Non-Smoking Movement and Cult of Mysticism

HUKADA, Yuko. "Arguments on non-Smoking movement"

1. IC card: taspo
・ An ID card with photo, which identifies age over 20.
・ Expect to issue 21,000,000 cards; 70% of smokers would purchase the card.
・ There are 620,000 cigarette vending machines in Japan.
・ About 50% of smokers buy cigarette from the machine.

2. Numerical goals made by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
M) 2004: 43.3% à 2010: 38.4%
W) 2004: 12.0% à 2010: 10.2%

3. Non-smoking movements
A. Non-smoking movement inside Japan
B. Non-smoking movement outside Japan
C. Manners
・Throwing away of finished cigarettes
・Smoking on streets and smoking while walking

4. Opposition to the movement
・ JT opposes to non-smoking movement

5. Conclusion -- Creating images to the act of smoking
・Cigarette smoke harms both smokers and non-smokers
・Bad manners
・Follow other developed nations. We are behind.
・Non-smoking treatment now can be applied as medical insurance. Recognize it as nicotine poisoning or nicotine addiction.


***Non-smoking movement is led by the government, rather than no-drinking, in year 2006. Smoking issue is not something new but it became an issue for reasons of these images. Why it becomes the issue of the government today?

Arguments on non-smoking movement

Summary of the class

After the presentation, we discussed on topic related on issues of smoking in Japan:
・ There are lists of “don’t” signs in Japan.
・ Social responsibility and freedom. To what extent can we say that it is freedom of one’s own, or is social responsibility.
・ Essentializes smokers as “bad manners” which lead exclusion of smoking people from society.
・ Manners are still understood as an order from top to down.
・ A tobacco company recommends manner. Manner should come from people. Are they both democracies.
・ Sells cigarettes in third countries while regulating it in domestically.


TANAKA,Masafumi. "the Cult of Mysticism: An Interpretation from the Concept of Dis/Re-Enchantment"

Introduction
Contemporary social theories discuss that people have developed their reflexivity because of their coming in the new stage of modernity. For example, Ulrich Beck describes the emerging “Sub-politics” organized by people who criticize and resist “official politics” in Europe[1]. In contrast, it is difficult for me to recognize the working of social reflexivity in contemporary Japan. Rather, the cult of mysticism, people’s anxiety for unscientific prophecy, has been seen. This presentation firstly introduces two popular TV programs as examples of cult of mysticism in present Japan. And, this presentation secondly interprets them from the view of dis/re-enchantment.

(1) Cult of Mysticism
First, this presentation introduces two popular TV programs as examples of cult of mysticism: Zubari-Iuwayo (I’ll Tell You Frankly) and Ohra-No-Izumi (Spring of Aura). First program of Zubari-Iuwayo is hosted by Hosogi, Kazuko who is a fortune-teller. In that program she gives guests cautions authoritatively. “You should…” That program has a lot of viewers despite of her discriminatory remarks. Second program of Ohra-No-Izumi is hosted by Ehara, Hiroyuki and Miwa, Akihiro (and Kokubun, Taichi). Ehara who is a psychic gives guests a diagnosis in the program. He emphasizes that it is very important to reflect one’s previous life to be happy. A lot of people like and watch that program. I do not want to say that viewers of these programs are stupid. But I want to know why these programs are popular in present Japan.

(2) Dis/Re-Enchantment
Second, this presentation explains the concept of dis/re-enchantment and interprets the cult of mysticism in present Japan. The concept of disenchantment was submitted by Weber in his discussion of the scientific process of rationalization/modernization. He describes that the twenties century Europe faced the ‘disenchant of the world[2].” It is generally said that Weber wanted to argue that people have autonomy because of the transition from traditional society based on unscientific superstition to modern society based on scientific knowledge[3]. However, there has appeared alternative understanding of Weber’s discussion of disenchantment. It says that Weber saw the complicated process of rationalization that re-enchantment happened at the same time disenchantment happened[4]. In other words, the process of rationalization/modernization has promoted, on the one side, the disenchantment of the world and, on the other side, the re-enchantment of the world. Therefore, we can see the cult of mysticism in present Japan having highly developed science.

