is done through visual analysis of woodblock prints...Show moreThis thesis discusses the question as to how Yoshiwara was envisioned as a virtual place of escape in prints of the Edo-period (1603-1867). This is done through visual analysis of woodblock prints as primary sources, and information and arguments of academic literature as secondary sources. Overwhelmed by the strict Tokugawa society and the many calamities ravaging the city, the people of Edo could find a place of escape in the concept of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters depicted in print. The practice of gayū (travelling whilst laying down) and the concepts of tsū (refinement) and iki (an urban aesthetic), are essential to this understanding.Show less
This paper sheds light on the discrepancy between the presentation of Ikumen, a popularized Japanese buzzword used for fathers who are involved with childrearing, in government-backed media and the...Show moreThis paper sheds light on the discrepancy between the presentation of Ikumen, a popularized Japanese buzzword used for fathers who are involved with childrearing, in government-backed media and the way it is perceived mostly in a negative light by the target audience. An analysis of survey data of an online survey conducted by the Asahi Shinbun revealed five major reasons as to why respondents take issue with the buzzword. An analysis of ‘Family Harmony’, the Ikumen Project’s Official song, revealed that most, however not all, of these gripes are in fact being reflected in pieces of government-backed media.Show less
This thesis analyses formal kimonos for young women and their prints. This paper attempts to draw a connection between femininity and symbolism through the use of flowers and colours.
Discussing the work of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda in After Life (1998), Nobody Knows (2004), and, most importantly, Shoplifters (2018), this thesis aims to expand on the way the hybrid...Show moreDiscussing the work of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda in After Life (1998), Nobody Knows (2004), and, most importantly, Shoplifters (2018), this thesis aims to expand on the way the hybrid documentary genre is defined by contemporary academic literature. Furthermore, it offers a different perspective on the lens through which we view Kore-eda’s recent filmography.Show less
This paper examines the Chiiki Okoshi Kyōryoku Tai (COKT), a Japanese government programme aimed at inducing counterurbanization and rural revitalization by commissioning people to move from urban...Show moreThis paper examines the Chiiki Okoshi Kyōryoku Tai (COKT), a Japanese government programme aimed at inducing counterurbanization and rural revitalization by commissioning people to move from urban to rural areas to engage in revitalization projects. Utilizing academic literature, government published data and personal reports, the historical context that led to the formation of the COKT is explored, followed by an analysis of the COKT’s potential benefits and problems based on its performance thus far and how it is presented to the public by the government. Although the counterurbanization aspect of the COKT continues to be heavily pushed by government documents, we argue that the actual numbers of participants remains far too low to make a tangible difference. However, linking to more recent literature on kankeijinkō, we argue that the COKT has potential benefits that reach beyond directly inducing counterurbanization, including the promotion of increased mobility and interaction between urban and rural areas.Show less
