(１) Craftsmanship

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

July, 2022

The NUFS Times
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

57 Takenoyama, Iwasakicho, Nissin, Aichi 470-0197 JapanThe 9th edition

Pottery in Japan: An industry doomed to fail?
Unique insight into the tradition of pottery from the ‘Harry Potter’ of Japan
By Harry Davis and
Kento Hiramatsu

Pottery remains the strongest connection we have to our ancient past.
It has held a substantial role inJapanese society for centuries andprovides humanity with a gateway
into ancient traditions, with theearliest Japanese ceramics beingfrom the Jōmon period. Pottery has
stood the test of time because, after
firing clay at over 1100 °C, it becomes one of the most durable materials at our disposal. Although theceramics themselves have long since
shattered, extensive collections offragments still survive today. Fromfuneral ware during the Kofun period, to elite tableware during the
Nara period and Heian period, therole of pottery in Japan has continued to change and evolve. Japan's
ceramic legacy stands strong in thetest of time.
Top: Interview with Mr. Shozo
Due to its ubiquity and versatil- interview 69-year-old potter, Shozo tery would be passed down fromity, pottery remains a highly prized Michikawa, about the problems fac- parent to child, but recent generaMichikawa (left) by Davis (center)
profession in Japan–the crafting of ing the pottery industry today. Actions have begun leaving theirand Hiramatsu (right), Seto city, Aichi
the earth is a sacred tradition, and cording to Mr. Michikawa, Japanese hometowns for jobs in the city. Deprefecture.
the potter, an exemplified role.
pottery remains highly prized over- spite this, just as I came to Seto,
Take for example the Takatori pot- seas, even being employed to create some people will leave the city toters (Fukuoka prefecture) in theparts for vehicles. Moving forward, carry on the tradition in more rural Why do you think this is?
Edo period. These potters were held pottery is not as doomed as it firstareas. Just as I did, others are
A: Western aesthetics are focusedin such high regard that despite
seems. The renowned titan of mod- seeming to feel disenfranchisedon symmetry and perfection, withbeing craftsmen, they held pseudo
ern-day Japanese pottery, Mr.
with office life, wanting to pursue
all the cracks and chips painstaksamurai status as goyō saikunin
Michikawa is currently works in the more creative avenues of work for
ingly removed from the ceramic. My(craftsmen at the lord’s behest). Pot- historic pottery city of Seto in Aichi themselves. Cities such as Seto,
ters enjoyed the same rice stipends prefecture. Dubbed the ‘Harry Pot- which possess strong pottery tradi- pottery acts as an antithe-sis tothis, exemplifying the Wabi-sabiand rights received by the rest ofter’ of pottery and hosting lectures
tions, will continue to attract sucaesthetic style. The Wabi-sabi style
the warrior class. Moreover, theat Oxford and Harvard university,
cessors.
sees the beauty of imperfection andpottery industry was so lucrative
his ability has been recognized the
Q:
How
do
you
promoteandsellfleeting nature of our creations. Bethat the patron daimyo of the Taka- world over. His creations can be
your
work,
so
that
you
can
live
as
a
cause of this, under a Western eye,
tori potters had the 7th largest infound in prestigious collections
full-timepotter?
my works are thought of as unfincome of all the daimyo. The influacross the globe, from the Victorianished with cracks and chips. Japaence of pottery can be seen in tradi- and Albert Museum in the UK to
A: In the past, there was no internese traditional crafts and artworks
tional pottery cities such as Seto,
the Crocker Art Museum in the US. net, so people had to take their cehave a close relationship with nahome of one of the six ancient kilns.
ramics to galleries and exhibitions
ture and tend to prefer asymmetry
Innovative architects have evento sell them. Nowadays, methods ofand spontaneity, rather than perQ:
What
are
the
largestproblems
used leftover clay from the kilns forselling ceramics continue to diversifectly designed objects. Speaking
thattheceramics
industry
faces
foundations, creating stunning arfy. The most successful potters havepersonally, I also create ceramic
today?
chitecture and a city truly rooted in
become famous on social media,
alloys, merging different colored
pottery.
selling their craft both domestically
A: The advent of the mass producclay to achieve a more natural color
tion of ceramics is problematic: new and abroad in fashion boutiques
Alas, in the modern era,than paint. I was given the ‘Harryand select shops. To stand out fromceramics are constantly being proJapan’s historically monumental
Potter' nickname due to how magimass-produced potters, they emduced at lower and lower prices.
pottery industry faces problems
cally fast I produce peculiarly
that threaten its very survival. The This leaves traditional potters in a phasize the artistic side of pottery, shaped ceramics. The internationalrather than its practical use. A
difficult situation, as they can’t afinflux of cheap mass-produced cerecognition I've received is imcommon misconception is that we
ramics makes handcrafted pottery a ford competitive price ranges. Due
portant to me. Being highly aponly sell in galleries, but this isn’t
to difficulties in income, some protough sell [1]. Combined with this,praised by multiple different culfessionals have been forced to take true. For example, sometimes wethe declining birth rate in Japanand general apathy among younger part time work on the side. As pot- collaborate with sake makers to create cups. Pottery is also made forgenerations has led to a struggle for ters struggle to break into a matures means that my creations must
more practical uses in the form ofchine-dominated market, schools
pottery masters to find successors.
be good!
what
we
call
‘new
ceramics’:
heatwith longstanding ceramic departThis problem is not unique to Jaresistantcomponents
of
cars,
aero
[1] Marc Day, John Burnett, Paul L Forrester,ments have also closed.
pan: in the historic pottery capitalJohn Hassard, Britain's last industrial district?
planes,androckets.
A case study of ceramics production, Interof the UK, the ceramic industry andDue to the lack of secure innational Journal of Production Economics,
handmade pottery risks extinction. come, successors have also become Q: You have been highly successful Volume 65, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 5-15,ISSN
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925in gaining international recognition. 0925-5273,
5273(99)00086-9. (https://
We had the unique pleasure to difficult to find. Traditionally, pot-

