Problems and Perspectives in the Anthropological Studies of Japan

抄録

Considering cultural anthropology as a discipline that studies the current state of culture, in making Japan the subject of anthropological research one finds that there are both advantages to anthropology as well as a number of problems to be overcome. Some of these problems demand great effort to negotiate, but at the same time these are problems that cultural anthropology is ideally suited to take on. In doing so, it may bring about development in anthropological theory and methodology as well as show the particular utility of cultural anthropology in resolving strained social and cultural problems. In Japanese studies, no matter the research theme or area studied, there is a vast amount of previous research from various disciplines and a reservoir of unanalyzed historical and folkloric documents. To utilize these documents and previous research presents an anthropological challenge. Another challenge is in chipping away at the entrenched belief amongst Japanese in "Japan's cultural homogeneity and stability" in conjunction with producing research in counter to the widely popular genre of Nihonbunkaron literature. This may provide clues for resolving current social problems that form growing fissures in Japanese society and culture and, moreover, stem from the shroud of false recognition of "Japanese cultural homogeneity."