Japanese Politics Fixed and Floating Worlds

by Hoye, Timothy

• ISBN13: 9780132712897
• ISBN10: 013271289X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-06-29
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the politics of modern Japan. Its balanced treatment includes sources of authority; structures of government; informal or "floating" structures such as mass media and citizen action groups; issues (the future of education policy, environmental challenges, economic development, social welfare, and the future of nuclear power); "outsiders" and "insiders;" the changing role of women; and Japan in a changing global environment.KEY BENEFIT: Focusing on recent current events,Japanese Politics: Fixed and Floating Worlds analyzes the connections between an old, aristocratic culture and a modern democratic state; examines the October 1996 national election for the House of Representatives; discusses the changing roles of women; and compares East/West differences, especially with the United States. For readers with a limited background in Japanese history, the book includes a glossary of important people, places, events, and concepts critical to the development of the modern Japanese state, today and through history. A valuable reference book for any reader who needs a greater understanding of modern Japan, and essential reading for any professional doing business in Japan.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	xi
1 JAPANESE CULTURE / JAPANESE POLITICS	1	(35)
Of Shining Princesses, Peach Boys, and Dedicated Warriors	7	(6)
The "Story" of Rampo Edogawa	13	(3)
Culture and Politics: Making Connections	16	(4)
Fixed and Floating Worlds	20	(5)
The Focus of Japanese Politics	25	(4)
Japanese Politics Today: An Overview	29	(3)
Summary	32	(1)
Suggested Readings	33	(1)
Works Cited	34	(2)
2 SAGES AND CITIZENS: SOURCES OF AUTHORITY	36	(26)
Nara and the Ascent of Mt. Hiei: The Buddhist Tradition	37	(4)
The Rule of the Sages: Confucianism in Japan	41	(3)
State Shinto and Kokutai	44	(3)
The Iwakura Mission to the West	47	(3)
Western Sources of Authority	50	(3)
Women of Authority	53	(2)
Constitutionalism and Democracy in Japan Today	55	(3)
Summary	58	(1)
Suggested Readings	59	(1)
Works Cited	60	(2)
3 THE STRUCTURE OF AUTHORITY: JAPANESE GOVERNMENT	62	(33)
Popular Sovereignty: The Japanese Diet	63	(7)
The Prime Minister and His Circle: The Cabinet	70	(6)
The Emperor and His Family as Symbols of State	76	(3)
Administrative Agencies/Administrative State?	79	(6)
Japanese Courts	85	(2)
Japanese Local Government: Prefectures, Municipalities	87	(5)
Summary	92	(1)
Suggested Readings	93	(1)
Works Cited	93	(2)
4 FLOATING STRUCTURES: PARTIES, MASS MEDIA, CITIZEN GROUPS	95	(26)
Party Politics in Japan: Old and New Frontiers	95	(6)
The Marxist Tradition and Party Structures	101	(2)
LDP Politics: The 55 System	103	(2)
LDP Factions	105	(1)
Other Postwar Parties	106	(1)
Mass Culture/Mass Media	107	(7)
Citizen Action Groups	114	(1)
Interest Groups and Koenkai	115	(2)
Summary	117	(1)
Suggested Readings	118	(1)
Works Cited	119	(2)
5 THE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY: ISSUES	121	(32)
Compliance, Performance, Confidence: Educating the Japanese Child	122	(7)
Crime, Punishment, and Police in the Japanese State	129	(2)
Economic Development: Meiji, MITI, and the Miracle	131	(5)
Beyond Minamata: Protecting the Environment	136	(4)
Social Welfare in Japan: An Aging Society	140	(3)
New Religions	143	(2)
Science and Technology Funding	145	(2)
A New Capital?	147	(1)
Summary	148	(1)
Suggested Readings	149	(1)
Works Cited	150	(3)
6 SUBJECTS, CITIZENS, OUTSIDERS	153	(21)
Japanese Subjects Under the Meiji Constitution	154	(3)
Electoral Reform: The Gifts of the Politicians	157	(2)
Citizens Today: Attitudes, Lifestyles, Work Patterns	159	(4)
Outsiders in the Japanese State	163	(3)
Women in Japan Today	166	(3)
Foreign Workers	169	(1)
Summary	170	(1)
Selected Readings	171	(1)
Works Cited	172	(2)
7 KOKUSAI-KA (INTERNATIONALIZATION)	174	(23)
Isolation, Modernization, Polarization	174	(3)
Article 9: Before and After	177	(1)
Japan and International Trade	178	(3)
Japan and the United States	181	(4)
The Trade Issue	185	(3)
Globalization and National Security	188	(6)
Summary	194	(1)
Selected Readings	195	(1)
Works Cited	195	(2)
8 CONCLUSION: BETWEEN YAMATO AND UKIYO	197	(18)
The Democratic Ideal in Postmodern Context	199	(6)
Democracy Japanese Style	205	(3)
The Liberal Democratic Party Revisited	208	(1)
Experience and Symbolization: Yamato and Ukiyo	209	(2)
Twenty-first Century Japan	211	(2)
Works Cited	213	(2)
GLOSSARY	215	(12)
INDEX	227