(２) Workplace

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

July, 2022

Gendered Japan
By Chole Boyson and Miu Nomura

In a world where “gender equality” has been
the buzzword for decades, some forget just how
far we are from achieving true equality between
genders. Hiroshi Sasaki’s sexist remarks at theTokyo Olympics opened both Japan’s and theworld’s eyes towards the lingering seriousness ofsexism in Japan. What kinds of struggles are
women facing in Japan, and how are companies
rectifying the issue? Local surveys and interviews with Japanese companies illustrate current gender-inequality issues, as well as possibilities for a gender equal future.
We began our search close to home, surveying students from Nagoya
University of Foreign Studies
regarding gender expectations. 57% of our female participants agree that womenfeel pressured to choose between raising a family andpursuing a career. Citizens of
Nagoya City reflect this sentiment. Surveying 4000 people from Nagoya (2000 men
and 2000 women), the “Ninth
Basic Survey on Gender
Equal Participation” reveals
that 29.5% of respondents
believe women should quit
working after childbirth–only
to resume once their children
have become adults. Thesesame gender expectations
echo across Japan, highlighting national issues regarding
unfair social expectations
towards women.

sight, Professor Ellis expresses that she regrets
acting in such a way, wishing that she had been
more proactive during her pregnancy. When external expectations began to exert both conscious and unconscious pressure on Professor
Ellis’ work and personal life, it also hindered
what she could achieve.

down expectations that childcare is a women’srole, Sompo’s actions ultimately reveal how
equality for women is also equality for men.
Equal participation means that women can more
freely pursue a career; and that men can more
freely spend time with family.

Alongside Sompo Japan, the Nagoya City
Sharing her story, Professor Ellis wants oth- Gender Equality Promotion Centre, E-able Naers to tackle gender norms and break free fromgoya, is also taking concrete steps to improve
internalized social expectations. How do we
gender equality in the workplace. E-able Nagoya
achieve this on a systematic level? Exclusive in- has placed information access at the centre of its
terviews with Sompo Japan and E-able Nagoya battle for gender inequality: the association prosuggest that work-style reforms are key to immotes women’s counselling and study programs,
proving the situation.
providing information regarding rights and support systems for those who might need it.
Recognizing that unnecessarily long work
Through its "Women's Active Participation Comhours impede women’s ability to balance life atpany Certification" system, E-able Nagoya also
work and at home, Sompo Japan has begun
certifies companies that are
actively improving genderequality. For companies to becertified, they must promotea healthy work-life balanceand encourage active participation by women. The system encourages companies totackle gender inequality inthe workplace, making themmore attractive to prospective workers.

