The thesis analyses the process of Japanese trade liberalisation by examining a shift (on the surface) in the Japanese government’s attitude towards trade policies, and tries to explain why the Abe...Show moreThe thesis analyses the process of Japanese trade liberalisation by examining a shift (on the surface) in the Japanese government’s attitude towards trade policies, and tries to explain why the Abe government’s stance changed.Show less
Being a super-ageing society brings a plethora of problems: social, political and economic. This thesis will limit itself to the economic problems and their political implications due to its...Show moreBeing a super-ageing society brings a plethora of problems: social, political and economic. This thesis will limit itself to the economic problems and their political implications due to its limited scope. The most common mentioned problems associated with an ageing society are the pressure on 1) the healthcare system, 2) the pension system, and 3) the labour market. Yet, the current situation is that most elderly workers above 65 are not welcome in the workforce, despite all the relief they can offer. The conclusion of this thesis is that the resistance is due to ageism and archaic employment systems. In order to create a more accommodating employment situation for the elderly, a salary system revision is necessary. The existing literature, however, lacks concrete plans in regards to revising such system. Based on a case study at a company that was in the midst of introducing a salary system revision, this thesis tries to explain the measures that are needed to realise this revision successfully. The most important elements of realising this system are basing salary on performance and only giving promotions if there are vacancies. This will create a system where salaries are equal to production, as opposed to tenure.Show less
This thesis focuses on the relation between Prime Minister Abe’s nationalist policy and how this has an influence on the rapidly declining press freedom in Japan, seeking a more comprehensive view...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the relation between Prime Minister Abe’s nationalist policy and how this has an influence on the rapidly declining press freedom in Japan, seeking a more comprehensive view of the role prime minister Abe plays in declining press freedom and the relation between declining press freedom and the Japanese broadcasting system. This thesis poses the following research question: To what degree does prime minister Abe’s use of a nationalistic policy agenda influence the rapid decline of press freedom in Japan since 2012, and how does this relate to the Japanese broadcasting system? As opposed to the general academic consensus which puts the blame of declining press freedom almost solely with Prime Minister Abe and his nationalistic tendencies this thesis argues and shows by using gatekeeping theory and identifying the Japanese government as gatekeeper and the Japanese media industry as being gated, that while prime minister Abe is a factor, the underlying problem that allows the decline in press freedom are the several ingrained weaknesses in the Japanese broadcasting system that make it so that officials in power and the government can abuse this to in effect maintain a stronghold over the media regardless of ideology or political position. Such weaknesses include the broadcasting law, ownership of broadcast licensing and the use and abuse of Kisha clubs.Show less
The Japanese video game industry used to be a leading force in the world. During the 90’s and the early 2000’s, Japanese video games dominated the international market. Recently, however, during...Show moreThe Japanese video game industry used to be a leading force in the world. During the 90’s and the early 2000’s, Japanese video games dominated the international market. Recently, however, during the end of the last decade and the start of the current decade, Japanese video games experienced a huge dip in their sales. Japan has been attempting to use the ‘Soft Power’, the concept of influence generated by its popular culture overseas, to its advantage. The link between the Japanese video game industry and the concept of Soft Power have not been sufficiently examined as of now, hence why it was the focus of this study. The aim of this study was to come to an understanding of why these fluctuations in the market occurred, as well as look for the potential influence of Japanese video games and their popularity overseas on Japan’s Soft Power. By asking questions, in the form of a survey, to experts from the Dutch video game industry, the objective was to come to new insights on the matter and open up possibilities for further research. Results from the survey showed that previously underrepresented factors contributed to the fall in popularity of Japanese video games in the West. Elements like ease of use, lingual nuances, as well as intrinsic differences in preferences of the Japanese domestic audience and the Western audience, were identified. The link between the performance of Japanese video games overseas and Japan’s Soft Power was also confirmed. Respondents acknowledge the capability of Japanese video games to influence the consumer’s image of Japan, albeit not always in a purely positive way. Arguments were also raised that the Japan portrayed in video games is often not the real Japan. This holds true, but in order to make a target audience think more positively about Japan, the ‘real’ Japan does not need to be represented accurately. Thus, it can be argued that popularity of Japanese video games overseas does indeed correlate to an increase in Japan’s Soft Power.Show less
