This paper aims to elucidate the process of the transformation and reconfiguration of Qigong, a body-oriented-healing-practice originating in China, within its local adaptation in Japan. Distinct from existing research, which primarily emphasizes the interaction between knowledge systems and authoritative theories in the globalization and localization of spiritual and traditional healing, and their engagement with indigenous knowledge frameworks, this study focuses on the role of sensory and affective bodily experiences acquired through concrete practices in the construction and shaping of Qigong. Moreover, through an ethnographic examination of Qigong practice sites, this paper attempts to analyze how these distinctive sensory and affective experiences are generated and modified within the practice. Finally, this study explores how various specific practices lead to the construction and emergence of a form of Qigong that diverges from orthodox Chinese Qigong.

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This study investigates the absence of new political forces, such as the right-wing populist parties that gained prominence across Europe during the 2010s, in the political landscapes of South Korea and Japan. While some democratic countries in Europe have experienced the rise of political challengers disrupting traditional political orders, South Korea and Japan have seen no significant changes in their party systems. To explain this phenomenon, this research employs the framework of Political Opportunity Structure Theory to highlight the impact of political environments on the viability of new political actors. The study examines key factors shaping these environments, including the electoral systems in both countries, the conflict dynamics among political elites, and the deliberate strategies employed by dominant actors to suppress and marginalize potential challengers. Through this analysis, the research demonstrates how institutional and structural barriers in Japan and South Korea create unfavorable conditions for party-level challengers, hindering their emergence and growth.

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The purpose of this paper is to trace the history of the reception of Western philosophy in Meiji Japan, focusing on the Imperial University. In the nineteenth century, historical-philosophical studies critiquing Hegel’s transcendental conception of history laid the foundation for how the history of Western philosophy was received and interpreted in Japan. This paper aims to empirically examine three points: first, which books on Western philosophy were studied and translated into Japanese from the 1880s to the 1900s; second, who taught the history of philosophy at the Imperial University during this period and what texts they used; and third, how individuals who studied philosophy at the Imperial University later participated in the study and teaching of philosophy in colonial Korea. Regarding the third point, this study examines the content of Western philosophy lectures that Yoshishige Abe （安倍能成） taught at Keijo Imperial University based on primary sources.

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This study examines the interactions between the Tongzhi community̶a term referring to sexual minorities̶and religious groups in Taiwan, with a particular focus on their influence on the LGBT movement. In Taiwan, where same-sex marriage has been legalized, the primary opposition to LGBT activism emerged from conservative Christian groups, despite Christians comprising less than 5% of the population. Although this countermovement ultimately failed, the interfaith alliances it fostered — demonstrating collaboration across religious boundaries̶remain a significant aspect of the broader sociopolitical landscape. While certain religious groups actively oppose same-sex marriage, others adopt a neutral stance, and some even support Tongzhi individuals by providing spaces where both their sexual and religious identities are acknowledged and respected. Furthermore, based on interviews with minority group members, this research note underscores the importance of considering intersecting factors̶such as disability, age, and ethnicity — when analyzing the relationship between religion and sexuality. By situating Taiwan’s case within a broader regional framework, it advocates for further comparative research across Asia to examine how diverse religious contexts shape LGBT activism and the sociopolitical struggles of sexual minorities.

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Despite recent attention to community welfare, uncertainties linger regarding the establishment of Social Welfare Councils (SWCs), which are positioned as organizations for promoting community welfare in Japan. Notably, during the Occupation, the General Headquarters (GHQ) viewed the Compatriots Relief Association, which provided relief to military personnel, with wariness due to its perceived contributions to militarism. Nonetheless, the Central SWC emerged from the merger of three private organizations, including the Servicemen Assistance Foundation. However, the precise process facilitating this merger and establishment remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the pathway to SWCs’ establishment during the GHQ occupation. Initially, welfare policy under the Occupation centered on “democratization” and “demilitarization.” However, in 1948, the onset of the Cold War triggered a policy shift toward “economic power” and “remilitarization.” This shift saw a relaxation of GHQ control over Japan, and Japan’s autonomy was eventually restored. The Central CSW was established in 1951 under the Japanese government’s initiative, marking a significant milestone in the restoration of autonomy.

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The COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 forced academic conferences to be either canceled or shifted online. However, with the normalization of social activities in many countries by 2023, numerous academic conferences had resumed in-person events. Among these was the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), the world’s largest academic association dedicated to studying Asia. Since 2014, the AAS has organized its annual regional conference under the title AAS in Asia. In June 2023, the conference was held at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea for the first time in three years. An exceptional number of research panels and presentations at this conference focused on the pandemic’s impact on Asia. This study examines how the researchers at this conference problematized the pandemic in Asian countries and identifies the various aspects of the pandemic they highlighted. The key presentations are categorized into three main themes: (1) state and governance; (2) citizens and migrants; and (3) social media, diaries, and poetry. Moreover, this study provides an overview of the primary characteristics and outcomes of the conference.

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This paper explores Aikido as social education, unique in its focus on coexistence over competition. Unlike other martial arts, Aikido avoids contests and emphasizes personal development, health improvement, and cultural learning. Aikido primarily operates through community dojos, fostering social engagement and lifelong participation among adults, making it a key facet of social education rather than formal schooling. The paper contrasts social and school education, highlighting differences in age range, learning objectives, and operational challenges. Social education, particularly in Aikido, faces issues like securing stable venues and administrative support. The author calls for clearer distinctions between social education activities and profit-driven enterprises, along with improved support systems for recognized social education groups. The study identifies broader societal challenges, including the declining focus on working-age adults in education policies and the need for collaborative solutions between governments, companies, and local organizations. It also examines the overlap between social education and reskilling initiatives, proposing that community-led efforts supported by government resources could better address modern educational needs. The paper emphasizes creating inclusive environments that cater to diverse participants, enhancing both individual and societal growth through dialogue, cooperation, and shared learning experiences.

