Over the past decades, China has evolved into a major world power and moved away from being an isolated nation to one integrated into the international community. This thesis will discuss how...Show moreOver the past decades, China has evolved into a major world power and moved away from being an isolated nation to one integrated into the international community. This thesis will discuss how Chinese presence, power and interference have evolved and how this has impacted the international community with a focus on the African continent. Going more in-depth with two case studies in Africa, Ethiopia and Zambia, it will describe the reasons for China’s cooperation with both countries and the differences in her strategic approach and outcome.Show less
This thesis will examine the ways in which the concept of victimhood is produced by victims’ groups connected with the Aum affair and how it was received by Japanese media in terms of a renovated...Show moreThis thesis will examine the ways in which the concept of victimhood is produced by victims’ groups connected with the Aum affair and how it was received by Japanese media in terms of a renovated mutual understanding between victims and journalists, which resulted in an improvement of the victims’ treatment on information channels. The research takes into consideration the experience of three support groups (Chikatetsu Sarin Jiken Higaisha no Kai, Kanariya no Kai and RSC) that will be used as case studies to analyze the evolution and the impact they had both on victims’ lives and information media. It aims to investigate the role of NPOs and victims’ group activities in influencing public opinion regarding victims’ redressing issues. Furthermore, it intends to explore victims’ struggle against the proliferation of New Religious Movements derived from the disbanding of Aum Shinrikyō and constituted mainly by its former members, such as Hikari no Wa 光の環 and Aleph アレフ, which are suspected of harboring the same doctrines that led Aum to be a danger for Japanese society. In doing so, victims used memory, both individual and collective, as a tool to make their case and highlight their instances even when the attention towards the Aum affair declined in Japanese media. Memorial constructions regarding the incidents, commemorative events, documentaries and victims’ groups’ activities accounts established a legacy that goes beyond the individual experience as a victim or a perpetrator, rather producing a collective instance of victimhood.Show less
In recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the...Show moreIn recent years, the number of people, both students and adults, learning Japanese has been on the rise throughout the world. With such a fast development, problems and issues concerning both the acquisition of the Japanese language and the teaching method used have become evident. In particular one of the most challenging features of the language has noticeably been detected in the two particles wa and ga. Those two particles, having mainly the function of theme and subject markers, represent an intriguing point for scholars and students alike. Their uses have been at the center of analysis for many years and many linguists have devoted a huge part of their research to inspect their most debated aspects. Researches have focused on different functions each particle can assume and, how their usages can influence the general meaning of a sentence. From Kuno‟s The structure of the Japanese language, considered to be the cornerstone in the field, many different angles of analysis have been used to describe these two particles. Wa and ga are an interesting point of analysis inasmuch as their distinction is vague and subtle both for learners and for Japanese native speakers. Hence, with my research I would like to analyze this issue more in depth, producing evidences of a link between teaching method and particles errors. Through the analysis of written production by L2 Japanese learners, this research confirmed previous findings. It demonstrated a link between classroom instruction and errors in particles usage, calling for much needed reform in Japanese second language teaching.Show less
This paper is aimed at two interrelated objectives. Firstly, it explores the shaping of India’s perception and misperception of China using the asymmetry theory. Secondly, it relates these insights...Show moreThis paper is aimed at two interrelated objectives. Firstly, it explores the shaping of India’s perception and misperception of China using the asymmetry theory. Secondly, it relates these insights to India’s behavior towards China-led developmentalism, the Belt & Road initiative, showing that India’s reluctance to be part of China’s initiative is rooted in mistrust, misinterpretations of information, and a lack of information. Ever since the deterioration of the Sino-Indian relationship due to the border war, India has established a deep-rooted distrust of China, which affects how new information regarding China is evaluated. It is therefore likely that misperceptions emerge. The asymmetric relationship between China and India amplifies the misinterpretation of information due to the vast difference in attention span. Further reasons for the emerging of misperceptions can be seen in historical memory and a lack of day-to-day interaction.Show less
Recently in Japan, regional art projects have been organized in ancient townhouses called machiya. This is part of a larger tendency in Japan since the 2000s whereby local governments and...Show moreRecently in Japan, regional art projects have been organized in ancient townhouses called machiya. This is part of a larger tendency in Japan since the 2000s whereby local governments and organizations work together in setting up art projects with historical preservation as a goal. In this thesis, I will investigate two of these art projects named 'Nara Machiya Art Festival Hanarart' in Nara prefecture and the 'Tatsuno Art Project' in Tatsuno city, Hyogo prefecture. Both of these projects seem to emphasize a certain nostalgia towards machiya by carrying out the theme of 'memories', suggesting that inviting people to machiya through art may give them a consciousness towards the history of these buildings. In this thesis I will analyze the artworks by two participating artists named Imamura Ryosuke (1982-) and Takeda Riki (1983-) and question in what way their works respond to machiya and its memories. Then I will suggest that these participating artists employ the theme of ' memories' in ways that offer a different approach of the machiya exhibition spaces than being suggested by the organizing commissions. They are able to trigger individual responses among viewers that are not so much nostalgic, but rather firmly located in the present, which will eventually lead to the creation of many new ' identities' of the ancient Japanese houses.Show less
