Japanese Journal of Sociology最新文献

In an attempt to internationalize higher education to keep up with global standards, in 2014, Japanese policymakers launched their most significant program yet, the “Top Global University Project” (TGUP). In the following, the number of Japanese students spending part of their studies abroad significantly increased. However, funding was provided to very few selected universities (37 of 781 universities in 2014) implying that opportunities to study abroad differ notably across TGUP and non-TGUP funded universities and hence major differences in participation rates across these universities are likely. Furthermore, past research showed that students from families with advantaged socioeconomic status (SES) are generally more likely to study abroad than lower-SES students in numerous countries including Japan. It remains unclear whether the implementation of state programs such as TGUP may reduce social inequalities or exacerbate them. We examine both issues using data from three iterations of the largely unexploited Japan Campus Life Data (N = 41 654 students nested in N = 51 universities). Results from our multi-level trend analysis indicate that (1) TGUP funded universities show higher study abroad participation among its students, but no steeper growth rates than universities without TGUP funding; and (2) the SES-gap in the likelihood of studying abroad of students at TGUP universities significantly increased from 2013 to 2017. Our results indicate that the TGUP falls short of expectations in terms of growth in study abroad participation, while at the same time horizontal inequalities in study abroad seem to have widened at TGUP-funded universities.

Significant health disparities exist between gay and bisexual men (GBM) and the general population in Japan and internationally. Social capital is recognized as a key factor for positive health and well-being outcomes, including HIV prevention behaviors, among GBM. However, limited research examines how the sexual orientation of alters (i.e., possessors of resources within social capital networks) impacts access to these resources. In this study, a cross-sectional online survey of 1564 gay and bisexual men in Tokyo was conducted to investigate how social capital access varies by GBM and heterosexual alters, independent of socioeconomic factors. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that access to heterosexual social capital was positively correlated with younger age, higher education, full-time employment, good self-rated health, and bisexual behavior. In contrast, gay social capital access was positively associated with being out to close friends, identifying as gay, and attending gay venues, and negatively associated with student status, living outside central Tokyo, bisexual behavior, and using gay mobile apps predominantly for sex. These findings highlight differences in the distribution and determinants of gay versus heterosexual social capital among GBM in Greater Tokyo. To close health disparities for Tokyo GBM, policy interventions should consider groups deprived of gay social capital, such as those who avoid gay venues, live outside central Tokyo, or engage in bisexual behaviors, as these individuals may benefit most from targeted support.

The relationships between youth culture and social transitions are examined through a Bourdieusian analysis of musical culture and inequality in contemporary Japan. Employing Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, capital, field, and space, the traditional divide between youth cultural studies and transition research is addressed. Using mixed methods and combining multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) of the survey data (n = 1425) and in-depth interviews (n = 42), this study examines how cultural practices in music intersect with career trajectories and social positions. The MCA reveals that musical knowledge correlates with high social status indicators such as better educational attainment and household income, while participation correlates with educational attainment. Young people occupy a lower social position; however, their active concert attendance patterns minimize status distinctions along the axis of musical participation. Through interview analysis, three key relationships between youth culture and transitions are identified: deep artistic engagement leading to arts-related career choices, common habitus manifesting in both artistic perception and professional expertise, and the important role of song lyrics in helping young people cope with adversities during transitions. The findings show that habitus mediates between cultural practices and social trajectories, offering a theoretical bridge between studies on youth culture and transition research. Musical preferences and engagement patterns vary by generation, but the influence of music transcends age groups, influencing those who engage with it frequently. This research contributes to both youth studies and cultural sociology, as Bourdieu's theoretical framework provides understanding of the complex relationship between cultural practices and social inequality in Japan.

This study aims to examine nation-ness in nation-branding policy discourse. This case study deals with South Korea's nation branding from 2008, particularly through the trajectory of K-pop. The act of branding a nation ultimately results in the construction of a new form of “nation-ness as a product” and it provides economic benefits. It is so attractive for a government. However, at the same time, it is so hard to succeed. The nation-ness sometimes can be a reason not to consume. Nation branding, therefore, requires sensitive control of the relationship between culture and nation. While associating cultural attractions with the nation, one should not give too much nation-ness to culture. This study examines policy discourses in South Korean political documents regarding the relationship between K-pop and the nation. The survey revealed the following findings: Even though nation branding is a policy for making nation-ness an object of consumption, K-pop and the Korean Wave were disconnected from the policy discourse of South Korea. There are three reasons for this finding: the arms-length principle, economic perspective, and moving up the pecking order.

This paper takes an in-depth look into Taiwan's Bluebird Movement, a social movement that emerged in May 2024. The participants of this movement inherited many of the everyday methods utilized by the Sunflower Movement that happened in 2014. This study examines how the younger generation leverages the fan cultures they engage with and adapts them for practical applications within the Bluebird Movement. It has been observed that Taiwan's younger generation tends to view ‘political activities’ and ‘daily activities’ as equally important events, to such a degree that they would apply things seemingly ordinary in their fandom to political activities and thus break through established social norms. It was also observed that Taiwan's younger generation altered the fan culture they have adopted into their daily lives and strategically applied it to the social movement in which they participate. Furthermore, they would also extend the dedication they practice daily within their fandom toward the social movement. This paper concludes that, for young people in Taiwan, the practices associated with their interests and their political aspirations exist in a coexistent and circular relationship.