The main focus of this study is the use of English on the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. A lot has been written about the use of English in Japanese media and other sources, with most...Show moreThe main focus of this study is the use of English on the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. A lot has been written about the use of English in Japanese media and other sources, with most authors stating that borrowing in Japan is mostly limited to loanwords. What I intend to provide is a thorough explanation of existing linguistic theories on loaning behavior, followed by the application of these theories on my research data which I have taken directly from the covers of Japanese girls’ fashion magazines. What I intend to prove is that the language borrowing behavior that takes place, goes further than simply loaning words. First of all there is a division between conventional loanwords and unconventionally used English words. More importantly, there are more complex ways in which English is borrowed and bent, such as through creative word hybrids or even the alteration of grammatical structures. A thorough introduction on linguistic theories will be provided, followed by a step-by-step guidance through examples from the data, looking beyond the eye-catching slogans and delving deeper into the linguistic characteristics of these code-switching behaviours.Show less
In dit bachelor eindwerkstuk is gekeken naar de invloed van sociale achtergrond van een individu op de educatie die dat individu zal krijgen en welke invloed die educatie heeft op een succesvolle...Show moreIn dit bachelor eindwerkstuk is gekeken naar de invloed van sociale achtergrond van een individu op de educatie die dat individu zal krijgen en welke invloed die educatie heeft op een succesvolle carrière. De nadruk ligt hier op de overgangsjaren van het primaire onderwijs naar het secundaire onderwijs en het secundaire onderwijs naar het tertiaire onderwijs. Aan de hand van statistieken van het Japanse ministerie van onderwijs en resultaten uit onderzoeken van vooraanstaande Japanse en niet-Japanse academici wordt geconstateerd dat kinderen uit welvarende gezinnen meer kansen hebben dan hun arme tegenhangers. Dit fenomeen wordt sociale immobiliteit genoemd. Zo zien ouders die zelf hebben gestudeerd het nut van een goede opleiding in en zijn zo een veel grotere stimulerende factor voor hun kinderen dan ouders zonder universitaire opleiding. Ook hebben welvarende gezinnen meer geld te besteden aan onderwijs in de vorm van juku, buitenschoolse onderwijsinstanties. In deze scriptie wordt ook ingezoomd op de vorm van het Japanse onderwijssysteem, zoals de hierboven genoemde juku en het fenomeen examenoorlog en wat er door de jaren door de Japanse overheid is ondernomen om ieder individu gelijke kansen te bieden. Er wordt geconcludeerd dat het Japanse onderwijssysteem ondanks hervormingen niet voor ieder individu gelijke kansen biedt.Show less
This paper discusses the transfer of the Dutch factory from Hirado to Nagasaki in 1641 and the specific circumstances leading up to it. The research question is then: what did the VOC personnel...Show moreThis paper discusses the transfer of the Dutch factory from Hirado to Nagasaki in 1641 and the specific circumstances leading up to it. The research question is then: what did the VOC personnel think about the political circumstances surrounding the relocation of the Dutch Factory from Hirado to Nagasaki; what did they believe was going on and how did these beliefs correspond with what the secondary literature on Japan says happened during this time? To answer this question primary sources written by the Dutch chiefs of the factory (Dagregisters gehouden bij de opperhoofden van de Nederlandse Factorij in Japan) are compared with the general consensus of these events as seen in contemporary secondary literature.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate how much progress Japan has made in dismantling its most costly non-tariff measures (NTMs). Two specific industries are evaluated: the pharmaceutical and the...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to evaluate how much progress Japan has made in dismantling its most costly non-tariff measures (NTMs). Two specific industries are evaluated: the pharmaceutical and the medical devices industry.Show less
The advent of photography in Japan coincided with a period during which the country was about to undergo major change. The opening of Japan under the Meiji Revolution in 1868 would lead to the...Show moreThe advent of photography in Japan coincided with a period during which the country was about to undergo major change. The opening of Japan under the Meiji Revolution in 1868 would lead to the massive importation of Western technologies, and a rapid establishment of photographic studios soon followed. One social formation that arose at the time appeared to gain an increasing access to modern technologies; the photographic studio became a popular place to visit among middle class people, who demanded a portrait picture for the integration of the family into modernity and who used it to make sense of their fast changing lives. This thesis inquires to what extent the concept of Westernization was visualized in photographic portrait imagery and how it was shaped by the Japanese photographer and the middle class subject in particular.Show less
Deze thesis gaat over het effect dat de invoering van de vingerafdrukwet, ingevoerd in 2007, heeft op de buitenlanders die Japan bezoeken of in Japan willen gaan wonen. Om hier een goed onderzoek...Show moreDeze thesis gaat over het effect dat de invoering van de vingerafdrukwet, ingevoerd in 2007, heeft op de buitenlanders die Japan bezoeken of in Japan willen gaan wonen. Om hier een goed onderzoek voor op te bouwen, wordt er ook gekeken naar de redenen voor de invoering van de wet. Aan de hand van het concept crimmigratie, wordt er kritisch gekeken naar deze vingerafdrukwet.Show less
My aim is to have a more nuanced analysis of the differing Japanese positions and views on Indonesian nationalism versus the black and white image that scholars and others often present by using...Show moreMy aim is to have a more nuanced analysis of the differing Japanese positions and views on Indonesian nationalism versus the black and white image that scholars and others often present by using the Indonesian language policy as an example. The scholarly approaches so far have been limited in discussing these more clearly. I will argue that the Japanese side lacked unity on what could be said to have been a very ambiguous policy and ideological area. The growing presence of Indonesian nationalism during the Japanese occupation is a possible factor of influencing the local authority's views, but I will argue that the nationalists' room for influence was limited.Show less
