Viktoriya Kim

This paper is a narrative review of existing literature pertaining to gender issues in Japanese university education, with the primary objective of identifying gaps and limitations in prior research and proposing avenues for further enhancement. The focus of this inquiry centers on obstacles hindering women s engagement in university education and subsequently affecting their pursuit of the future career paths. Drawing upon an examination of 25 relevant academic articles (five in Japanese and 20 in English), the review critically analyzes barriers and facilitators influencing the status of women in Japanese universities. Seven recurrent themes emerge from these studies: 1) (pre-university) gender segregation and associated attitudes, acting as impediments to women s equal participation; 2) gender discrimination within university; 3) the role of women s universities; 4) work-home balance and gender role expectations; 5) the university working environment; 6) perceptions of leadership; and 7) facilitators and intervention programs. Barriers and facilitators for women s advancement in university education are categorized and quantified across various Japanese Universities from a Gender Perspective: A narrative review of women's socio-cultural impediments in higher education

В данной статье дается обзор теории этнической идентичности, особенности этнического образования и гражданства на примере этнических корейцев в Японии. Этническое образование корейцев в Японии связано с северокорейской системой школьного образования. Вследствие чего выбор образования был обусловлен выбором политической траектории и индивидуальной ориентацией этнических корейцев. Авторы предполагают, что выбор этнического образования в условиях Японии приводит к неизбежности социальной изоляции у детей этнических корейцев. Авторы изучают последствия этнического образования школ в Японии. Посредством неструктурированного интервью авторы собрали аргументы в поддержку теории этнической дискриминации в образовании. Первое: Этнические корейцы могут делать выбор в образовании. Второе: Направление образования несет не только этническую, но и политическую характеристику. Выбирая корейскую школу, молодые корейцы выбирают приверженность к северокорейскому режиму и идеологии. Третье: При выборе корейского образования молодые люди неизбежно сталкиваются со стигматизацией и дискриминацией их этнической принадлежности. Авторы определили, что сегментированная ассимиляция, при которой этническая идентичность формирует образовательные траектории, работает по-другому. В случае с корейцами в Японии действует обратный причинно-следственный порядок: образовательный опыт формирует этническую идентичность.

This paper explores the impact of globalization on the career development of students from Central Asian countries who choose Japanese studies majors and the position of Japan in the process of their career decision-making. We examine the choices and possibilities of human resource development and higher education exchange in the two regions. The data for this study were collected between September 2016 and February 2017in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Osaka (Japan). We interviewed several participants through video chat as well. In particular, the image of Japan among students in Central Asian countries, the reasons Central Asian students choose to acquire Japanese studies majors; and, the impact of studying in Japan on their careers. We will analyze these points from Japan's soft power perspective. We posit that Japan's soft power has strengthened in Central Asian countries over recent years and led to the popularity of Japanese studies majors and receiving education in Japan among university students. As the relationship between Japan and Central Asian countries develop, it is important to explore career opportunities and issues Japanese studies students face.

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes intercultural issues in marriages between Japanese men and women from former Soviet Union countries. Focusing on the differences in meanings and assumptions that guide couples in their marriages and the historical-cultural roots of these differences, the paper argues that spouses adapt, negotiate, and change their expectations to each other in response to the cultural encounters that deviate from their familiar cultural patterns. The data for the research was collected by the author between 2006 and 2014 in urban areas of Japan. It consists in-depth interviews with Russian-speaking women (48) and Japanese men (20), participant observation in couples’ homes, women’s gatherings, and communication in an online Russian-language community. The analysis reveals the effects of cultural differences on relationships between spouses in international marriages in Japan, discusses the fluidity and change of cultural notions over time, and explains how spouses justify these changes.

This paper is both a review of the discussion on gender politics in the Soviet Union and Russia, as well as an attempt to examine how such politics have affected women’s lifestyle, their ideas on marriage migration and the strategies they use to migrate. It is based on in-depth interviews with women from former Soviet Union countries living in Japan.

