ABSTRACT
Contemporary Japan is in a state of transition, caused by the forces of globalization that are derailing its ailing economy, stalemating the political establishment and generating alternative lifestyles and possibilities of the self. Amongst this nascent change, Japanese society is confronted with new challenges to answer the fundamental question of how to live a good life of meaning, purpose and value. This book, based on extensive fieldwork and original research, considers how specific groups of Japanese people view and strive for the pursuit of happiness. It examines the importance of relationships, family, identity, community and self-fulfilment, amongst other factors. The book demonstrates how the act of balancing social norms and agency is at the root of the growing diversity of experiencing happiness in Japan today.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|101 pages
Family, intimacy and friendship
chapter 3|12 pages
Physical intimacy and happiness in Japan
chapter 6|20 pages
Grandfathering in contemporary Japan
part II|102 pages
Self and community
chapter 8|20 pages
Makers and doers
chapter 9|18 pages
Dimensions of happiness for young political activists
chapter 10|19 pages
Living and working for the moment
chapter 12|16 pages
“My life is Taiyō Kōmuten”
part III|31 pages
Conclusions