ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to provide a critical overview of conceptions and practices in the realm of mental health and therapy in Japan. In order to do so we examine the Japanese mental health care system and how it has evolved with a particular focus on the development of psychiatry and clinical psychology. We also analyze cultural conceptions of mind and body in Japan and the role of indigenous therapies that highlight the pluralistic nature of the Japanese mental health care system. Finally, we examine recent anthropological studies on contemporary mental health challenges in Japanese society, suicide and hikikomori (youth social withdrawal), and their relevance to larger issues and concerns in contemporary Japan.
