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
Japan, despite being a developed economy, is well known for its persistent gender inequality in the workplace. Many women quit their jobs when they get married or become mothers, and they can...Show moreJapan, despite being a developed economy, is well known for its persistent gender inequality in the workplace. Many women quit their jobs when they get married or become mothers, and they can usually not return to their previous job, so upon their return to the labor market, that is if they return, they tend to end up being placed in lower positions or doing low-paid part time work. Japanese policymakers over the last decades have recognized women’s bad position on the labor market as a problem, and have made multiple policies in an attempt to better women’s position. In this thesis I evaluate one of these policies, the Eruboshi certification, through the observation of Chiba Bank ltd. as a case study.Show less
This thesis examines the representation of homosexuality in Korean webtoons, and answers the question: How has homosexuality been represented in Korean Boys’ Love webtoons from 2019-2022? In order...Show moreThis thesis examines the representation of homosexuality in Korean webtoons, and answers the question: How has homosexuality been represented in Korean Boys’ Love webtoons from 2019-2022? In order to answer this question, the thesis uses content- and critical discourse analysis of three Korean webtoons that are part of the Boys' Love genre. Based on this, it concludes that Korean Boys’ Love webtoons largely represent homosexuality in a heteronormative, glorified and sexualized manner.Show less
In recent years, the effects of climate change and global warming have become more apparent. The cause and solutions thereof lie within cities. A solution that has an important and prominent role...Show moreIn recent years, the effects of climate change and global warming have become more apparent. The cause and solutions thereof lie within cities. A solution that has an important and prominent role is the implementation of more urban greenery. Urban greenery cools down the city, thereby ameliorating the Urban Heat Island effect. Furthermore, urban greenery has the ability to sequester carbon, makes the city have a nicer and healthier appearance, and has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of city dwellers. Urban greenery consists of large-scale and small-scale greenery. Large-scale can be understood as urban parks and forests, whereas small-scale is in the sense of gardening, such as tree border gardens and façade gardens. The focus of this thesis lies on the latter of these types of greenery. Specifically, on façade gardens, the implementation thereof, and the factors that influence this implementation. With use of literature and database research, structured observations, and a questionnaire, the main factors that influence the implementation of façade gardens in the city of Leiden was researched. It was discovered that the four main reasons are the structure of the neighbourhood, personal interests of inhabitants and their academic attainment level, information provisioning, and proximity to public parks.Show less
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the London music scene, causing unprecedented challenges for artists. This thesis explores how creative processes, collaboration, and the mental health...Show moreThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the London music scene, causing unprecedented challenges for artists. This thesis explores how creative processes, collaboration, and the mental health of musicians intersect due to the pandemic. London faced extensive COVID-19 restrictions since March 2020, disrupting musicians' ability to collaborate, access recording studios, and perform live. The absence of live audiences and reduced social connections hindered the essential feedback loop for artists. However, many adapted by leveraging technology for remote collaboration and online performances. The research focuses on creative processes, collaboration, and mental health, providing a comprehensive analysis of the pandemic's impact. By drawing on existing literature and conducting a specific study on London artists, the research aims to contribute valuable insights for future strategies to support the resilience and recovery of the London music scene.Show less
This thesis is an overview of problems of violence towards indigenous people across the world and seeks to analyze how these groups protect themselves through lack of government support. Then,...Show moreThis thesis is an overview of problems of violence towards indigenous people across the world and seeks to analyze how these groups protect themselves through lack of government support. Then, there will be looked into the problems of violence within Brazil and how it relates to environmental crime. The indigenous groups Pataxó and Tupinambá will be used as a case study to look into the violence in the Northeast of Brazil. There will be an analysis of how the Brazilian indigenous protect themselves against violence from land owners invading their lands.Show less
During the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill protests, activists have created urban art as an expression of their political beliefs and collective identity. This research explores how urban art...Show moreDuring the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill protests, activists have created urban art as an expression of their political beliefs and collective identity. This research explores how urban art as a medium represents the postcolonial collective identity of the people of Hong Kong. This research will analyze selected urban art from the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Protests through the methodology of semiotic art analysis. The primary objective of this paper is to research the collective postcolonial identity experienced amongst the people of Hong Kong. Through the case study of Hong Kong, this paper demonstrates how postcolonial identities are expressed in the context of urban protest art. Moreover, this paper showcases the role of urban art in resisting colonial structures of power.Show less