Japan’s immigration policy seems to be a popular subject nowadays, due to Japan’s rapidly aging society. When looking at the subject of immigration regarding Japanese society, the common conception...Show moreJapan’s immigration policy seems to be a popular subject nowadays, due to Japan’s rapidly aging society. When looking at the subject of immigration regarding Japanese society, the common conception seems that Japan is reluctant to implement an immigration policy, being that the main reason for this reluctancy lies in Japan’s unique history. Over the years, changes have been made to Japan’s immigration policy. From introducing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to entice foreign health care workers from the Philippines and Indonesia, to the development of a point-based system for highly skilled workers, to opening up more work sectors for foreign workers that enter under the newest visa category of ‘specified skills’ in 2019. This thesis examines the current (2019) immigration policy and analyses its most recent changes, in order to find out the political sentiments behind Japan's immigration policy. This thesis illustrates the difference between policy-making and policy-outcome.Show less
It is well known that Meiji era woodblock print designers Kobayashi Kiyochika 小林清親 (1847-1915) and Toyohara Chikanobu 豊原周延 (1838-1912) fought during the Meiji restoration on the side of the...Show moreIt is well known that Meiji era woodblock print designers Kobayashi Kiyochika 小林清親 (1847-1915) and Toyohara Chikanobu 豊原周延 (1838-1912) fought during the Meiji restoration on the side of the Tokugawa shogunate. However, because the majority of academic secondary literature on prints tends to focus on the Meiji government's grand 'modernisation' project rather than dissenting voices, it has not been widely discussed to what extent their history as Tokugawa loyalists is expressed in their oeuvre. This thesis attempts to take a fresh approach by reexamining the early works by Kiyochika and Chikanobu. A thorough scrutiny of both visual object and historic context will show that there is more to the Meiji print than meets the eye.Show less
This research begins with a critical analysis of the kawaii and the cyberspace literature in the Japanese context. Based on that framework, I distinguish three main kawaii discourses: as...Show moreThis research begins with a critical analysis of the kawaii and the cyberspace literature in the Japanese context. Based on that framework, I distinguish three main kawaii discourses: as advertisement and for attraction; as a statement or rebellion; and as soft power. I select three Japanese organisations, belonging to different sectors, in order to examine whether there is an intention behind utilising their respective kawaii aesthetics to communicate a particular idea. While the messages differ based on the organisation, similar visual techniques are expended in all three cases. I hypothesise that the visual kawaii content of each organisation would fall into one of the aforementioned three main types of kawaii discourse. All examined organisations are not directly associated with the culture of cuteness. Analysis of the materials is made through visual discourse analysis, website scraping and website crawling. It revealed that indeed, all of the organisations have an agenda, put forward through the respective cute imagery. However, that agenda did not necessarily fit within the above straightforward categories that the literature suggested. Therefore, for the particular circumstances of my research, I revised the aforementioned kawaii categories to also encompass: kawaii discourse as a tool for continuity and ease; as a contraption of attraction; as a quest for peace. Finally, I conclude that cyberspace is a much more versatile medium than any of the historical kawaii channels and therefore, its contemporary communication implications do not necessarily fall into a particular category – it can address multiple ones simultaneously, reaching a vast audience. In addition, I present a visualisation of the Japanese governmental sector website network, which reveals unforeseen external digital connections of the Ministry of Defense website with closely related to kawaii organisations.Show less
A prominent aspect of traditional Japanese dance is that it contains parts or dances that are called “male” or “female” that can be danced by dancers of either sex. This study analyses the parts...Show moreA prominent aspect of traditional Japanese dance is that it contains parts or dances that are called “male” or “female” that can be danced by dancers of either sex. This study analyses the parts called “male” or otoko-furi and “female” or onna-furi within yosakoi dance, a modern style of Japanese folkdance through movement analysis and questionnaires. The research question is as following: What are the features of otoko-furi and onna-furi within yosakoi dance, and do these parts resist or affirm gender stereotypes? It becomes clear that it is hard to define otoko-furi and onna-furi, even though the parts contain contrasting movements. Furthermore, contrary to traditional dance the gender of the body of the dancer matters for the execution of the part. This forces dancers to conform their dancing part to the sex of their body, and affirm gender stereotypes rather then resisting them.Show less
Minority languages worldwide are threatened with extinction as speakers shift to the majority language. The Ryukyuan languages spoken on the Ryukyu Islands, the most southern part of Japan,are no...Show moreMinority languages worldwide are threatened with extinction as speakers shift to the majority language. The Ryukyuan languages spoken on the Ryukyu Islands, the most southern part of Japan,are no exception. This thesis aims to foresee and advice on the future of one of these languages: uchināguchi, spoken on the largest island of the archipelago. Through interviews and (participant) observation the motives and goals of those learning the language in Tokyo are categorized and compared to those studying uchināguchi on the island itself. Applying theories from the field of language planning and sociolinguistics, the conclusion aims to help teachers and students alike, shaping the future of this particular minority language.Show less