This thesis looks at the relationship between the Cool Japan products and how the export of these products reflects upon the public opinion of the Chinese and South Korean public. It addresses the...Show moreThis thesis looks at the relationship between the Cool Japan products and how the export of these products reflects upon the public opinion of the Chinese and South Korean public. It addresses the limitation of cultural diplomacy as a source of soft power in the context of Sino-Japanese and South Korean-Japanese relations.Show less
近年空家の数が増加しており、空家の存在が周辺地域に悪影響を及ぼしている事が問題となっている。例えば、放棄された空家の存在は、崩壊や犯罪の誘発など、周囲に悪影響を及ばす恐れがある。少子高齢化に伴い、空家の数は急増しており、2013年現在、全国の層住宅数に占める空家の割合は13.5%と過去最高を記録した。このままでは2033年の空家率は30%に上昇すると予想されている。空家の増加は...Show more近年空家の数が増加しており、空家の存在が周辺地域に悪影響を及ぼしている事が問題となっている。例えば、放棄された空家の存在は、崩壊や犯罪の誘発など、周囲に悪影響を及ばす恐れがある。少子高齢化に伴い、空家の数は急増しており、2013年現在、全国の層住宅数に占める空家の割合は13.5%と過去最高を記録した。このままでは2033年の空家率は30%に上昇すると予想されている。空家の増加は、メディアでも次第に取り上げられつつある。少子高齢化と人口減少により、空き家が増加しているという新聞記事をよく見かける。空家研究には実態把握だけでなく、根本的な原因の理解、より具体的な議論も必要である。特に、英語で書かれている出版物やメディアで述べられている空家の要因は、少子高齢化や人口減少のみに限定されている場合が多く、包括的な空家の増加の理解には達していない。 住宅の意味や日本的な住宅の歴史、そして法律も空き家の増加に影響している。それゆえ、この論文では、原因は人口の減少だけではないことを、学術文献および政府文書の議論を通して調査し、説明する。 研究は、主に学術文献および行政文書の分析を通して行う。Show less
This study examines to what extent local governments in Japan make use of their official websites to facilitate the social integration of their foreign residents through online multilingual...Show moreThis study examines to what extent local governments in Japan make use of their official websites to facilitate the social integration of their foreign residents through online multilingual provisions. A comparative analysis of the official websites of various kinds of cities, towns and villages not only serves to highlight some of the stark and surprising differences in their online integration efforts. A consideration of specific factors in the analysis, such as economic power, administrative authority, relative migrant population size and City Network membership, also allows for a more in depth exploration of some of the underlying social, political and economic reasons as to why some localities provide substantially better online multilingual provisions than others.Show less
Economic and bureaucratic reforms have shaped China's political economic framework since 1978. Although these reforms made long periods of economic growth possible, new challenges arose in the form...Show moreEconomic and bureaucratic reforms have shaped China's political economic framework since 1978. Although these reforms made long periods of economic growth possible, new challenges arose in the form of often collusive corruption. This dissertation will explore the relationship between economic and bureaucratic reforms and shifting types of corruption in China between 1992 - presentShow less
In postwar economic development, Japan has chosen a different way to neoliberalism. The government did not “step back” from the market or rely on the action of the “invisible hand”; it played an...Show moreIn postwar economic development, Japan has chosen a different way to neoliberalism. The government did not “step back” from the market or rely on the action of the “invisible hand”; it played an important role itself in economic development. Under the guidance and intervention of the state, Japan became an economic miracle and the most successful industrialized economy in the world, then experienced a collapse followed by great stagnation. Simultaneously, while Japan used to have the role of driver and leader of the regional economy before the collapse, it lost its advantageous position when it became stuck in great stagnation. Japan’s economic status changed drastically accompanied with its changing economic power. For an economy like Japan that cooperated highly with the state, the capacity of the state would have a huge impact on the economy, on both economic power and economic status. Japan’s changing economic power and status in the region became a mirror to reflect the changing state capacity in Japan.Show less
