In this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was...Show moreIn this study, conceptual transfer among the conceptualization of liquid containers of Dutch/Japanese bilingual users when using their first language (L1) has been examined. A naming task was performed with adult Dutch monolingual users, Japanese monolingual users and Dutch/Japanese bilingual users. No statistical evidence could be found of bilingual users to significantly differ from their monolingual counterparts during a naming task in their L1. Therefore, according to this study, it seems unlikely that bilingual participants undergo strong effects of backwards transfer. Nevertheless, there were indications of small-scale effects of conceptual transfer which could provide an interesting starting point for future research on conceptual transfer among Dutch/Japanese bilinguals.Show less
In 2020 the Olympic Games will be hosted by Japan. In this article, several ways in which the Japanese government will try to attract as many tourists as possible will be covered, with the 'Cool...Show moreIn 2020 the Olympic Games will be hosted by Japan. In this article, several ways in which the Japanese government will try to attract as many tourists as possible will be covered, with the 'Cool Japan' strategy as introduced by the MOFA in 2002 as the red line. The strategy will be considered from several political views, including the Soft Power view as suggested by some. In analyzing (tourism) spaces, Foucault's Heterotopias will be used as theoretical groundwork. It will become clear that the Cool Japan strategy of the Japanese government carefully selects and combines several cultural products in order to build and project a politically meaningful image to the outside world.Show less
Since the late 1980s, the once powerful Japanese agricultural sector experienced a remarkable decline in political and economic terms. This politico-economic decline is commonly attributed to...Show moreSince the late 1980s, the once powerful Japanese agricultural sector experienced a remarkable decline in political and economic terms. This politico-economic decline is commonly attributed to either gaiatsu, foreign pressure, or naiatsu, domestic pressure, among which the electoral reform of 1994 is considered the most significant. However, within this context relatively little attention has been paid to the ageing of Japanese society, even though this demographic crisis has disproportionally affected rural areas, the home of agricultural production. Seeking to alleviate this deficiency, this thesis presents a demographic contextualization of the politico-economic decline of Japanese agriculture based on an adaptation of Walter Korpi’s power resources approach, focusing on power in numbers, goodwill, and zokugiin, all of which have become more difficult for Japanese agriculture to acquire, develop, and exercise effectively due to societal ageing.Show less
In this paper, it is argued that the sarcastic use of Japanese honorifics can be seen as further support for a view held within the discursive approach to linguistic politeness. The discursive...Show moreIn this paper, it is argued that the sarcastic use of Japanese honorifics can be seen as further support for a view held within the discursive approach to linguistic politeness. The discursive approach, in reaction to and competing with both a Brown & Levinsonian and a cultural relativist approach to politeness, is argued to best account for the creative use of polite forms by individuals. In contrast to the other two, this approach allows for a constructivist view that empowers the individual language user with the agency to create her own social reality through deliberate language choices. It is further argued that a helpful notion regarding honorifics use – their default reading – is essential for allowing instances of honorific use to be evaluated as sarcastic, as opposed to ‘polite.’Show less
In December 2017, Japan and the EU came to a swift finalization of their Economic Partnership Agreement (JEEPA). Despite the fact that intentions for finalization of the agreement had been...Show moreIn December 2017, Japan and the EU came to a swift finalization of their Economic Partnership Agreement (JEEPA). Despite the fact that intentions for finalization of the agreement had been expressed by both parties multiple times and they had failed to meet the timeframes, they did on this occasion. The influencing factors were Brexit, China's rise and U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement(TPP). These factors in combination with ambitious trade policy under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe caused Japan to be steered in this direction, leaving the JEEPA as their only resort to establish comprehensive economic cooperation that might mitigate trade problems arising from Brexit, China's rise and replace the TPP as their preferred trade deal while fitting into Abe's economic policy.Show less
