The Impossible Case of Japan

Abstract

If increasing crime seems to be an unavoidable concomitant of rapid urbanisation, Japan might be an interesting exception. Both statistics and research tell us that Japan is a modern, rapidly urbanised society with little crime. This article raises the question if, and eventually in which way, one may talk about Japan as a low crime nation. Is there anything of criminological interest to learn from Japan? After describing the Japanese society along five analytical dimensions the answer to this question is that while in the West we can talk about “community lost”, in Japan we should rather talk about “individual lost”. At the individual level the obliteration of the self is the price to be paid for less crime. However, at the collective level Japan might teach the West a lesson. If crime is regarded as actions committed by outsiders, then Japanese society has succeeded in linking the individual to a group context which most likely functions in a crime preventive way. Instead of endless crime preventive programs of “social engineering”, the West should pay more attention to basic sociological insights concerning collective obligations and identities. In this regard we might look to Japan.

Forgiveness, Shaming, Shame and Bullying

“…There have been a number of researchers who, like Rees, have posited reintegrative shaming, post hoc, as a variable that makes sense of their results (Chamlin & Cochrane, 1997;Hagan & McCarthy, 1997;Sampson & Laub, 1993;Sherman, 1992Sherman, , 1993Zhang et al, 1996). Another popular genre of research with mixed results for the theory has involved explorations of Braithwaite's (1989) interpretation of low crime rates in Japan in terms of an alleged high ratio of reintegrative to stigmatising shaming in that culture (Johnson, 2002;Leonardsen, 2002;Masters, 1997).…”

Constructions of Deviance by Japanese and German Youth: A Criminological Comparison as a ‘Bottom-Up’ Project

“…Therefore, conflicts and deviance are to be avoided at all costs in Japan (Cavadino and Dignan, 2006: 171–196). In contrast, in the countries of Europe and North America more emphasis is placed on ‘independence and self-confidence’ (Leonardsen, 2002: 213) and rule breaking behavior is often considered as being part of adolescence in Germany (Schäfers and Scheer, 2005: 165). However, in both Japan and Germany, deviance is highly problematized, especially in school contexts.…”

Drinking among Japanese Youth -a Paradox for Theories of Alcohol Availability?

“…the head (Levy 2001) then the conformity of Japanese youth may be too high a price to pay for limited drinking. The stress on consensus is omnipresent in thi s culture and the result is a nation where the indivi dual self to a large extent is forsaken in the name of kaisha -gro up consciousness (Nakane 1970 see Leonardsen 2004;2002). These values (self-control, other-directedness, cautiousness, empathy, harmony with the group, reciprocity) might be interpreted as contrary to Western values.…”

“…The cultivation ofharmony and stability as primary values comes at the price of individual freedom and deliberative values. Furthermare, to the extent that young people face the temptations of guzzling alcohol from vending machines ar convenience stores this is first of all reflecting basic values buried in religious and cultural traditions that are implanted from early childhood (for an elaboration, see Leonardsen 2004;2002). These values (self-control, other-directedness, cautiousness, empathy, harmony with the group, reciprocity) might be interpreted as contrary to Western values.…”