Japan is a rapidly aging society. In order to respond to these pressing matters the Japanese government cooperates with businesses and the bureaucracy; known as the iron triangle. Japan has a long...Show moreJapan is a rapidly aging society. In order to respond to these pressing matters the Japanese government cooperates with businesses and the bureaucracy; known as the iron triangle. Japan has a long tradition of pork barrel politics and iron triangle cooperation. However, the electoral reforms of 1994 aimed to reduce the power of the iron triangle. Since all actors have high stakes in the success of solutions for aging, it provides the perfect oppertunity to study the continued cooperation of the iron triangle. Through the case studies of innovation in healthcare technology and rural rejuvenation this thesis will show that the iron triangle is still firmly in place.Show less
This thesis will explore the explanations for why the current Japanese government does not abolish or radically adjust its nuclear energy policy in light of the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima....Show moreThis thesis will explore the explanations for why the current Japanese government does not abolish or radically adjust its nuclear energy policy in light of the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima. In doing so, it will touch upon the historical development of socio-economic institutions of the Japanese nuclear energy industry (e.g. amakudari, pork-barrel politics, shingikai). This thesis will adopt the Varieties of Capitalism approach to explain the slow or reluctant change of these institutions despite initiatives to change the institutions after 2011. It identifies that this reluctant change allows for continued strong influence of the nuclear village, or pro-nuclear lobby, on Japan’s energy policies. This thesis concludes that it is this continued influence that prevents the current Japanese government from radically changing or abolishing its nuclear energy policies.Show less
The Japanese labour market has changed significantly in the last few decades. In this thesis, I will look at these changes, the causes and the consequences.
This thesis will explore the explanations for why the current Japanese government does not abolish or radically adjust its regulations regarding regular and non-regular workers. In doing so, it...Show moreThis thesis will explore the explanations for why the current Japanese government does not abolish or radically adjust its regulations regarding regular and non-regular workers. In doing so, it will touch upon the historical development of labour policy-making (e.g. shift to shingikai). It will use a Marxism framework to prove that under the current policies, non-regular workers are being exploited. This is done by examining two policies proposed by the Abe administration, namely the Zero Overtime Bill, and the amendment of the Worker Dispatch Law. It will subsequently prove that this is not a trend that has started recently, but a trend that has started in the 80’s.Show less
This thesis aims to answer the question of why migration of foreign healthcare workers under the JIEPA and JPEPA framework has been so low. In order to do this several possible answers to the...Show moreThis thesis aims to answer the question of why migration of foreign healthcare workers under the JIEPA and JPEPA framework has been so low. In order to do this several possible answers to the question are given.Show less
The Kyushu area of Japan has been engaged in intensive trade with South Korea and China since the collapse of the bubble economy. The consensus is that economic integration is progressing, but data...Show moreThe Kyushu area of Japan has been engaged in intensive trade with South Korea and China since the collapse of the bubble economy. The consensus is that economic integration is progressing, but data on trade, political tensions and business conditions in the region show that this is not quite the case. Obstacles are in such an abundance, that economic integration will not be obtained within the near future.Show less
This thesis attempts to find out how and why women have not been able to reach the higher managerial positions in contemporary Japan. This thesis analyses three different layers. First is the...Show moreThis thesis attempts to find out how and why women have not been able to reach the higher managerial positions in contemporary Japan. This thesis analyses three different layers. First is the system of the career track and the clerical track which are called Ippanshoku and sōgōshoku. The second point is that Japanese working women also need more role models. They are very elementary, as these role models can not only be a mentor but also provide the right example for women to reach the top. Lastly, it analyses the system of ‘amakudari’. This system enables government officials to drop into higher managerial positions in the larger Japanese corporations when they retire from their ministerial work. This thesis finds that Japanese companies have the key role in ameliorating the situation of the few female managers within the Japanese corporations as they are keeping the current systems in place.Show less