This study will first analyse the historical background of Shakespeare in China, which begun with the introduction of the English author as a storyteller during the late Qing dynasty (1640-1911),...Show moreThis study will first analyse the historical background of Shakespeare in China, which begun with the introduction of the English author as a storyteller during the late Qing dynasty (1640-1911), followed by the publication of official translations in Chinese at the beginning of the twentieth century , the posterior abrupt tragic decrease of the studies under the Communists and its complete death with the beginning of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) , which did not allow Shakespeare to resuscitate until the end of the 70s . The second chapter will be focused on the methods of translations and the theories put forward between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in China, while the third chapter of this study aims at observing how Chinese translators overcame the historical, grammatical and cultural differences between Shakespeare and China, how they rendered the most important traits of the Shakespearean works in Chinese. To conclude, the fourth chapter will be concentrated on the comparison between the original English version of the famous drama of “Romeo and Juliet” and its Chinese.Show less
The intent of this thesis is to use a case study for possible new approaches to shinshūkyō 新宗教 (“new religions”) in Japan. In particular, this thesis aims at investigating the nature of kamigakari...Show moreThe intent of this thesis is to use a case study for possible new approaches to shinshūkyō 新宗教 (“new religions”) in Japan. In particular, this thesis aims at investigating the nature of kamigakari 神懸り, loosely translatable as “divine possession”, for Deguchi Nao 出口なお (1837-1918), foundress of the ritual organization in Japan called Ōmotokyō大本教. A close-up on the origins of kamigakari is given in order to understand better the personal circumstances around Deguchi Nao’s experience and how it functioned for her. Kamigakari was the experience through which Deguchi Nao wrote down the Ofudesaki お筆先, a book inspired by the deity she claimed to be inside her, Ushitora no Konjin 丑寅の金神. In the book she called for radical spiritual change for people as well as for kami 神 (deities). The second chapter is dedicated to the book and its worldview. While the third chapter investigates the connections between shamanism and shinshūkyō, the last chapter analyzes the particular features of Deguchi Nao’s kamigakari, which, including the co-founder of Ōmotokyō, Deguchi Onisaburō 出口王仁三郎 (1871-1948), worked through the dual principle based on the notions of “male with a transformed nature” (henjōnanshi 変性男子), which refers to Deguchi Nao, and “female with a transformed nature” (henjōnyoshi変性女子), used to describe Onisaburō’s role.Show less
This study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese...Show moreThis study sets out to understand the workings, uncover the outcomes and shed light on the insiders’ experiences of cram schooling in Japan. Cram schools are an intertwined part of the Japanese education system, with the majority of Japanese students being enrolled in cram school at some time in their education. The seemingly necessary but in reality voluntary cram schools lead to several issues: one of them, referred to in this study as the first dimension, is the dimension of cram schooling causing a lot of stress for and pressure on the students, and depriving them from much-needed free time. The second dimension focuses on the accessibility of cram schools, and brings the debate of inequality and social immobility to this study. The third dimension is based on original interviews and provides an inside look into the experiences of cram school students and teachers, in a search for an answer to the research question: “How do the participants of Japanese cram schooling experience the cram schooling system and do their opinions match the criticisms voiced by outsiders?”Show less
The Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami, which occurred on March 3rd, 2011, was a natural disaster of an unprecedented scale. One of its more severe aftermaths, the accident in...Show moreThe Great East Japan Earthquake and the following tsunami, which occurred on March 3rd, 2011, was a natural disaster of an unprecedented scale. One of its more severe aftermaths, the accident in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, remains unresolved until this day. Thousands of people were relocated due to the nuclear contamination, and the local communities were severed. This paper addresses the discussion about the further exploitation of nuclear power in Japan, which arose as a consequence of the nuclear accident. Although the Japanese government intends to continue relying on atomic energy, various statistics have shown the citizens’ objection. In this qualitative study, the representatives of three areas within Tohoku region were asked about their opinions towards nuclear power plants, and their arguments. The interviews were analyzed through the premises of socio-psychological dual-process theory, which explains how the opinions are constructed. One’s personal experience, perception of benefit or loss, and the trust towards the government and the energy companies proved to be the crucial factors for opinions’ construction. Moreover, the tragedy contributed to end the indifference of citizens, disappointed with the centralized government and its poor disaster response. The importance of the local authorities is increasing, and the close-knit societies are recovering faster. Lastly, the Japanese urgent need for alternative energy sources became visible, however currently there is no substitute capable of replacing nuclear power completely.Show less
