Contemporary Japan - Hardcover

Kingston, Jeff

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1405191945 ISBN 13: 9781405191944

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010

Synopsis

Contemporary Japan: History, Politics and Social Change since the 1980s presents a comprehensive examination of the causes of the Japanese economic bubble in the late 1980s and the socio-political consequences of the recent financial collapse.

• Represents the only book to examine in depth the turmoil of Japan since Emperor Hirohito died in 1989, the Cold War ended, and the economy collapsed
• Provides an assessment of Japan's dramatic political revolution of 2009
• Analyzes how risk has increased in Japan, undermining the sense of security and causing greater disparities in society
• Assesses Japan's record on the environment, the consequences of neo-liberal reforms, immigration policies, the aging society, the US alliance, the Imperial family, and the 'yakuza' criminal gangs 
• Selected as a 2011 Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE

 

About this title

From the Back Cover:

At the start of the 1990s, the Japanese post-war economic miracle came to a screeching halt. A series of disastrous market collapses and an ensuing economic meltdown resulted in what is now referred to as Japan's "Lost Decade." Yet the phenomenon represents much more than a singular economic debacle and case of bungled government policy decisions. Contemporary Japan: History, Politics and Social Change presents an accessible and comprehensive examination of the causes of the Japanese housing bubble in the late 1980s and the socio-political consequences of the ensuing implosion of asset values. Author Jeff Kingston reveals that while after two decades the Japanese economy remains mired in a deep recession, the apparent stagnation is misleading. He shows how the discrediting of the Japan, Inc. model has lead to significant policy reforms and transformative social change -- most apparent in the dramatic political victory of the Democratic Party of Japan in 2009. Kingston also addresses many other challenges faced by contemporary Japan, including the implications of its aging society, environmental issues, immigration policies, neo-liberal reforms, evolving traditional institutions of the imperial family, and the yakuza. Contemporary Japan: History, Politics and Social Change offers deep and probing insights into the turmoil in Japan since the death of Emperor Hirohito in 1989 until the present day.

About the Author:

Jeff Kingston is Professor of History and Director of Asian Studies at the Japan Campus of Temple University. He has written widely on modern Japanese history and Japan's relations with Asia, including the books Japan in Transformation 1952-2000 (2004) and Japan's Quiet Transformation: Social Change and Civil Society in the 21st century (2005).

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1405191945
• ISBN 13: 9781405191944
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 328