This paper investigates the semantic field of “everydayness” in the extended constellation of the Kyoto School. We examine the concepts of “ordinary mind,” “ground of the ordinary,” and “everydayness” in the thoughts of Suzuki Daisetsu and Nishida Kitarō in the 1930s and 1940s. We interpret this semantic field historically, focusing on the modernization of Buddhism as a process of philosophical synthesis between two conflicting dimensions of everydayness, which we call the epistemological and the ontological. It will be shown that the modernization of Buddhism, in a certain sense, formulated itself as a kind of modern “religiosity” through dealing with these two disparate aspects of “everydayness.”

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as an effective treatment for depression; however, its accessibility remains a challenge. To address this, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally attuned nurse-led CBT manual in reducing depressive symptoms for Chinese individuals with depression. A parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial was conducted in two psychiatric clinics in Hong Kong, comparing five weekly sessions of group CBT delivered by psychiatric nurses to treatment-as-usual care. Out of the 110 outpatients who provided consent, 56 received CBT with 100% attendance rate. After 5 weeks, significant reductions in depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] scores: β = –1.81, 95% CI [–3.34, –.29], p = .021) and anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7] scores: β = –1.39, 95% CI [–2.73, –.05], p = .043) were observed. Additionally, participants reported increased subjective happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale [SHS] scores: β = 2.33, 95% CI [1.30, 3.36], p < .001) and improved psychological well-being (psychological subscale of World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF [WHOQOL-BREF]: β = .77, 95% CI [.01, 1.53], p = .047). The study demonstrates the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating nurse-led CBT into routine psychiatric outpatient care for individuals with depression.

This study aimed to develop a conversion table for the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J) to the Japanese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-J) to facilitate prediction of the MMSE-J score from the MoCA-J score. Participants (N = 121) were community-dwelling older adults (M = 74.12, SD = 4.73, age 61–84) who were able to visit the university laboratory alone, having no diagnosis of dementia. Their cognitive performance was assessed by MoCA-J and MMSE-J. We developed the MMSE-J conversion table from the row MoCA-J scores using the equipercentile equating with log-linear smoothing. A Bland-Altman plot displayed a nonsignificant systematic bias between the raw and converted MMSE scores. The conversion table presented high accuracy, with 85.8% of converted MMSE-J scores falling within two points of raw scores. In addition, our conversion table demonstrated the advantage of using the MoCA-J for early detection of cognitive decline.

As communication tools have shifted to Social Networking Services (SNS) in recent years, especially among the younger generation, the use of text-based online counseling services has spread rapidly in Japan. With this shift, SNS counseling is now mainly provided by temporarily trained paraprofessionals and non-professionals under the supervision of more experienced professionals, and there is an urgent need to train counselors with high levels of expertise. However, there is a great lack of basic research in Japan, even for empirical findings on rough indicators that distinguish highly specialized counseling from non-specialized counseling. In this study, we conducted a role-play survey of SNS counseling and examined how the counselor’s attitude of “listening” appears, using message volume and session evaluations as analytical indices. The results revealed that there were two main features of the “listening” attitude in SNS counseling. In SNS counseling, counselors need to talk more than in face-to-face counseling to understand the situation and to clearly express empathy, while providing a place where the client can talk freely and a lot. SNS counselors are expected to take a seemingly contradictory, therefore difficult, way of being. Although the basic essence of the “listening” attitude is the same between SNS consultation and face-to-face psychotherapy, the actual expression of this attitude is different, and this suggestion is probably the most significant point of this study.

Abdication is receiving more recognition for its beneficial effects on society. However, the psychological motivation behind the decision to abdicate is a matter for discussion. Previous research has not clearly examined how the subjective value of resources (SVR) and gender influence abdication decisions among Chinese individuals. Therefore, this study (N = 78, 50% female) aims to explore the roles of participants’ SVR and gender on their abdication decisions (i.e., rates of abdication) in joint consumption. The findings revealed that SVR negatively affected participants’ abdication decisions. Specifically, participants with higher SVR were less likely to abdicate to others. Interestingly, gender did not have a significant effect on abdication decisions, indicating that both males and females exhibited similar patterns of abdication behavior. Taken together, this study expands our understanding of abdication decisions in joint consumption, and delves into the psychological motivations that drive individuals’ choices to abdicate.

This study investigated the unique challenges encountered by Japanese speakers learning Chinese as a foreign language (CFL). Through a paper-based test, it was revealed that Japanese CFL learners, leveraging their first language (L1) knowledge in Chinese characters (kanji), demonstrated advanced understanding of word meanings in hanzi compared to pinyin. Regardless of their Chinese ability, words in pinyin consistently exhibited higher naming accuracy than their hanzi counterparts. However, naming latencies for pinyin words consistently appeared longer, which can be attributed to the application of regular pinyin-to-sound conversion rules. Conversely, with increasing Chinese ability, accuracy for hanzi words improved, albeit accompanied by extended naming latencies, indicating a ‘speed-and-accuracy tradeoff.’ As Japanese CFL learners advanced in their Chinese ability, they would learn to suppress Japanese pronunciations for words in hanzi and use Chinese equivalents instead. With increased ability, they became more adjusted to potential mispronunciations due to similar sounds, leading to slower but more accurate naming. This study highlighted the complexity of phonological processing among Japanese CFL learners, shaped by various interacting factors.

This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying parenting styles on college student’s mental health. 935 college students aged 19–21 years were surveyed using the short-form of Egna Minnen Betraffande Uppfostran (S-EMBU), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2nd Edition (AAQ-II), to examine the effects of parenting styles on negative emotions in college students and the mediating effect of experiential avoidance. The results showed that: (1) Parenting style can affect experiential avoidance and negative emotions; (2) Experiential avoidance has a partial mediating effect between parenting style and negative emotions; (3) Father’s negative parenting style and experiential avoidance have a chain mediating effect on mother’s negative parenting style and negative emotions. These findings suggest that parenting styles have a direct effect on the negative emotions of college students and an indirect effect through experiential avoidance.

Japan’s burgeoning demand for nurses due to its aging society has resulted in a severe shortage thereof, leading to an increase in the recruitment of foreign nurses. Chinese nurses account for a large proportion of foreign nurses in Japan, especially for male nurses. This study aimed to understand the unique challenges faced by Chinese male nurses in the Japanese healthcare system. The interviews were conducted in Chinese via Zoom, with each participant interviewed once for an average of 90 minutes. The data were analysed qualitatively and inductively, providing a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by foreign-educated male nurses (N = 16). The analysis revealed five major challenges faced by Chinese male nurses in adapting to the Japanese healthcare system: 1) cultural and work adaptation, 2) knowledge and skills, 3) work environment and satisfaction, 4) discrimination, 5) discrepancy between professional expectations and actual experiences. Additionally, emotional and psychological challenges such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, and depression were found to impact job performance, satisfaction, and quality of life. The study is unique in focusing on foreign male nurses in Asia, addressing a void in the relevant literature. Chinese male nurses in Japan are presented with novel opportunities and experiences, and yet confront challenges due to disparities in culture, skills, gender, ethnicity, and professional expectations. Suggested interventions encompass specialized training, mentorship programs, cultural exchange initiatives, and policies aimed at mitigating workplace discrimination and enhancing job satisfaction.