Gender expectations andcompany solutions for a fairer future

Dr. Glasspool notes,“laws and reforms are notenough to resolve the current
gender equality issues because, in practice, not all reforms are properly implemented.” She continues: “TheEqual Employment Opportunities Act is an example ofthis. Even though it exists,
there remains a large gender
gap in Japan’s working
world, especially regarding
positions of power.”

Traditional gender expectations stipulate thatwomen are wholly responsible for childrearing andhomemaking, ultimately restricting their job opportunities, identity, andcommunity involvement. Unfair expectations
further impact women who choose to balance
raising a family and pursuing a career. They end
up bearing the burden of both the houseworkand full-time employment, resulting in unmanageable workloads.
Professor Toshiko Ellis (Photo: Left), a professor of comparative literature at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, speaks to this reality.
Alongside working as a full-time professor, shecommits an additional five to six hours every
day to household duties. In an interview, Professor Toshiko claims, “as long as you’re willing, it’s
possible to do both,” but nonetheless recognizes
the strain involved in balancing work and home.
Doctor Lucy Glasspool (Photo: Right), an associate professor of pop-culture, echoes this statement: “as women, we have to work so muchharder.” Heavy workloads restrict women’s ability to pursue both a family and a career. Presently, women must commit to a life of overwork,or face the hard choice of sacrificing either afamily or a career.

If we cannot solely rely
on laws and reforms, then,we must enact change at a deeper level. Schools
and places of education become key to tacklingdisproportionate gender expectations at theirfoundation. Schools can sometimes promote gender biases by not only teaching sexist values, butalso guiding women into gendered career paths.
Dr. Glasspool refers to these as “softer career
paths,” which reflect and reinforce women’s traditional role as housemakers.

shortening work hours for pregnant workers.
Their new system allows pregnant women to
reduce their hours until their child reaches third
grade in elementary school. The company has
also established an in-house nursery centre,"Sompo Kids Park," giving workers day care options so they do not have to stay at home.
Through these reforms, Sompo Japan makes it
easier for women to continue pursuing their profession even while raising a family.

Education can change people’s mentality forbetter or for worse, creating new foundations forsocietal opinion. Breaking down preconceptions
about traditional gender roles could be a longterm solution to decreasing the conscious andphysical pressure faced by women such as Professor Ellis. Tackling gender biases in our
minds, at their very foundation, may also increase the efficacy of company reforms, such as
those from Sompo Japan and E-able Nagoya.

Companies like Sompo and E-able Nagoya
are optimistic for the future, hoping that positive reforms will grant women more active roles
in society. Where popular sentiment suggeststhat gender equality has already been achieved,
our survey, alongside Professor Ellis and Dr.
Professor Ellis shares that, in her experiGlasspool’s remarks, reveal a different situation.
ence, gender expectations are more than an exWe currently stand on a tipping point: our acternal force, often resulting in internal struggles
Sompo Japan has also begun implementing tions might diminish any progress towards genand self-infliction. While working at the Univer- reforms that encourage men to play a more acder equality, or improve the power balance besity of Tokyo, Professor Ellis felt the need totive role in the household. While stay-at-hometween men and women. Sompo’s child-care suphide her pregnancy, changing her workplace be- husbands do exist in Japan, the percentage rehaviour to act as calm and unintrusive as possi- mains low. Sompo seeks to bridge this divide by port schemes and E-able Nagoya’s certification
system signal a step towards diminishing theble. As the first staff member to become pregpromoting paternity leave, illustrating men’spressures women face at home and in the worknant, she felt the need to set a precedent for fu- significance and importance in childcare. Curplace. Moreover, they show how gender equality
ture employees, overstraining herself to avoid
rently, the company aims to achieve 100% male for women helps everyone, giving men the opporhindering others. External social pressures had participation in childcare leave. To actualize thisfostered a deeply rooted gender-bias in Professor goal, Sompo personally contacts the superiors of tunity to spend time with family, just as it gives
women the opportunity to pursue their goals.
Ellis, wherein she self-imposed a hidden gender- target workers, providing the necessary inforcur-riculum upon her daily activities. In hindmation to encourage paternity leave. Breaking

July, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(3)YouthBook Culture

The Future of Literacy

A look into Japan’s modernizing readershipmore, creating the potential for apolarized gap between reading andnon-reading students.