This thesis explores the way in which a realistic representation of a specific martial art in a martial arts movie is conveyed and to what extent this serves nationalistic purposes. The focus is to...Show moreThis thesis explores the way in which a realistic representation of a specific martial art in a martial arts movie is conveyed and to what extent this serves nationalistic purposes. The focus is to introduce a new approach of categorizing the performative body of the actor. The fashion in which the display of skill is portrayed, determines not only credibility of the performance, but also determines whether or not a martial arts movie can serve as a platform for a rediscovery of lost cultural heritage. The realistic depiction of a specific indigenous martial art such as Wingchun in Wilson Yip’s Ip Man (2008) as: (a) effective, (b) truthful to the martial art techniques in real-life, and (c) built on a story of national pride, serves nationalistic purposes. I argue in this thesis that we have been witnessing the emergence of a new trend in martial arts cinema: effective realism.Show less
Learning Chinese characters is one of the major challenges CFL learners face, and it may in some cases become overwhelming and cause learners to lose their motivation for learning the language....Show moreLearning Chinese characters is one of the major challenges CFL learners face, and it may in some cases become overwhelming and cause learners to lose their motivation for learning the language. However, the character script is one of Mandarin Chinese’s most salient features, and is indeed one of the aspects that draws learners to learning Mandarin in the first place. This brings us to an important question: How should Chinese characters be taught to CFL learners? In The Netherlands, Mandarin is now being taught at more and more high schools, but as this is a relatively recent development, not that many Dutch textbooks are as yet available for Dutch high school student CFL learners. This study has examined: What research has had to say about how to teach Chinese characters to CFL learners (‘Theory’); How several beginner-level textbooks in use at Dutch high schools teach Chinese characters (‘Practice’); The views and approaches of a group of Chinese CFL teachers and a group of Dutch CFL teachers regarding teaching Chinese characters (‘Practice’); and finally: To what extent practice, especially practice in Dutch high schools, appears to correspond with theory (‘Practice versus Theory’). Insofar as research has provided clear results or suggestions, and insofar as the present study has touched upon the corresponding topics, practice in fact appears to closely correspond to theory. It is also clear, however, that more research is needed.Show less
In this thesis I will discuss the politics behind Japanese anime and manga. In particular, I will try to elucidate the motivations behind the use of Nazi-inspired characters and Nazi symbolism in...Show moreIn this thesis I will discuss the politics behind Japanese anime and manga. In particular, I will try to elucidate the motivations behind the use of Nazi-inspired characters and Nazi symbolism in popular fiction. My research will be loosely structured around Hiroki Azuma’s infamous “Otaku; Japan’s Database Animals”, in which he discusses the effects of postmodernity on the way in which fiction is produced and consumed. Starting with Hiroki Azuma’s theory on the decline of a “grand narrative” and the increased importance of “moé” in fiction, it is my goal to see if Azuma’s theory holds up against the large variety of Nazi representations in contemporary Japanese popular culture.Show less
The Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be...Show moreThe Japanese constitution guarantees freedom from censorship. However, article 175 of the Japanese Criminal Code prohibits the production and distribution of obscenities. In an effort to still be able to publish erotic manga, manga artists use a plethora of self-censorship techniques, trying to circumvent the law. In this thesis I try to investigate what exactly is deemed obscene under the Japanese law. By examining the works of Japanese erotic gay manga artist Tagame Gengoroh I try to establish whether certain techniques are more favorable than others according to different publication media. It turns out that Japanese judges tend to alter the definition of obscene to the opinions of society; the definition seems to change through time.Show less
Literature allows us to experience the world through different eyes, walk through faraway lands and live a life vastly different from our own, if only for a short while. Not even teenagers are...Show moreLiterature allows us to experience the world through different eyes, walk through faraway lands and live a life vastly different from our own, if only for a short while. Not even teenagers are immune to its lure, as shown by the success of youth literature throughout the world. While sales figures of this young branch of literature are astounding, it is also worth delving into its contents. Shown by websites such as The Brown Bookshelf, the Children’s Book Council Diversity Initiative and the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign, there is an ongoing debate on the importance of diversity and representation of minority groups in youth literature, as people wonder what it means when our classrooms are more diverse than the characters in our youth literature. What happens if we bring this debate to China? While China is almost as large as the European continent, it is easy to mistake it for a homogenous country. In truth, China has a hugely diverse population, which begs the questions: is this diversity reflected in its just as hugely popular youth literature? When discussing minority groups in China, the first to spring to mind are the 55 ethnic minority groups. Though they make up less than 10% of the total population, combined they still account for more than a hundred million people. Their representation in Chinese youth literature will be the focus of this thesis. The first chapter will examine the current state of contemporary Chinese youth literature and how it has developed. In the second chapter, I will take a closer look at the problematic nature and context of ethnic minority groups and ethnic representation in China. The third chapter will introduce the five youth literature novels that will be the focus of this research, and a thorough discussion of the ethnic representation in these five novels will be featured in the fourth and last chapter. The main research question is: how are ethnic minority groups represented in contemporary Chinese youth literature?Show less
