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DIJ Newsletter DIJ Interdisciplinary Japanese Studies on Site 44 | November 2011 DIJ Newsletter DIJ Interdisciplinary Japanese Studies On Site Sayonara, nuclear energy? The largest anti-nuclear demonstra- tion after the reactor catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi plant took place in Tokyo on September 19. According to the event’s organizers, approximately 60,000 people participated in the dem- onstration. Nobel laureate Kenzaburō Ōe, author Keiko Ochai, the journal- ists Katsuto Uchihashi and Satoshi Kamata, as well as various NGOs and unions had called on the people to take part in the demonstration in downtown Tokyo calling on the government to phase out nuclear energy. C.W. Energy policy to see major change? In contrast to the annual coming supported the long-term reduction of New cooperation with and going of prime ministers – only Japan’s dependence on nuclear power. recently Yoshihiko Noda succeeded He has also proposed to increase the the Center for Japanese Naoto Kan – Japan’s energy policy has share of renewable energy sources Studies of the Univer- traditionally been characterized by its from 9% to 20% by the 2020s. How- sity of Hawai’i at Mānoa consistency. The government regarded ever, unlike Kan, he has not commit- The German Institute for nuclear energy as a safe, cost-effective ted to completely phasing out nuclear Japanese Studies (DIJ) has and environmentally friendly energy energy, arguing that Japan would still entered into an agreement source. Accordingly, the share of have to depend on it to some degree on academic collaboration nuclear energy in the country’s energy until 2030. Moreover, he wants to con- with the Center for Japanese mix was set to rise from 30% to 50% tinue exporting nuclear power plants. Studies (CJS) of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. The two by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, To stabilize energy supply in the short institutes are offering each construction of 14 new nuclear reactors and medium term, the new Prime Min- other academic hospitality, had been planned. As a reaction to the ister plans to quickly restart presently pursue research projects of catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi shutdown reactors once they pass the common interest and plan to power plant, Noda’s predecessor Kan stress tests. At the same time, Noda has hold jointly organized work- chose to alter Japan’s energy policy characterized the construction of new shops. radically by announcing the inten- reactors as “unrealistic”. CJS serves as an organizing tion of turning Japan into a “society Meanwhile, the influential Science unit for more than 30 Japan free from nuclear energy”. Kan also experts from different dis- Council of Japan, a special organiza- successfully demanded the shutdown ciplines. Among them are tion under the jurisdiction of the Prime of the Hamaoka plant (in Shizuoka numerous internationally Minister, has put forth proposals for Prefecture), which is regarded as the well-known professors, includ- a future energy policy. The council’s ing Dr. Patricia Steinhoff, a nuclear power station most acutely report outlines six different scenarios, member of the editorial board threatened by an earthquake. More- five of which differ only in the length of Contemporary Japan. over, taking a page from the European of the remaining running time of nu- Union, he introduced stress testing. This agreement is the second clear power plants, thereby implying a collaboration the DIJ has con- Following Kan’s resignation in Sep- phase out. Given the short “shelf-life” cluded with a leading institute tember 2011, the durability of this not of prime ministers, it remains to be of Japanese Studies. An agree- entirely uncontroversial change of seen whether, and if so, which proposal ment with the White Rose East policy was questioned. Noda too has will be realized. Asia Centre of the Universities of Leeds/Sheffield has been in ▲ Dr. Chris Winkler, political scientist, heads the DIJ project “How to Make Voters place since 2008. C.W. Happy? The Promise of Happiness by Japan’s Political Parties between Continuities and Discontinuities”. [email protected] German Institute for Japanese Studies Tokyo Newsletter 44 | November 2011 New research on manga Scientific research on Japanese An old genre… comics has diversified since its The origins of yuri as a genre can be beginnings. However, the genre of traced back to the 1910s. In popular yuri, a term broadly encompassing girls’ magazines such as Shōjo Gahō stories about love between girls, has [Girls’ illustrated], narratives about so far hardly been noticed. The Ger- close friendships and romances man Institute for Japanese Studies between girls (also known as esu (DIJ) is supporting research on this bungaku, from “s” as in “sister”) genre with one of its Ph.D. scholar- were published, with Nobuko Yoshiya ships. (1896–1973) being one of the genre’s Already in the 1970s, yuri, meaning most