By Yulia STRELKOVA andRyuma MOCHIDA

Many people would say thatreading books remains one of themost important activities in ourlives. For centuries, books have
served as valuable sources of information, as well as popular entertainment. However, in the wake of
the wide use of computers andsmartphones, reading books is nolonger a daily activity. Nowadays,
information can be easily obtained
from Internet resources, and people
have a lot more kinds of entertainment content than they did a few
decades ago. In this digital era,
what is reading culture like among
Japanese youth?
The modern book culture of Japan originated in the Meiji period(1868-1912), when Japan, embarking on the path of modernization,
began actively importing foreign
books and technologies. This period
includes the birth of modern newspapers and the creation of the firstchildren's literature. Book printing
was now aimed at a mass readership. The modern school system,
introduced in the 1870s, emphasized reading and literacy as an essential part of becoming a modern
citizen. After World War II, newtechnology and better distribution
channels made books and magazines cheaper and more accessible,
which resulted in a publishingboom. Late post-war society preserved the notion that reading is asocial good, functioning as a methodof self-improvement and acquiring
an identity. However, the reading
culture itself has undergone significant changes. Today, Japan produces a huge number of printed materials, which include translated works
from all over the world. Mangareaders and other reading communities have emerged. The Internet
and other forms of technologicalinnovation have led to new forms ofreading, through the creation of ebooks and digital libraries.

Top: Mr. Kawabata (left) and Professor Oiwa in an online interview.
Below: Books selected by students
who received Reading Award from
NUFS & NUAS Library.

reading among young people canhave many causes, such as achange in reading formats and how
students approach reading, or theeducation system and an information overload. In order to better
understand this topic and how modern youth feel about it, we decided
to talk with students from NUFS
University.

Interviewed students provided
two main reasons for not reading.
The first reason is a lack of time:
students do not have time to readbecause of assignments, part-timejobs, and long commutes to university. About 90 % of NUFS students
The loss of interest in readingtake part-time jobs to earn a living,
among young people and shift away hang out with friends and buy whatfrom books, especially from fiction, they want. Students usually work
has become a very controversial
twice or three times a week. The
topic in modern Japan, prompting
average working day on weekdays
us to delve deeper into this issue.
is four to five hours, with even longTo analyze how frequently young
er hours for weekends. What's
Japanese people read books, we col- more, students who live far fromlected data from NUAS university. the university spend one to two
We asked how much students read hours traveling. Many students also
literature in any format–whether
shared that they become tired fromprinted or electric–excluding manthe large amount of homework.
ga, visual novels, or magazines. The
The second reason is that sturesults of the research are remarkadents
prefer to use the Internet andble. According to our data, aboutmoderntechnology as a source of
75% of NUAS University students
informationand entertainment.
do not read books for more than 1-2
Althoughstudents
may use books
hours a week. At the same time,forstudy,
ingeneral,students noabout 46% of those surveyed do notlonger
feel
the
need
to
read entire
read books at all.
books to receive information. As for
A noticeable loss of interest in

