Thammasat Journal of Japanese Studies

Tales of Plague and Pestilence: A History of Disease in Japan

Benjamin Ivry — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This book explains how from earliest recorded history to the modern era in Japan, disease has impacted religion, politics, culture, and other aspects of life. Discussions and, in many cases, belated diagnoses clarify the experiences of Japanese rulers and writers with smallpox, cholera, influenza, syphilis, cancer, diabetes, and the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The choice of isolationism or accepting the risk of infection from diseases originating in other countries has gripped Japan throughout history. Yet as the author observes, most incidents of mass illness over the years have been locally based epidemics caused by specific conditions in Japan as opposed to sweeping pandemics that affect all of humanity. Some diseases were provoked by dietary customs, while others related to the environment and community lifestyles. The recent appearance of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is also discussed in this informed overview by the medical historian Sakai Shizu. Although in places perhaps too concise and lacking in supporting data, this volume is a highly informative, welcome addition to the bibliography on medicine and society in Japan.

The Decline of Alcohol Consumption in Japan (1990-2024): An Analysis of Socio-cultural Changes in Japanese Society

Frichicilia Grace Stahlumb, Kurniawaty Iskandar, Jeremy Ivander — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Drinking alcohol is an inseparable habit from Japanese society because it is believed to strengthen social bonds. However, since the 1990s, the level of alcohol consumption in Japan has continued to decline, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in 2020. Using data from Ministry of Finance Japan, National Tax Agency Japan, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, National Police Agency, the news articles and related literature, this research examines how the decline in alcohol consumption in Japan began and further analyses whether the drinking culture commonly practiced by Japanese society has undergone changes. Through Talcott Parsons’ structural functional theory, it is explained that the decline of alcohol consumption in Japan is a process towards a new equilibrium in Japan’s drinking culture. As such, this research contributes to the study of the dynamics of alcohol consumption trends in Japan due to social change in Japanese society. The social change analysis documents the ‘perception change’ through three external factors that determine Japanese people’s decision to change their alcohol consumption trend, which is characterized by a gradual decline in alcohol consumption in Japan. The change in Japanese society’s view of alcohol consumption has led to a new dynamic in the current drinking culture, but it does not mean abandoning it altogether.

Survey and Practical Report on improving the skills of an oral presentation using Anime as learning materials

Kazuyoshi Tajima — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research investigates the efficacy of using anime as educational content to enhance second language oral presentation skills. Students were tasked with delivering presentations on their favorite anime, or anime they would recommend to their classmates. Following classroom practice, a survey was conducted using the ARCS model of motivation. While the survey did not explicitly measure the improvement in oral presentation skills, it indicated the effectiveness of this approach. Key findings suggest that leveraging anime, a subject of interest and familiarity to students, as learning material, had a significant impact on student motivation to engage in oral communication. Overall, the study yielded positive results, highlighting the potential of anime-based instruction in enhancing presentation skills. However, it also underscores the need to address any shortcomings or negative aspects in future iterations of the classroom practice.

Translation Strategies of Technical Terms in Elderly Care from Japanese into Thai

Sirikwan Sanguanphon — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article aims to study the translation strategies of technical terms in elderly care from Japanese to Thai. The research follows a qualitative design, using translation theories based on the transmission of meaning and culture to analyze the translation strategies of medical terminology in elderly care. The target group of key informants consists of two Japanese volunteers from the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) project, who are involved in elderly health care at the Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Center, Nonthaburi Provincial Health Office. The study period spans from October 2022 to February 2024, and the data collection method was purposive sampling. The research tool is a manual used by the Japanese volunteers titled Hajimete manabu kaigo no nihongo: Kihon no kotoba (Basic Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners in Elderly Care Work). The research process involved translating the manual by the researcher and then analyzing the translated content to identify the translation strategies for medical terminology in elderly care from Japanese to Thai. The findings reveal that the top three most frequently used translation strategies in this research are: 1) direct translation 2) translation using common Thai terms and 3) translation with added explanations.