This thesis discusses the question of how an understanding of Japanese politics and culture affects the popularity of Ghibli films with a political message, and what this means for the efficacy of...Show moreThis thesis discusses the question of how an understanding of Japanese politics and culture affects the popularity of Ghibli films with a political message, and what this means for the efficacy of Japan’s pop-culture diplomacy. One of the goals of MOFA’s 2006 pop-culture diplomacy is to further the understanding of Japan by disseminating culture, but it does not seem to have the desired effect. To discuss this I have used a reception study using reviews by US and Japanese reviewers. The movies discussed are both by Isao Takahata, one of Studio Ghibli's founders and main directors. The movies are Pom Poko and Grave of the Fireflies. To set the stage I have discussed literature on Ghibli films and domestic politics, cultural heritage and history of Japan. Some key theories are Koichi Iwabuchi's fragrant/odorless theory on culture, Joseph N. Nye's soft power theory and Douglas McGrays's "Japan's Gross National Cool", which has been adapted by the Japanese government as their Cool Japan campaign. To test the efficacy of the dissemination of Japanese culture, politics and history to garner understanding overseas, online reviews were used. Using a content analysis on the reviews I have studied the main points and opinions reviewers from both countries have on both movies. Using Koichi Iwabuchi's odorless/fragrant theory I have then explained why there are differences in appreciation of the movies. These differences in appreciation and understanding prove that MOFA's 2006 pop-culture diplomacy does not work well as it does not attain the goal of gaining understanding of Japanese culture.Show less
Het doel van deze scriptie is het aantonen van verschillen tussen het beeld en de rol van de (alleenstaande) moeder in J-Horrorfilms en diens Amerikaanse remakes. Aan de hand van enkele korte...Show moreHet doel van deze scriptie is het aantonen van verschillen tussen het beeld en de rol van de (alleenstaande) moeder in J-Horrorfilms en diens Amerikaanse remakes. Aan de hand van enkele korte voorbeelden en case studies bestaande uit drie paar films zal er in deze scriptie worden beschreven wat deze verschillen precies zijn. Daarbij zal er worden gerefereerd aan relevante literatuur, waaronder Sarah Arnolds "Maternal Horror Film: Melodrama and Motherhood" (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). De onderzochte filmparen zijn The Ring en Ringu, The Grudge en Ju-On en Dark Water en Honogurai Mizu no soko kara.Show less
The main focus of this thesis is the Japanese gendered and masculinized work culture in relation to the creation of a work-life balance (WLB) for employees in large companies. Specific problems...Show moreThe main focus of this thesis is the Japanese gendered and masculinized work culture in relation to the creation of a work-life balance (WLB) for employees in large companies. Specific problems with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s current ‘Womenomics’ program and possible consequences are looked into. It is argued why instead of focusing on certain targets (e.g, 30% of high positions occupied by women), companies have to innovate their current working environments and establish gender equality in order to eventually be able to create a WLB. This thesis also includes a case study that discusses Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido’s views and strategy in creating a WLB for all employees.Show less
Yosano Akiko (1878-1942) is een van de beroemdste schrijfsters uit Japan. Zij schreef o.a. gedichten en vertaalde Klassiek Japanse literatuur naar Modern Japans. Echter schreef zij ook...Show moreYosano Akiko (1878-1942) is een van de beroemdste schrijfsters uit Japan. Zij schreef o.a. gedichten en vertaalde Klassiek Japanse literatuur naar Modern Japans. Echter schreef zij ook feministische essays en kinder- en meisjes verhalen. Vooral haar shōjo shōsetsu (meisjes verhalen) worden in Engels -en Japanstalige literatuur nauwelijks behandeld, omdat zij worden bestempeld als broodschrijverij. In deze scriptie laat ik door een analyse Akiko's shōjo shōsetsu 'Tamaki no ichinenkan' (Tamaki's Jaar) zien dat dit beeld van haar shōjo verhalen te simplistisch is omdat dit verhaal niet zomaar de shōjo-gendernormen uit de Meiji-periode reflecteert, maar een afspiegeling was van het vrouwbeeld en de levensstijl die Akiko in haar essays aanprees. Deze verhalen kunnen worden gezien als een uitwerking van haar feministische essays voor jonge meisjes, en hadden dus duidelijk een ideologische boodschap. Middels dit verhaal bood Akiko een alternatief voor de gendernorm (die tevens de standaard was in shōjo shōsetsu) van ‘de shōjo als ryōsai kenbo (goede vrouw en wijze moeder)-in-spe’.Show less
This thesis employs structural analysis to compare the structure of negotiations around the Kurils dispute in two points of time; 1956 and 2016. It applies a framework to compare structural aspects...Show moreThis thesis employs structural analysis to compare the structure of negotiations around the Kurils dispute in two points of time; 1956 and 2016. It applies a framework to compare structural aspects like Best-Alternatives-To-Non-Agreement and negotiation linkage while highlighting and explaining differences. One central aspect of this thesis is Russia's pivot to Asia which has had drastic effects on the territorial dispute like increasing the value of the islands but at the same time increasing costs associated with non-agreement. In the conclusion, the evolved aspects of negotiations are summed up and it is argued that while the dispute remains in a deadlock, the dispute itself is gaining importance again in Japan-Russia relations. Furthermore, both countries have gained no strong incentive to compromise on their original positions (those held since 1956).Show less