While acknowledging the huge
impact social media has had ontransforming Japan’s book culture,
Mr. Kawabata and Professor Oiwa
were skeptical of the notion thatstudents do not have time to read atall. Certainly, we cannot completely
deny the importance of having free
time. The experience of the global
pandemic has shown that quarantine conditions, by limiting people's
activities and granting more freetime, encouraged many to readmore. But even under normal cirentertaincumstances, students can makement, somestudents said: more time to read by decreasing the“When watch- time spent on their phones. Thus,ing videos and according to Mr. Kawabata and Professor Oiwa, de-spite the significant
movies onpressure of stu-dent life, in the end
Netflix, we
it all comes down to personal interfeel excitedand fulfilled, est.
and at theSo, how can we increase stusame time it
dent interest in books? Many ordoes not reganizations and companies arequire us tomaking great efforts to solve theexpend too
problem. The NUFS library, for exmuch mental ample, hosts an annual book review
energy.”competition. Professor Oiwa beMoreover,lieves that, when students recomyoung people nowadays are also
mend books to each other in thisimmersed in SNS. Instagram, Tik- format, there is a good chance othertok and Twitter are not just enterstudents will feel motivated to read.
tainment, but also the center of in- In this way, the book review competernational communication. For
tition has the opportunity to popupeople born in a digital society, this larize certain literature among
is an integral part of life. It is exyouth.
pected that in such a rhythm of life,
In addition, it is necessary to
students are selective in what theychangehow students perceive readdevote their free time to. Studying
ing.
Many
young people do not wantat university, doing assignments
to
read
books
after graduating fromand part-time jobs requires a lot ofaneducational
institution because
effort and concentration, leaving
they
associate
readingwith somestudents unwilling to devote any
thing
obligatory
andboring.
Youngfree time to reading–when young
people have free time, they want to people must experience how it feels
to pursue their own interests
pick up a phone, not a book.
through reading, without outside
To look at the issue from a dif- pressure. Reading books should be aferent perspective, we decided to
choice, not a duty–and perhaps freetalk to people directly connected to dom to choose what one wants tothe book industry - Mr. Kawabata, read should be incorporated in unieditor of NUFS’ publishing depart- versity curricula.
ment, and Professor Oiwa from theLoss of interest or refusal to
NUFS Press. Based on his experiread
books is often attributed toence, Mr. Kawabata said that about
illiteracy
issues that are believed to
50 % of students do not read books
accompanysocial media. However,at all. When recommending a bookMr.
Kawabata
notes that, thanks to
at a seminar or in graduate school,socialnetworks,
people are finding
one should be prepared for the factways
toconveyinformation,
creatthat, unfortunately, half of the stuing
novel
forms
of
literacy.
In
ourdents will not read it, he added. On
time,peopleeven
use
socialnetthe other hand, the average reading
time of students is increasing. This works to compose fiction and develop new reading formats. Anyonemeans that there is a polarization
between students who read and stu- who wants to write can do so andpublish their work online; and anydents who do not read at all. For
one who wants to read can find asome people, due to upbringing,work to their liking, even if it is notreading books is a habit for whicha recognized masterpiece of world
they do not need any mental pushor additional motivation. However, literature. The modern world ischanging, and book culture, both
most students lack this ingrained
motivation to read. When such stu- across the world and in Japan, isinevitably changing with it.
dents enter colleges and universities, no one forces them to read any-(4) Life Style

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

July, 2022

COVID-19

Japan’s Face Mask Industry
Will masks become the future “underwear for the face?”
By Adelaida SHCHIGIREVA
and Hiroto OTAKE

Face masks have become increasingly established as an indispensable part of everyday life. This risein popularity is due to the coronavirus infection that took over theworld in early 2020. However, what
awaits the mask industry in the
future? Will face masks becomesuch an everyday item on par with,for example, a smartphone? Or will
the demand for them drop sharply
after the end of the pandemic?
What changes are already occurringin Japan's mask industry?
The history of Japanese facemasks begins in the early Meiji era(1868-1921). The first main use ofmasks at this time period involved
protecting people who work in coalmines from dust. However, due tothe Spanish flu pandemic that began in 1918, masks started to attract attention as a preventative
measure against infection. This was
the first time that fliers asking
passersby to wear masks were posted on the streets. A specific featureof these first masks was a brass
plate sewn into the fabric, which
acted as a filter. After some time,masks became a habitual part ofJapanese life, even beginning toshow social status. For example,
leather masks served as a symbol ofwealth and were very fashionable.
The first prototype of the facemasks we are familiar with only
appeared only in 1973, the firsttime non-woman face masks were
produced and sold in Japan.
Modern Japanese people use
face masks not only as a tool forphysical health, but also for psychological comfort of people. Indeed,some people in Japan wear facemasks to protect themselves fromunwelcome looks. Such behavior
has several reasons. Firstly, somepeople might lack self-confidence,
not wanting other people to look atthem. Secondly, some people wantto establish their personal boundaries with the help of masks, clearlydrawing a line between themselves
and society. Finally, face masks can
express someone’s fashion style or
subculture, such as rock or punkmovements.
To find more about the present
and future of the Japanese mask
industry, we decided to interview
Ms. Tomoe Tezuka and Mr. Koshiro
Adachi, the representatives of MikiCO., LTD, which had a mask designcollaboration with Nagoya University of Art and Sciences (NUAS) students in 2021. Miki does not only
make face masks, but also produce
non-woven fabric requested by the

