East Asian Languages and Societies Commons^™

Sex In Japan: It’S A Straight Man’S World, Kaileigh Nicklas

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Japanese feminism directly impacts the social image of non-male sexuality in Japanese literature and pop-culture through highlighting gender roles, ingrained misogyny, and violence toward non-male oriented sex. This project will specifically focus on the power dynamics of sex in Japanese society through gender roles, female sexuality, and the rise of Japanese feminist movement. An observation of sexuality in Japan from such female works as The Apprenticeship of the Big Toe P and Snakes and Earrings in contrast to male works such as Norwegian Wood and Memoirs of a Geisha provide further insights to the role that sex plays in the …

Beginning Japanese For Professionals: Book 1, Emiko Konomi

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This is the first book in a three book series and includes Lessons 0 - 4. Book 2 and Book 3 are also available for download.

This textbook is designed for beginning learners who want to learn basic Japanese for the purpose of living and working in Japan. Unlike textbooks written primarily for students, whose content largely centers on student life, this book focuses more on social and professional life beyond school.

As a beginning level textbook, this book includes many elementary grammar patterns (Japanese Language Proficiency Test Levels 5 and 4), but the vocabulary and situations are selected specifically …

Thinking About The 'Ming China' Anew: The Ethnocultural Space In A Diverse Empire-With Special Reference To The 'Miao Territory', Yonglin Jiang

East Asian Languages and Cultures Faculty Research and Scholarship

By examining the cultural identity of China's Ming dynasty, this essay challenges two prevalent perceptions of the Ming in existing literature: to presume a monolithic socio-ethno-cultural Chinese empire and to equate the Ming Empire with China (Zhongguo, the “middle kingdom”). It shows that the Ming constructed China as an ethnocultural space rather than a political entity. In essence, China was defined as a Han domain that the Han people inhabited and where Han values were produced, practiced, and preserved in contrast to those of non-Han “barbarians,” be they domestic or foreign. The “Great Ming”—the dynastic title—cannot be confused with China, …

The Costs Of Lolicon: Japan’S Pedophilia Trade, Megan Sluzhevsky

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates Japan’s normalization of pedophilia via the proliferation of popular culture and media. This analysis will begin by looking at historical examples of pedophilia, specifically focusing on chigo in Medieval Japanese Buddhism, wakashu in Edo Period pleasure quarters, and the spread of soft power diplomacy after World War II. This phenomenon will also be viewed in the modern context by discussing lolicon in Japanese media and advertising, idol culture in the Japanese music industry, the JK business, and “real” child pornography. The ways that Japan benefits from this culture economically and politically will also be investigated. Finally, this …

Japanese Propaganda Poster 07

Japanese Propaganda Posters

Propaganda poster, in Chinese, produced by Japanese-sponsored governments in China during Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). These governments were established by major Japanese military commands, and posters were used to promote cooperation between Chinese and Japanese. English translation is "All people desire the North/South unification." Chinese: 全民渴望南北統一. On the left and right flags, English translation is “North China” Chinese:華北; English translation is “Central China” Chinese: 華中. The Provisional Government of the Republic of China was founded in December 1937 by the Japanese North China Area Army (NCAA) and controlled the provinces in North China with its capital in Beijing. The Japanese Central …

The Philippine Economy During The Japanese Occupation, Jasper Lem

Asian Studies: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

The economy of the Philippines was derailed by the Japanese occupation during World War II. As an American colony before World War II, the Philippines had close amicable ties with the United States highlighted by promises of independence on July 4th, 1946. The Philippines also maintained a beneficial economic relationship with the States at this time through extensive foreign trade. However, because of the Japanese invasion, the Philippine economy was robbed of this profitable foreign trade and the promise of independence, severely crippling the island nation and her morale. The first policies implemented by Japan were designed to control the …

Japanese Propaganda Poster 15

Japanese Propaganda Posters

Propaganda poster, in Chinese, produced by Japanese-sponsored governments in China during Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). These governments were established by major Japanese military commands, and posters were used to promote cooperation between Chinese and Japanese. English translation is "Countrymen, let’s unite under the five-colored national flag!": 同胞們！在五色國旗之下團結吧!

Japanese Propaganda Poster 01

Japanese Propaganda Posters

Propaganda poster, in Chinese, produced by Japanese-sponsored governments in China during Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945). These governments were established by major Japanese military commands, and posters were used to promote cooperation between Chinese and Japanese. English translation is "Please see how kind and affable the Japanese Army is." Chinese: 請看日軍和靄可親的態度.

The Darker Sides Of The Isekai Genre: An Examination Of The Power Of Anime And Manga, Curtis Lu

Master's Projects and Capstones

This study illustrates characteristics of the isekai genre, presents connections between this genre and social problems commonly found in Japanese culture and society, and demonstrates the widespread impact of Japanese popular media. By analyzing some of the most popular forms and categories of isekai, this research pinpoints important characteristics – in the form of certain themes, characters, and plots – that contribute to social problems like suicide and shut-ins. Escapism is a central theme in many isekai works, and while escapism is healthy to a certain extent, some take the concept too far, often getting lost in their own …

Children Playing In River, Marie Lee

All Photographs

Photo from Dimen Village of two boys and a girl swimming in the river. The boys are standing on the cut stone dam.