Conclusion
This presentation gives an interpretation of the cult of mysticism in present Japan from the concept of dis/re-enchantment. It shows that we always have the ambiguous process of dis/re-enchantment. If there is that ambiguous process, it is very important to keep and develop the ‘unfinished project of modernity’ in Habermas’s sense. He defines that project as the appropriation of the expert culture from the perspective of lifeworld. The project of modernity gives citizens autonomy of knowledge and makes them have autonomy of life, and the collaboration among intellectuals and citizens is essential for that project[5]. We need the autonomy of knowledge rather than the cult of mysticism to have autonomy of life, don’t we?

Reference
Arakawa, Toshihiko. “Datsumajutsuka-To-Saimajutsuka: Sozo-To-Haijo-No-Politics (Dis-enchantment and Re-enchantment: Politics of Creation and Exclusion)”, Shakaishisoshikenkyu, No.26, 2002, 49-61.
Beck, Ulrich. “The Reinvention of Politics: Towards a Theory of Reflexive Modernization”. In Ulrich Beck, et al. Reflexive Modernization: Politics, Tradition and Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1994, 1-55.
Habermas, Jürgen. “Modernity: An Unfinished Project”, in Habermas and The Unfinished Project of Modernity: Critical Essays on The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity (Edition by P. d’Entreves and S. Benhabib), Cambridge: Policy Press, 1996, 38-55.
Weber, Max. “Science as a Vocation” in From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology (Edition and Translation by H. H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills). New York: Oxford University Press, 1946, 129-156.
Yamanouchi, Yasushi. “Saimajutsuka-Suru-Sekai: ‘Global Sociology’-Kenkyu-Note (Re-enchanting World: Research Note of ‘Global Sociology’)”, Gendaisiso, vol.31(6), 2003, 134-141.

[1] Beck (1994), p.23. Both Giddens and Lash also argue the development of social reflexivity from their different perspective.
[2] Weber (1946), p.155.
[3] According to this approach, Weber recognized the linear transition from traditional society to modern society. Beck is a representative of this approach.
[4] Arakawa, Ritzer and Yamanouchi is represented from that alternative understanding.
[5] Habermas (1996), p.52.

Murakami, Haruki and Men's Cosmetics

ISHIWATA, Hiroshi. "Murakami Haruki and Politics: The Contemporary Reception of Haruki Boom"

Topic: Murakami Haruki and the Reception of His Novel
Issue: The readers/critiques of Murakami Haruki are indicating the “politicalless” of his novel


Muraki Haruki Boom after the 1990s

l His Novels Translated in over 30 Languages/Many Prizes/Nominated as the Novel Prize

l Searching the Reception of Murakami Haruki’s Nobels: from the Newspaper Articles in 2006

The Reception of Readers

l Positive: Readable (Easy to Translate/) and New (a New Generation of Japanese Writer)

l Political-less: Individualistic, Anti-Political (No Japan=US Security Treaty, Emperor System, No Globalisation), Transnationality (the Source of Popularity)

l The Critique of Political-less: à”Cultural Product” “a Tool for Consumerism”, “Cool Japan”

l The Critique of Political-less: àNew Japanese Soft Power; New “Political”: Imagination of Ethics

Questioning Political-less


Why is Murakami Haruki so popular all over the world now? Based on the research of the newspaper articles published in 2006, the reason of his popularity is inquired in this presentation. Among many diverse receptions of his readers and critics, the “political-less” character of his novels attracts/influences the readers as their common feeling. This includes the individualistic stance of the protagonists, the pro-commercialization attitude, the anti-political atmosphere of his novels, and the personalized/fragmented social problems which Murakami focuses on. The debate seems to be going on this ground of “political-less” character of novels whether they are just “tool[s] of commercialization” or “new ethical problematizations of the contemporaries.” Nevertheless, what we should not forget is the fact that this “political-less” individualistic situation in Japan is not really the natural result of society but the policy choice conducted by the establishments in Japan.
Good evening