per week). Even if we had suchplans, there would still be no sales
unless some new pandemic occurs.
Q: What do you think about the future of the face mask industry?
Adachi: Previously, there were nolaws nor strict regulations of masks.
However, now the number of masks
used and the volume of their production have increased enough tobecome a separate genre. In thisregard, regulations are becoming
increasingly strict, so it will be difficult for any company to follow them.
For example, the sizes are so standardized that it is difficult to use materials in creative ways. Thus, many
companies that produce masks willsoon leave the industry and returnto what they did before the pandemic.
We thank Ms. Tezuka, Mr.
Adachi, and Miki for taking the
we are talk-ing about the businesstime to interview. According to the
Top: Ms. Tezuka and her boss, Mr.
world. The masks must suit the
Adachi of Miki CO., LTD.
interview, the demand for masks, asbusiness scene and not be too
well as the supply, will continue toBelow: Shchigireva and Otake interflashy. This was actually the defall. However, perhaps everything isviewing.
mand of some companies that we
not as clear as it seems at first
produced for.
glance–though the movement togovernment. There was a time
Q: What were the results of the pro- change the outdoor mask regime iswhen the company’s sales wereject?
spreading, wearing face masks has
sluggish, but the face mask project
become commonplace due to thehelped them produce new products Adachi: Sales reached 1.5million~
long-term pandemic. Moreover, thesuch as gowns.
1.6million yen, so we consider thisnumber of young people who arecollaboration very successful. HowQ: Why did you decide to collaboincreasingly reluctant to show theirever, we valued student motivation
rate on this project?
faces is growing. To describe such afor the project more than the sales.
phenomenon, a new term has been
Tezuka: Frankly speaking, we want- What is especially worth noting iscoined: “underwear for the face.”
ed to help NUAS with their student that the students sewed masks by
Behind this somewhat funny andassignment for the sum-mer vacahand, while they are usually madeawkward name, in fact, there is ation. At first, Miki wanted to make by machine. Therefore, we especialcertain meaning. It means thatnew merchandise, using new funcly appreciate their work and efforts.
some people are just as embartional material, but then we
Q: What did you learn from thisrassed to take off their face mask aschanged our intensions and de-cided
project?
they are to take off their underwear.
to focus on face masks, which wereThis attitude to face masks andin demand at the time.
Adachi: I learned a lot of different
one's appearance can greatly affectthings, and I am very glad that I
Q: What was the most difficult parta person's self-esteem, as well as
was able to acquire knowledge reof the project?
make a person more vul-nerable togarding color regulations, industry
public opinion.
Tezuka: Well, to be honest, it was
terminology, and so on. This reflects
hard for me to understand the com- our challenging shift to making
To study this issue in more depany’s needs. Everything was somasks during the pandemic. At the tail, we asked students: "Will youvague, and the conditions, as well
beginning of the pandemic, there
cease to use face masks when they
as recommendations for the work
were not as many masks sold inare no longer mandatory? "The reprocess and the expected result
Japanese stores. I wondered whatsults of the survey were divided alwere only on paper. Moreover, I did- was happening there. Miki is notmost equally, with affirmative ann’t know how to make the masks at originally a face mask company, and swers winning by a small margin.
all. So, I had to research it fromwe only have one plant in China. To
This survey was conductedscratch. Unfortunately, the students beat others to the punch, we decidamong both Japanese and foreignand I could not meet in person beed to produce millions of faceers. It should be noted that none ofcause of pandemic restrictions. We masks, obeying the minimum rules
the foreign respondents gave a negalso had a limit on the number ofsuch as hygiene. The more we
ative answer. The reasons why formasks we could produce, because
made, the more it sold. You caneign respondents gave positive anwe used a high-quality filter thatdraw an analogy with a bubble
swers were as follows: the inability
protects from 99% of viruses andeconomy.
to breathe in hot weather, fatigue
bacteria. If we started selling more
Q: Do you plan to make more collab- from the pandemic and from masks,of these masks, we would not be
orations like this in the future?
as well as the fact that masks doable to produce them in such large
not always help to prevent Сovidquantities.
Adachi: No, I do not think so. The
19.
face mask trend is over. Some comQ: Do you think that the design ofpanies have a lot of inventory. Morethe face mask is important? Why?
over, it is obvious now that the valContinued on Page 6
Tezuka: Of course, especially when ue of facemasks is declining (5yenJuly, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(５) Welfare