ABSTRACT Japan today faces several demographic-related challenges: population decline, an aging population, and a declining workforce. One of the proposed solutions to these challenges is to allow more foreign workers into Japan. However, this move is being organized without the implementation of blanket immigration and integration policies. Despite ongoing resistance in political and societal fields toward the creation of an explicit immigration policy, there is currently a prototype of an integration policy introduced by the Japanese government in 2006 – tabunka kyōsei (multicultural community building) – aimed at the social integration of foreign residents into Japanese communities. This article focuses on issues related to immigration and integration policies in Japan and how a lack of both challenges integration initiatives on the local level through centers for international exchange (kokusai kōryū sentā). We examine the issues behind immigration and integration in Japan and the role of these centers. Our analysis includes a review of immigration and integration programs in Japan to identify the gap between those and actual needs, with a focus on the role of the centers for international exchange. We then analyze the centers themselves, discussing how they apply government policy and resources; the current state of the centers; and foreign residents’ participation in the activities of such centers. In sum, we review the current state of foreigners’ integration in Japan and analyze the role the centers for international exchange play in incorporating them into the society and economy.

This paper analyzes intercultural issues in marriages between Japanese men and women from former Soviet Union countries. Focusing on the differences in meanings and assumptions that guide couples in their marriages and the historical-cultural roots of these differences, the paper argues that spouses adapt, negotiate, and change their expectations to each other in response to the cultural encounters that deviate from their familiar cultural patterns. The data for the research was collected by the author between 2006 and 2014 in urban areas of Japan. It consists in-depth interviews with Russian-speaking women (48) and Japanese men (20), participant observation in couples’ homes, women’s gatherings, and communication in an online Russian language community. The analysis reveals the effects of cultural differences on relationships between spouses in international marriages in Japan, discusses the fluidity and change of cultural notions over time, and explains how spouses justify these changes.

20世紀の後半からインターナショナルスクールの数は飛躍的に増加しており、日本もその例外ではない。西町インターナショナルスクールはこのような学校の一つであり、1949年に松方種子によって、東京の港区元麻布に設立された。本章で、特に注目するのは様々な国々・文化・言語背景の人々を調和させる「西町文化」である。学校にかかわっている経営者、事務、先生、両親と学生にとって、「西町文化」は特別の意味を持っていると考えられる。そのために、学校が独自の「西町文化」を採用し、この環境を支えている過程や、学校にかかわっている人々がその文化との関りを浮き彫りにする。そこでは、この学校の特別で際立った特性を強調するのみならず、そこでの教育の実践が、学生、両親、そしてより広範な日本社会にいかに影響を及ぼしているのかを考察する。この章は、著者のフィールド調査に基づいており、学校の活動の観察のみならず、校長、経営者、事務スタッフ、両親、そして学生へのインタビューを含んでいる。

本節では日本の公教育のもとで学ぶ国際結婚家庭の子どもとその家庭の教育戦略について論じている。本研究に参加した22組の国際結婚カップルの42人の子どものうち、9割以上が日本の公/私立学校を選択している。そのため、日本の公教育を選択する理由、これらの家庭における「バイリンガル/バイカルチュラル教育への挑戦」、さらに、様々な現実問題をうけての「教育戦略をとりまくジレンマ」について述べている。
結論として、日本の学校の選択の背景には、大学進学を始めとして日本の学校を選択することが子どもの将来に有益であるという展望、また日本の学校が母国と同等またはそれ以上の水準の教育を提供してくれるであろうという判断がある。一方、国際結婚家庭の親の多くは子どもにはバイリンガル/バイカルチュラルな資質を育んでほしいと望むが、日本の学校・社会のモノリンガル/モノカルチュラルな性質が、「多文化背景を持つ子どもたち」に対するバイリンガル/バイカルチュラルな教育を推奨するものではないことが明らかになった。