In Japanese, the phrase A yō na can be used to modify nouns. One of the ways that an A yō na B construction can be used, is to lend a sense of indirectness to an expression. In this thesis, I will...Show moreIn Japanese, the phrase A yō na can be used to modify nouns. One of the ways that an A yō na B construction can be used, is to lend a sense of indirectness to an expression. In this thesis, I will investigate whether this sense of indirectness can be traced back in English translation, and what this can say about the features of the two languages. First, in order to grasp the diversity of usages of the A yō na B construction, I will provide an analysis of the several meanings, making use of a classification using the framework introduced in Takahashi (2009). Then, I will analyse within these categories how the construction can be translated. In order to do this, I will use a parallel corpus created from examples taken from a Japanese novel and its English translation. Finally, I will discuss my findings in the view of indirectness within language.Show less
The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident revitalised Japan’s anti-nuclear power protest movement. The summer of 2012 saw large protests in front of the parliamentary building. As a result,...Show moreThe 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident revitalised Japan’s anti-nuclear power protest movement. The summer of 2012 saw large protests in front of the parliamentary building. As a result, public opinion moved away from support of nuclear power to opposition to nuclear power. Many protesters believed that the nuclear debate would impact the 2012 lower house elections. This however proved not to be the case, proving to many onlookers that civil protest in Japan does not lead to political change. Indeed, many commentators believe that civil society in Japan is weak in comparison to the power of the bureaucracy. Yet, as this research shows, civil society is not by any means necessarily weak. This research argues that civil protest is quite viable in Japan if organised within a specific framework. The success of the ‘Article 9 Society’ provides an example for other civil protest movements looking to impact Japan’s political process. It is within the framework of the Article 9 Society that other movements ought to organize their civil protest. Consequently, this research finds that the anti-nuclear power movement’s failure is not the result of a weak civil society, but rather a failure in protest organization.Show less
Since 2006, when the popular Junichiro Koizumi resigned from his role, Japan has had six prime ministers, one of which has served on two separate occasions. Koizumi’s successor,Shinzo Abe, had to...Show moreSince 2006, when the popular Junichiro Koizumi resigned from his role, Japan has had six prime ministers, one of which has served on two separate occasions. Koizumi’s successor,Shinzo Abe, had to resign after a year due to low popularity and health issues. However, in 2012, Abe returned. Based on his history, one would not expect Abe to be able to come back,let alone be capable of leading his country towards economic recovery and political stability. Nevertheless, Abe has been able to maintain his position for about a year and a half, while sustaining fairly stable public support. Is the current Abe different from the previous one? Has he become a transformational leader? Will Abe be able to finish his term, just as Koizumi did? This article applies a comparative analysis on Koizumi's and Abe's terms as prime minister of Japan. Based on the theory of transformational and transactional leadership, this essay attempts to answer these questions. This article uses a keyword analysis to examine their populist style. In the end, it is concluded that Abe has become a transformational leader with a populist style, but that he still lacks Koizumi's charisma.Show less
In this thesis two forces contributing to a changing language ideology in Japan, adopting the Okinawan case as an example, are examined. The first factor is a political one, namely the influence of...Show moreIn this thesis two forces contributing to a changing language ideology in Japan, adopting the Okinawan case as an example, are examined. The first factor is a political one, namely the influence of international human rights treaties, that also guarantee linguistic rights, and its enforcement bodies on the Japanese government. The second one is a social factor: the (re)emergence of pride in Okinawan identityShow less
I explain in my thesis that there is a reason to suggest that besides marriage and singles, also childless couples are affecting Japan's fertility negatively. In regard to these childless couples,...Show moreI explain in my thesis that there is a reason to suggest that besides marriage and singles, also childless couples are affecting Japan's fertility negatively. In regard to these childless couples, I try to answer the following question in my thesis: what factors influence Japanese childless married couples in their decision to remain childless, despite their wish to have children? Through making use of available statistics and insights of researchers like Higuchi, I conclude that from an economic/attitudinal perspective, it can be stated that the factors that influence Japanese childless married couples in their decision to remain childless, despite their wish to have children are varied. However, the vast majority of the respondents to surveys conducted by the IPSS, expressed that they are either too old, not healthy enough or physically restricted and therefore unable to have children. A smaller percentage of the respondents also expressed that it costs too much to raise and educate children. Based on these results I state that economists and politicians should improve fertility among childless couples by focusing on creating policies that financially support them during the early years of their employment. This will generate a satisfying environment for childless couples to have children while they are young. This way Japan’s fertility is likely to rise again.Show less