The knowledge and findings from this study aim to emphasize the importance of translating specialized terms for elderly care from Japanese to Thai. It is expected that this research will contribute to the development of communication and translation of health and medical information, enhancing future collaboration between Japanese and Thai medical personnel in elderly care.

Economic Diplomacy and Third-Party Market Cooperation: A Case Study of Japan–China Collaboration in Thailand

Pornpawis Lhapeerakul, Weerapat Putthasawat — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Despite their strong economic potential, China and Japan face persistent obstacles to direct investment due to complex political relations and geopolitical tensions. As a result, the concept of Third-party Market Cooperation (TMC) has emerged as a strategic mechanism for promoting economic collaboration through joint investments in third countries. This study aims to analyze the investment patterns of China and Japan in Thailand within the TMC framework, employing a qualitative research methodology based on document analysis.

The findings reveal clear differences in investment approaches: Japan focuses on manufacturing, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors, emphasizing standards and quality, while China prioritizes infrastructure projects such as high-speed rail and ports, leveraging cost advantages and implementation speed. Although current investment in Thailand does not yet fully reflect formal TMC cooperation, it can be characterized as “competitive cooperation,” with China driving investment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and Japan emphasizing trilateral investment based on high standards. Thailand’s strategic location, supportive infrastructure, and investment-friendly policies make it an attractive destination. The study suggests that enhanced TMC engagement could generate long-term benefits for Thailand, including improved economic competitiveness, job creation, reduced logistics costs, and stronger regional connectivity in Southeast Asia.

The Intensification of the Mekong Subregion-Japan Relations Amidst Global Interregnum: Strategic Co-operation, Regional Dynamics and Implication for Thailand

Narut Charoensri — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article examines the evolving international order, characterised by a transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world. As this transformation unfolds, the relative decline of the United States’ global dominance has coincided with the rise of other states and the growing significance of regionalism and regional initiatives. I argue that such a redistribution of power has enabled various actors to reconfigure prevailing economic and political arrangements, thereby fostering a deepening of relations between Japan and the Mekong Subregion. The core research question posed is how the changing international order impacts the Japan–Mekong relations, and what foreign policy Thailand ought to pursue in response to these shifting dynamics. Moreover, the article explores the factors that influence Thailand’s strategic approach in achieving its national objectives within this evolving geopolitical context. I contend that the strengthening of Japan–Mekong ties present considerable opportunities for Thailand, particularly given its central geographic location within the subregion, which positions it to capitalise on this engagement to advance its national interests. Nonetheless, there are six key factors likely to shape Thailand’s benefits and challenges amidst this trilateral relationship: (1) the triangular relations between the United States, China, and Japan; (2) the institutional and strategic challenges facing regional initiatives in the Mekong Subregion; (3) domestic politics of the United States; (4) domestic politics of Japan; (5) domestic politics of China; (6) domestic politics of Thailand.

The Case of Katsugoro’s Past-Life Memories: An Analysis of the Value of an Official Edo-Period Record Concerning Reincarnation

Thitisorn Saeng-urai — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The case of Katsugoro’s past-life memories is a factual event recorded during Japan’s Edo period. Around the year 1822, this incident, involving a young boy who claimed to be able to remember a previous life, garnered significant attention from all social strata in Edo society, including the Imperial Court. The investigation into the facts was meticulously documented in writing by scholars at the time. This record was later translated into English, and it was this translation that inspired Professor Ian Stevenson of the University of Virginia to commence his research into the phenomenon of children’s past-life memories from around the world. This article aims to present this Edo-period account of past-life memory to scholars and interested individuals for the study of Japanese perspectives on death and the afterlife. Furthermore, it seeks to analyse the value of this type of documentary literature from various perspectives. The value of this record lies in its credibility as an ancient document, having been recorded by the ruling class and scholars of the Edo period, and its presentation of data reflecting the society and culture of the Edo era. The account reflects the love and relationships within families, concepts of Buddhism, and the beliefs of the Japanese people of that time concerning the cycle of rebirth, as well as their customs and rituals.