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
This BA thesis focuses on marketing strategies employed by designer and publisher to promote themselves as insiders of the popular Yoshiwara entertainment quarters and its brothels in Edo....Show moreThis BA thesis focuses on marketing strategies employed by designer and publisher to promote themselves as insiders of the popular Yoshiwara entertainment quarters and its brothels in Edo. According to research by Julie Nelson Davis , designer Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) and publisher Tsutaya Jûzaburô (1750-1797) deliberately tried to create an “Utamaro persona” that would make Utamaro look like the ultimate insider of the abovementioned district in order to make more sales. I will elaborate on Davis’ thesis and analyze the main strategies that promoted Utamaro. Then works of other artists will be analyzed to see whether similar promotion can be found in their work as well. Davis indicates this possibility in her research as well, yet she focuses mainly on Utamaro and leaves other important artists by the wayside. In short, my main research focus will be the main self-promotional strategies of the Utamaro persona and whether these were unique in the commercial world of ukiyo-e publishing or whether they were tricks of the trade?Show 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
Een studie naar de wijze waarop de Japanse animator Miyazaki Hayao in zijn tekenfilms werelden weet te realiseren die zowel fanatasievol als realistisch zijn te noemen.
This thesis tries to combine characteristics of identity building in a community with the existence of gotōchi hīrō ご当地ヒーロー (local heroes) in Japan. Throughout Japan, almost every prefecture and/or...Show moreThis thesis tries to combine characteristics of identity building in a community with the existence of gotōchi hīrō ご当地ヒーロー (local heroes) in Japan. Throughout Japan, almost every prefecture and/or city has its own hero that represents the specific traits of the region it belongs to. The heroes speak in dialect, visit famous locations and constantly use and refer to local products. One of the primary reasons for creating these heroes is to strengthen the regions community identity. Television plays an important role in the distribution of imagery surrounding the local heroes. Because of cultural proximity, local television programmes are often very popular and consequently, so are the local heroes. To exemplify this connection between identity construction and local heroes, this thesis analyses Ryūjin Mabuyā 琉神マブヤー, a local hero from Okinawa prefecture. By looking at the locations, language, cultural references used and the intentions of the creators of the programme, it becomes clear that Ryūjin Mabuyā was created to introduce and emphasize Okinawan community identity.Show less
Karōshi (dood door te veel werk/ overwerk ) speelt vandaag de dag nog een grote rol in het Japanse bedrijfsleven. Symptomen komen voort uit stress en zijn o.a. hartaanvallen en hersenbloedingen. In...Show moreKarōshi (dood door te veel werk/ overwerk ) speelt vandaag de dag nog een grote rol in het Japanse bedrijfsleven. Symptomen komen voort uit stress en zijn o.a. hartaanvallen en hersenbloedingen. In deze paper is onderzocht welke Japanse managementstructuren van invloed zijn op karōshi. Daarbij is gekeken naar de rol van stress op de werkvloer en is er ook kort gekeken naar de cultuur van schadevergoedingen in Japan.Show less
The Japanese colonial scholar Yanaihara Tadao (1893-1961) has long been considered a liberal scholar who, despite wartime Japan's totalitarian regime and contrary to popular opinion, heroically...Show moreThe Japanese colonial scholar Yanaihara Tadao (1893-1961) has long been considered a liberal scholar who, despite wartime Japan's totalitarian regime and contrary to popular opinion, heroically defended the rights of the colonised. Nevertheless, much of what he wrote was based on imperialist assumptions of backward, undeveloped, barbaric 'natives' and the idea that colonialism as a system of global politics is fundamentally just and even desirable. In this thesis, I trace the origins of the positive image of Yanaihara “the liberal thinker”, and contrast this image with a reading of Yanaihara as an “imperialist.” In doing so, I show that for a good understanding of the nature of Yanaihara's thought, it is crucial to be aware of both these sides to his work. To illustrate the relevance of this awareness, I also discuss the findings of two recent publications concerning Yanaihara that fruitfully abandon the unequivocally good opinion earlier scholarship had formed of him.Show less