Het doel van dit onderzoek is om te kijken en te vergelijken hoe Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Leiden (Nederland) in vergelijking tot de Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Amerika een...Show moreHet doel van dit onderzoek is om te kijken en te vergelijken hoe Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Leiden (Nederland) in vergelijking tot de Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Amerika een uitwisseling ervaren. Daarbij wordt het onderzoek van Sato & Hodge (2015) als voorbeeld gebruikt voor dit onderzoek en daarmee vergeleken. Er wordt onderzocht of de sociale interacties met medestudenten van invloed kunnen zijn op de academische prestaties, de ervaring van de uitwisseling zelf en of het zelfbeeld veranderd zou zijn tijdens de uitwisseling (Young et al., 2015). Uit onderzoeken blijkt namelijk dat Aziatische uitwisselingsstudenten zich vaak buitengesloten, geïsoleerd en gediscrimineerd voelen. De resultaten van dit onderzoek zijn vergaard uit interviews die gevoerd zijn met zes Japanse deelnemers (drie mannen en drie vrouwen) die een 1-jarige uitwisseling doen. De Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Leiden beleven een andere ervaring dan Japanse uitwisselingsstudenten in Amerika. Wat voor dit mogelijke verschil gezorgd kan hebben wordt besproken in de discussie.Show less
Veel ouders sturen vanwege de sterke competitie in het onderwijs hun kinderen naar naschoolse bijles instellingen, genaamd juku 塾. Dit doen ze om er zeker van te zijn dat hun kinderen voor het...Show moreVeel ouders sturen vanwege de sterke competitie in het onderwijs hun kinderen naar naschoolse bijles instellingen, genaamd juku 塾. Dit doen ze om er zeker van te zijn dat hun kinderen voor het toelatingsexamen zullen slagen. Door de grote vraag naar dit soort bijles is het aantal juku-instellingen enorm gestegen door de jaren heen. Om zich te onderscheiden van concurrenten en genoeg studenten te werven, maken juku veel gebruik van reclame. In deze scriptie kijk ik naar de wervingsactiviteiten van juku in de vorm van reclame-uitingen. Dit wordt gedaan door de framing-theorie van Ervin Goffman toe te passen om de reclame-uitingen te analyseren en te onderzoeken welke verschillende thema’s gebruikt worden door juku. Het doel is te onderzoeken op wat voor manier juku scholieren werven voor hun diensten om dit vervolgens te verklaren binnen de Japanse samenleving.Show less
When the reversion of Okinawa occurred in 1972, the island already was a complex amalgamation of various identities: heirs of indigenous Ryukyu culture, second-class Japanse citizens subjected to...Show moreWhen the reversion of Okinawa occurred in 1972, the island already was a complex amalgamation of various identities: heirs of indigenous Ryukyu culture, second-class Japanse citizens subjected to discrimination and war victims betrayed by its own government and colonised by a foreign force. Literally rising from the ashes, Okinawa has been reformulating its identity once again in face of challenges resulting from their marginal position amidst two greater powers. These include war trauma, economic rebuilding, continued discrimination by the mainland and persisting US base issues. Similar to a kaleidoscope, one can reposition individual elements to create a new constellation. Depending on the observer, different views and meanings can be constructed and interpreted. This thesis examines how Okinawans as a minority have emphasised and/or rearranged certain cultural symbols or narratives, creating new identities and using them as weapons, in order to negotiate a better standing within Japan following the period after the revision. Some developments that immediately come to mind are the emergence of civil society based on universal values of democracy, peace and ecology and the embedding of Okinawans as historical victims of the Japanese government and the mobilization of historical memory. I will be primarily focussing on contemporary post-reversion literature in my analysis, intending on researching the presence of these new identitities within contemporary novels. My objective is to observe if and/or how the ‘main model’ mentioned above is reflected and if the tendencies of modern literature have shifted accordingly.Show less
How can Yoshimoto Banana’s novel Goodbye Tsugumi be understood through the lens of feminist literary theories such as post-feminism and gender? This thesis first analyses the current discussion of...Show moreHow can Yoshimoto Banana’s novel Goodbye Tsugumi be understood through the lens of feminist literary theories such as post-feminism and gender? This thesis first analyses the current discussion of the novel. Then it moves onward with a new approach using feminist theory, and dissect the importance of relationships and surroundings of the two main female characters, Maria and Tsugumi. The reflection includes their emotions and how the present and past are dealt with.Show less
