ABSTRACT

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.

part |117 pages

Traditions of social thought

chapter |23 pages

Critical Theory and its Development in Post-War Japanese Sociology

Pursuing true democracy in rapid capitalist modernization

chapter |18 pages

Acceptance of Beck's Theory in Japan

From environmental risks to individualization

part |117 pages

Issues in Japanese social theory

chapter |19 pages

The Three Selves in Japanese Society

Individualized, privatized, and psychologized selves

chapter |21 pages

Postmodernity

chapter |19 pages

Globalization

chapter |4 pages

Afterword

Apollo's chariot