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Growing interest in organic agriculture as a sustainable solution for preserving the environment and biodiversity is driving its development worldwide. However, in Japan, despite the growing global progress towards sustainable agriculture and a notable increase in environmental consciousness among consumers and producers alike, the organic farming sector and consumption patterns continue to show remarkably limited growth. This is evidenced by persistently low adoption rates among farmers who remain hesitant to transition to organic methods, coupled with minimal market penetration of organic products in mainstream retail channels and consumer purchasing behaviors. This study aims to investigate the key factors hindering the growth of organic agriculture in Japan, focusing particularly on consumer perspectives. To provide a comparative framework, I will examine the strategies and policies that have fostered a thriving organic market in Denmark, widely recognized as the global leader in organic food consumption. Both Denmark and Japan have implemented policies to boost organic consumption as a strategy for expanding their organic farming sectors. Through a detailed comparative analysis of the fundamental differences and key similarities between Japan and Denmark's agricultural systems, consumer behaviors, and policy frameworks, we aim to derive valuable insights and develop practical, culturally appropriate solutions that could potentially boost the growth of organic consumption within the Japanese market context.

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Mine drainage pollution continues to be a significant environmental issue in Japan, particularly from abandoned or closed mines that release wastewater contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). With approximately 5,000 abandoned mines in Japan, around 100 still require treatment due to remove high concentrations of these pollutants, which pose risks to water resources, ecosystems, and public health. Conventional treatment methods, such as neutralization and coagulation, are effective but costly, technically complex, and generate secondary waste. Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative by utilizing the natural processes of plants, filter materials, and microorganisms to remove contaminants. In our research, we classified 100 mine drainage samples using multivariate analysis, grouping them based on heavy metal concentrations relative to effluent standards. This approach allows us to design CWs that are tailored to the unique characteristics of mine drainage. Our recent studies also explore strategies to optimize CW performance, including the selection of appropriate plants, the use of advanced substrates, the introduction of external carbon sources to enhance microbial activity, and the design of multi-stage CW systems. By implementing CWs, we aim to reduce mine drainage pollution, protect Japan’s water resources, and promote sustainable environmental management.

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This report examines the potentials and limitations of analyzing Senyukai newsletters — self-published bulletins issued by Japanese war comrades’ associations — as media. Rather than treating them simply as historical records, the study considers these newsletters as media practices created and circulated by veterans themselves. These materials played a role in maintaining ties among members, sharing memories, and shaping collective understandings of war experiences. While they provide valuable insight into how the Asia-Pacific War was remembered and narrated by veterans, the newsletters also reflect strong subjectivity and editorial selectivity. In many cases, critical perspectives — such as those involving responsibility for wartime actions or internal military hierarchy — were excluded or suppressed. Furthermore, the preservation and accessibility of these newsletters remain uneven, with scattered holdings and many issues lost or discarded. This has led to a research bias toward large associations whose newsletters were more frequently archived. By recognizing both the expressive potential and structural limitations of Senyukai newsletters, this report highlights the need to engage with them not only as sources of testimony, but as media that contributed to the shaping of war memory in postwar Japan — especially in an era where firsthand accounts are no longer available.

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This paper examines the relationship between military technology and national identity in modern and contemporary Japan from the perspective of media history. Previous studies have focused primarily on postwar civilian technologies, thereby overlooking the significance of military technology in the context of technonationalism, as well as the continuity between the prewar and postwar periods in the construction of techno-nationalist discourse. Focusing on the discourse surrounding battleship construction, this paper demonstrates that an intellectual foundation linking military technology to national identity had already been established during the period when Japan actively engaged in battleship development. Furthermore, by analyzing postwar narratives surrounding the battleship Yamato, the paper reveals that this intellectual foundation persisted into the postwar era. Yamato was rediscovered as a symbol that evoked Japan’s past technological achievements and became a key element in shaping the national identity of Japan as a technological powerhouse, closely tied to the nation’s postwar context. Finally, the paper points to future research directions, highlighting the continued linkage between science, technology, and nationalism in contemporary military development, and calls for further analysis of the social meanings attributed to military technology within Japan’s postwar pacifist society.

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This research report examines the phenomenon of literary collection compilation by physician scholars in East Asia, focusing particularly on the School of Evidential Studies of Medicine in late Edo period Japan. While the compilation of literary collections by physician scholars was relatively rare in China, with limited examples such as Xue Xue (1681–1770) and He Qiwei (1774–1837), this practice became more prevalent in Edo period Japan. The study first provides an overview of physician scholars’ literary compilations in China before examines the development of this practice in Edo Japan, where figures such as Gotō Konzan, Yoshimasu Tōdō, and members of the Taki family compiled their own collections. Special attention is given to the Taki family of the School of Evidential Studies of Medicine with particular focus on two important collections: Taki Motoyasu’s Rekiin Sōdō Bunshū and Taki Mototsugu’s Ryūhan Bunkō. Through bibliographical investigation of these texts, including the identification of extant manuscripts and their contents, this study reveals how physician scholars’ literary collections served not merely as repositories of medical knowledge, but as important sources reflecting their broader intellectual activities and scholarly networks. The findings suggest that the compilation of literary collections by physician scholars represents a significant yet understudied aspect of East Asian medical and intellectual history, warranting further investigation into the ideological motivations and cultural contexts behind these compilations.

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