Routledge Companion to Contemporary Japanese Social Theory: From individualization to globalization in Japan today

Description

The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Japanese Social Theory breaks new ground in providing a detailed, systematic appraisal of the major traditions of social theory prominent in Japan today – from theories of identity and individualization to globalization studies. The volume introduces readers to the rich diversity of social-theoretical critique in contemporary Japanese social theory. The editors have brought together some of the most influential Japanese social scientists to assess current trends in Japanese social theory, including Kazuhisa Nishihara, Aiko Kashimura, Masahiro Ogino, Yumiko Ehara and Kiyomitsu Yui. The volume also contains dialogues with these Japanese contributors from authoritative Western social theorists – including, among others, Axel Honneth, Roland Robertson, Bryan S. Turner, Charles Lemert and Anthony Elliott – to reflect on such developments. The result is an exciting, powerful set of intellectual exchanges. The book introduces, contextualizes and critiques social theories in the broader context of Japanese society, culture and politics – with particular emphasis upon Japanese engagements and revisions of major traditions of social thought. Divided into two sections, the book surveys traditions of social thought in Japanese social science and presents the major social issues facing contemporary Japan. The book will appeal to students and scholars of sociology, social theory, critical theory, psychoanalysis, risk, gender studies, feminist studies, self and identity studies, media studies and cultural studies. Cover Title Copyright CONTENTS Notes on contributors Acknowledgements Editors’ introduction PART I Traditions of social thought 1 Prelude: Phenomenological sociology in Japan Phenomenological sociology in Japan and its significance for contemporary social research 2 Prelude: Takeshi Deguchi’s democracy and critical theory in post-war Japanese sociology Critical theory and its development in post-war Japanese sociology: pursuing true democracy in rapid capitalist modernization 3 Prelude: On passionate dissent Japanese psychoanalysis as deciphering the Japanese unconsciousness and supporting the Japanese subject 4 Prelude: Structuralism, post-structuralism and thereafter Structuralism, post-structuralism and thereafter 5 Prelude: Risk and reflexive modernization Acceptance of Beck’s theory in Japan: from environmental risks to individualization PART II Issues in Japanese social theory 6 Prelude: The three selves in Japanese society The three selves in Japanese society: individualized, privatized, and psychologized selves 7 Prelude: From feminism to postfeminism in forty years? Japanese feminist social theory and gender equality 8 Prelude: Towards new definitions of intimacy Network, community and culture 9 Prelude: Postmodern social theory Postmodernity 10 Prelude: Japanese uniqueness versus globalization: a reply to Professor Yui Globalization Afterword: Apollo’s chariot Index