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SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES(University of London)

Examination for Undergraduatestudents -May/June 2010

ETHNOGRAPHY OF A SELECTED REGION: JAPAN15 180 2045

This paper is suitable for current students and all re-entry candidates

Time Allowed: THREE hours

The marks for this paper constitute 80% of the total marks for this course.

Permitted materials/ equipmentNone

Special stationery/ equipment requiredNone

Instructions:

Answer THREE questions of the following TEN questions

Credit will be given for a useful range of relevant illustrations

Turn over when instructed

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Answer THREE questions

1. Rural Japan is now chiefly of interest to anthropologists in the context of domestictourism. Discuss.

2. EITHER

a) Assess the view that the ie(household) continues to be central to the constructionof Japanese national identity.

OR

b) In what ways can a study of migration to Japan contribute to our understanding ofthe construction of national identity?

3. EITHER

a) An understanding of class divisions is essential to any analysis of contemporaryJapanese society. Discuss.

OR

b) The term the Japanese employment system obscures crucial differences ofclass, generation, and gender in the workplace. Discuss.

4. Why have anthropologists writing about religion in Japan tended to stress theprimacy of action over belief, and what are the implications of this?

5. Education in Japan continues through both work organised activities AND/ORthrough peoples leisure activities. Discuss.

6. An understanding of personal networks is vital to any analysis of Japanese politics.Discuss.

7. Popular culture is one possible means through which to examine negotiations of theself in contemporary Japan. Discuss.

8. The construction of gender in Japan has changed since the economic recession ofthe 1990s. Discuss.

9. What does an analysis of conflict in Japan teach us about status and class?

10. Use the concept of EITHERJapanese aesthetics OR nihonjinron(theories ofJapaneseness) to discuss the construction of Japans modern national identity.

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Note: For students registered for a degree, this paper is part of an examinationcounting towards a degree award of the University of London. For other studentstaking this paper, the final mark awarded may count towards a non-degree Schoolqualification, provided that the student is registered for such a qualification.Examinations are governed by School regulations.

School of Oriental and African Studies 2010