Japanese Propriety, Past and Present

Disciplined Liberalism
1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-1-032-44478-9
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 166 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 420 g

Reihe: Routledge Contemporary Japan Series

This book offers a fresh view on Japanese society focussing on the role of comportment for group cohesiveness. It explores the stereotype that Japan is the world’s most polite country, examining how proper conduct is acquired and expressed; and how the apparent conflict with some of the concepts considered essential for Western modernity, such as society, freedom and the individual, are balanced with Japan’s great emphasis on courtesy, politeness and civility. By comparing the present situation in Japan with behavioural standards of former periods as well as with other cultural traditions, the book explains some of the distinctive features of present-day Japanese society. Overall, the book argues that Japan is a prime example of multiple modernities concerning individuals, collectives and relationships between state and society.

Zielgruppe

Academic and Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Coulmas, Florian

Fachgebiete

• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Regionalwissenschaften, Regionalstudien
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Stadt- und Regionalsoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein Empirische Sozialforschung, Statistik
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures

List of tables

Preface

1 Face Masks and Liberty

2 Theoretical Foundations: Max Weber, Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault

3 Conceptual Analysis: Coming to Terms in Modernizing Japan

4 Formal Perfection: The Tokugawa State

5 Becoming a Civilized Country: Modernization in Meiji Japan

6 Continuity and Change: Social Disciplining after World War II

7 Lessons Learned: Social Disciplining, Culture and Politics

References

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Florian Coulmas is Senior Professor for Japanese Society, IN-EAST Institute of East Asian Studies, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.