Book launch - A Sociology of Japanese Youth: From Returnees to NEETs

Published by Routledge

Edited by Roger Goodman, Yuki Imoto and Tuukka Toivonen

Over the past thirty years, at the same time as Japan has produced a diverse set of youth cultures – such as anime and manga – which have had a major impact on popular culture across the globe, it has also developed a succession of youth problems which have led to major concerns within the country itself.

This volume looks at some of the best-known of these problems, from the concern over the so-called returnee children (kikokushijo) in the 1970s, to the panic over young girls selling themselves for sex (enjo k?sai) in the 1980s, to the debates over physical punishment (taibatsu) and child abuse (jid? gyakutai) in the 1990s, to the most recent issues of young people shutting themselves away in their room (hikikomori) or appearing to withdraw completely from both the education and the labour market (NEETs).

Drawing on detailed empirical fieldwork, the authors set these issues in a clearly articulated ‘social constructionist’ framework that explains why particular youth problems appeared when they did and what lessons they can provide for the study of youth problems in other societies.

* The book will be available on the day at the discounted price of £20.

This event is free but booking is essential. Places can be booked at:  http://www.dajf.org.uk/events/booking-form.