famous authors. The first manga “lily”, was used in some subcultures dedicated to the topic of “love between as a reference to love between women. girls” were published in the 1970s in In the 1990s, it became the name of mainstream shōjo manga magazines. a genre in popular culture, especially In the past – as now – the majority among fans of manga and anime. Out- of their authors and readers are not side of Japan, the term shōjo ai [girls’ homosexual. love] was established alongside yuri, …with a diverse present based on the term shōnen ai [boys’ love], which in the 1970s was used to Since the 1970s, the yuri genre has signify manga for girls (shōjo manga) further diversified. Today in Japan, ► Cover of a recent issue of the about love between boys. In Japan, there are yuri manga for every age magazine Komikku Yuri Hime. however, the term shōjo ai is associ- group and gender, with works tend- ated with paedophilia. ing to focus on romance primarily targeted at females and works tending Scarce research to date to focus on sexual displays primarily In Japan as well as overseas, the yuri targeted at males. With Komikku Yuri genre has barely been investigated to Hime [Comic Lily Princess] even a date. This is surprising given the fact magazine exclusively publishing yuri that the genre of shōnen ai – that is, manga was able to establish itself in stories about love between boys/men the market. Its readership is distrib- – has received much attention over uted across all age groups, around the years. However, research on yuri 60% being female and, according to Manga about love has mostly been limited to studying its editor-in-chief, mostly not homo- between girls the contents of one or a few works sexual. While firmly establishing itself from a feminist point of view. To date, in the Japanese market, the yuri genre have established themselves the genre has been analysed prima- also crossed Japan’s borders, with as a genre. rily in the context of the discourse on the first translated yuri manga being homosexuality. Yet, since the produc- published in the United States, France tion and reception of these manga and Germany. were not part of those analyses, the A new research project interesting question of whether yuri is also understood by publishers and Verena Maser’s Ph.D. project analy- fans as a “lesbian genre”, or whether ses the yuri genre from the viewpoint completely different aspects are of genre theory and examines how relevant in this context, has remained it is positioned by different agents. unanswered. While research so far has Following Hiroki Azuma, the project assumed that yuri is generally read by addresses the question of whether the lesbian women, this is not the case in concept of “genre” can be applied in present-day Japan, a discrepancy that the Japanese context. Alongside an speaks to the likelihood of different analysis of the contents of exemplary motivations for reading manga of this manga, a discussion on their produc- genre. tion and reception are incorporated for Verena Maser, M.A., the first time via interviews and exam- is a Ph.D. scholarship ined from an international compara- student at the DIJ. tive perspective (Japan, Germany). [email protected] DIJ German Institute for Japanese Studies Tokyo Newsletter 44 | November 2011 DIJ survey on exclusion and happiness after March 11 Following the events of March In order to be able to carry out more 11, the DIJ decided to repeat its in-depth analyses in those areas of survey on objective precarity and Japan most affected by the catastro- subjective exclusion conducted in phe, it was decided to concentrate on 2009. This time, data was collected two regions instead of conducting a especially in the affected prefectures nationwide survey. Five of the 47 pre- in north-eastern Japan, as well as in fectures were chosen for data collec- and around Tokyo. tion: Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, ◄ Dr. Carola Hommerich, as well as Tokyo and Kanagawa were sociologist, heads the Japanese The new survey aims to find out part of the project “‘Comparative- chosen so as to include one directly whether attitudes have changed in the ly Happy’ – Objective Precarity and dramatically affected region and aftermath of the March 11 catastro- and Perception of Social Exclu- one less seriously affected area, but phe – for instance in how individual sion in Germany and Japan”. where the catastrophe still had an im- happiness and social cohesion are [email protected] pact. Thereby, comparisons not only evaluated, to what extent the govern- over time, but also between regions ment and political institutions are held become possible. to be trustworthy, and respondents’ readiness to engage in voluntary The survey period ended on October work. In order to ensure comparability 3, 2011, with 1,632 questionnaires with the previous survey, the ques- returned, which equates to 48% of the tions from the previous survey were original sample of people asked to retained.
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