Issue 22 (September 2009, Volume 4, Number 4)
In this issue we focus on various aspects of changing Japan. September 2009 itself heralded in seismic political change with the first non-Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Prime Minister since Tomiichi Murayama back in 1996, and more significantly the first unified opposite party to take power since the formation of the LDP in 1955.
To mark such a pivotal moment Fumiko Halloran reviews several recent Japanese language books about the new Democratic Party of Japan government, its leader Yukio Hatoyama and potential future Prime Minister Katsuya Okada, the new no-nonsense Foreign Minister. These books were written before the DPJ’s landslide victory in the 30th August general election and offer some fascinating insights into the new men at the political helm.
Our lead review looks at the state of mental health in Japan, a much neglected subject, but one which has become increasingly important as rapid socio-economic change continues to batter Japanese society. Sir Hugh Cortazzi and Sandra Lawman each offer their own insightful review of Yuko Kawanishi’s new cutting edge book.
Ian Nish and Roger Buckley review some significant books of recent years, while Peter Gysin examines a fascinating new publication on the impact of the Russo-Japanese war on Japan.
Contents
- Mental Health Challenges Facing Contemporary Japanese Society (two reviews)
- Hatoyama Yukio to Hatoyama-ke Yondai
- Minshuto Kaibo
- Minshuto No Yami
- Seiken Kotai – Kono Kuni o Kaeru
- Ultimate Crush
- Japanese Society at War: Death, Memory and the Russo- Japanese War
- Contested Governance In Japan: Sites and Issues
Contributors
Editor
Sean Curtin
Managing Editor
John Toppon
Reviewers
Sir Hugh Cortazzi, Sandra Lawman, Fumiko Halloran, Ian Nish, Peter Gysin and Roger Buckley