“It is not Murakami enough”: Norwaigean Wood in Taiwan; Haruki Korean Students

translated in 30 languages, Prizes, the reception as Common, Even this year Nominated for Nobel Prize

Interested, Why is he such popular; The Reception of Murakami Novels, Newspaper

According to Articles

Positive; Readable (easy to read/translate): His Method of writing
New (new Image of Japan after Mishima, TAnizaki, Kawabata Generation)

Most of all, His Political-less Attitude

Indiviualistic Tone of Nobels ß1. the Protagonists are Individualistic-Oriented, and lonely, Sceptical about the Collective Entity,;

2. Anti-Political (No Japan=US Security Treaty, Emperor System, No Globalisation): Problems are among us

3. Transnationality \ßthe Sympathy of the Contemporaries not only in Japan, but also all over the world

çCritique; Criticise

çCritique; Not Really “Political” but “political”: underworld

Summary

I have a question; where is this “Individualistic/political-less situation” coming from?

From the 1980s Internationalization of Companies=Finance are ongoing ßAppreciation of Yen, Rise of Labor Cost, the State Encouraged this Process as well

àDeclining the Power of Labor Unions fairly Declined due to the place of work and Guarantee

The result, àFull of part-time due to the change of Labor law, Restructuring of Companies, Cutting down of Welfare, èChanging of Working Conditions: Shaking the Stable Collectivity of our society, Family, Education, Community àIs not It Necessary to Consider the Issue of Political Economy before Much Taliking about Ethics?

SUZUKI, Kaori. "Learn from Men’s Fashion Magazines in Bookstore"

I read the some newest Men’s Fashion Magazines. They have similar and different parts from women’s magazines in their feature articles. Both women and men have interested in fashion, cosmetic, rooms, cultures, and there are interviews of famous talents. But some articles about artists have fresh impression for me. Researches by some cosmetic companies point out men who want to be beautiful are increasing. Recent diversification of men’s fashion magazines seems like the movement in this context. How can we understand this new trend? Pharmaceutical companies and Cosmetic firms do research about the actual situation how men think about “Make-Up”. Men’s new trend is good opportunity for these companies to open up a new market. But this new trend is also one kind of release from oppression. Men’s new trend seems to have both sides as a release and to be a new consumer who is very convenient for Cosmetic firms.

UENO, Toshiya, "Meaning of Transformation through Analyzing Subculture in Contemporary Japan"

Cultural Studies invited Professor UENO last Saturday (Oct.14), and he made a presentation about the meaning of transformation through analyzing subculture in contemporary Japan. I want to show brief summary of his presentation below.

Schedule of This Semester

Presentations by Invited Speakers
Oct. 14
UENO, Toshiya (Professor of Wako University)
「変身と変型――現代日本のサブカルチャーを題材に」

Nov. 18
YI, Soo Kyung (Associate Professor of Tokyo Gakugei University)
「イラク戦争とその後の動きについて考える」

Dec. 16
OGASAWARA, Hiroki (Associate Professor of Kobe University)

Dec. 23
MOTOHASHI, Tetsuya (Professor of Tokyo Keizai University)
"Postcolonialism: In Search of Alter-native Histories."


Presentations by Graduate Students
Oct. 21
ISHIWATA, Hiroshi, "About MURAKAMI, Haruki."
SUZUKI, Kaori, "Men's Magazines in Library."

Oct. 28
FUKADA, Yuko, "About Smoking."
TANAKA, Masafumi, "Representation of Sports in Comics."

Nov. 11
FURUKAWA, Etsuji, "Social Networking Site."
ZHAO, Zan, "Chinese Cuisine."

Nov. 25
YAMAUCHI, Hayato, "Foreign Drama."
FURIHATA, Hiroaki, "Cultural Movement."