This thesis focuses on whether the DPJ government framed its recent security policy regarding China concerning the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute. By analyzing the dominant realist narrative and...Show moreThis thesis focuses on whether the DPJ government framed its recent security policy regarding China concerning the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute. By analyzing the dominant realist narrative and alternative ways to perceive the policy, an overview is given of some notable works on the subject. A discourse analysis is used on the political discourse after the Boat Collision Incident of 2010 and the Purchase Incident of 2012. Based on the results of these case studies, this thesis maintains the position that the DPJ government did not frame the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands dispute in order to advance a broader security policy. Instead, Tokyo tends to shelve the dispute and focus more on maintaining good bilateral relations with China.Show less
On 26 September 26 2013, Japanese prime-minister Shinzo Abe vowed in front of the General Assembly of the United Nations to 'create a society in which women shine'. In this paper, I will discuss...Show moreOn 26 September 26 2013, Japanese prime-minister Shinzo Abe vowed in front of the General Assembly of the United Nations to 'create a society in which women shine'. In this paper, I will discuss the structural impediments to Abe’s work- and family balance plans to increase women’s participation in the Japanese labour force, and how the Japanese government can overcome them. The analysis of past policies does not only suggest that Abe’s womenomics plans are not particularly innovative, but also indicates Abe’s ‘work- and family balance’ plans are subject to social stigmas, reinforced not only by Japanese company employment practices, but also by the government itself. Additionally, suitable policy recommendations are provided.Show less
Deze scriptie gaat in op een aantal nieuwe vormen van uitvaart- en herdenkingsrituelen in het moderne Japan. Nieuwe uitvaartsvormen worden in sommige literatuur gelinkt aan een verandering in...Show moreDeze scriptie gaat in op een aantal nieuwe vormen van uitvaart- en herdenkingsrituelen in het moderne Japan. Nieuwe uitvaartsvormen worden in sommige literatuur gelinkt aan een verandering in wereldvoorstellingen en de mening die men heeft over de functie van uitvaartrituelen. Door analyse van de handelingen bij nieuwe uitvaartvormen, zoals het verstrooien van as, evenals de handelingen bij herdenkingsrituelen, waarbij de nadruk ligt op het creëren van een fysieke representatie van de overledene, wordt aangetoond dat, hoewel uiterlijkheden in sommige gevallen aan verandering onderhevig zijn, dit niet noodzakelijk het geval hoeft te zijn voor de wereldvoorstelling die men bij een uitvaart heeft, en de rol die de uitvaart en herdenkingsrituelen spelen in de samenleving.Show less
Een geannoteerde vertaling van 'Biteki seikatsu wo ronzu' ('Over een esthetisch leven' 1901) van Takayama Chogyu. Voorafgegaan door een inleiding waarin de auteur wordt geintroduceerd en het...Show moreEen geannoteerde vertaling van 'Biteki seikatsu wo ronzu' ('Over een esthetisch leven' 1901) van Takayama Chogyu. Voorafgegaan door een inleiding waarin de auteur wordt geintroduceerd en het artikel binnen de ontwikkelingen in zijn denken wordt geplaatst. Hierbij worden de uiteenlopende invloeden op zijn werk besproken.Show less
This thesis discusses rehabilitation for the mentally ill in Japan. Though not completely new to Japan, rehabilitation as a method is only slowly progressing despite several researches that have...Show moreThis thesis discusses rehabilitation for the mentally ill in Japan. Though not completely new to Japan, rehabilitation as a method is only slowly progressing despite several researches that have shown positive results come from rehabilitation. A light is shown on the current situation from the viewpoint of the government, the patients and the family in order to clarify the reason for this slow progress of rehabilitation in Japan.Show less