Mutual Aid
The Voices of Socially Vulnerable
More caretakers and more manageable workloads
people that rely on external help tolive comfortably. In Japan, disabled
people still face major issues withdiscrimination . In our interview
with Aichi Prefectural Federation of
Welfare Organizations for Persons
with Disabilities, Satoko Kato-san,a clerk, said: “while social laws fordiscrimination certainly helped us
tackle some of the issue, they weren’t publicized enough to make a difference.” Yasuhiko Eguchi-san, an
executive director, also spoke on
how Covid-19 has made it muchharder for caretakers to safely visit
those that they care for, especiallythose in their 70s to 80s. At thesame time, they have many difficulties with communication, making it
difficult for them to live alone andseek out the attention they need.

By Maiven Okine andNevan C Flaherty

According to the Ministry of
Health, Labor and Welfare(MHLW),
in 2020, the estimated number ofpeople with disabilities in Japanwas 9.7 million, up nearly 3 million
from their last survey in 2013.
Alongside the average age of the
population, this number will continue to rise. More and more people
will soon be requiring some sort ofcare, meaning many families will
become caregivers to their disabled
and aging family members. Others
will likely begin looking for facilities
or, at the very least, personal caretakers so that the younger generation can continue to hold onto theirjobs without having to worry. Thatbeing said, the number of caretakers is not quite at the same level as
the number of disabled people, with
MHLW surveys finding that, in
2021, there were only 1.8 million
licensed caretakers in Japan. Not
even a fifth of the current population of disabled people can receive
the constant or frequent care depending on their motor abilities.
A labor shortage amongst caregivers, alongside a familial sense ofduty, has resulted in an increased
amount of families that provide all
the care for their disabled loved
ones. A 2017 survey from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications also found that nearly 40
thousand teens are having to adopt
these responsibilities along with
their schooling or work. This meansthat many people with disabilities
will be taken care of by people that
do not necessarily have the proper
training. To make matters worse,
current caregivers are starting toage: a 2012 study from Kobe university found that the average age of
caregivers has now reached the mid
60s. Before the number of disabled
people begins to eclipse that of caregivers, the Japanese government
must take immediate action.

Top:A visually impaired person witha guide dog in Nagoya city, Aichi
pref.
Below: A class for guide helpers,
Ichinomiya city, Aichi pref. (Photos:
provided by Mr. Toshiyuki Matsuzaki)

ties, like down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, to physicalimpairments, like not having theability to walk. In the end, having a
trained professional is indispensable for most disabled people.

While having a family that does
caregiving work might seem a bit
more convenient than having someFirst off, we should know what
one live in a facility or have outside
exactly a caretaker is trained to dohelp come every day, there arefor their disabled employers andmany downsides. If family members
what they have been certified to do.
lack proper training, the strain of
A caretaker is supposed to take care
the job can lead to depression andof every aspect of a disabled perover tiredness. When certain family
son’s life, from monitoring medicamembers bear the entire burden,
tion and keeping up with records
mental and physical struggles
and scheduling, to helping with evemight mean that the disabled perryday tasks, such as bathing andson is not getting the attention theyfeeding. These are very important
require.
aspects of a person’s life, and if they
are not done on a regular basis,
Due to a shortage of caretakers,
they can greatly affect a disableddisabled people are suffering not
person’s quality of life. The caretak- only from any physical and mental
ers are also trained to deal with all problems they may have, but alsosorts of issues a disabled personfrom the inability to receive themight have, from mental disabilihelp they need. This lack of help

Aichi Prefectural Federation of
Welfare Organizations for Persons
with Disabilities wants to make thelives of the disabled easier and lessanxiety inducing by discussing
can accompany
problems that they do not underdifficulties instand among their peers. All of thiscommunication,is under Toshiyuki Matsuzaki-san,and problems
the vice-chief of the organization,with accessing
who himself is wheelchair boundpublic services.
and can empathize with the various
Shin Hanazuma, needs of disabled people. He states:
who works at Na- “The world is becoming difficult togoya city hall’s
live in because we are passive.” We
office for disabled need to be more active, encouraging
services, mencommunal talk and reforms thattioned that evenmight inform public awareness. The
professional care- entire organization seeks to ensure
takers face many stresses. Some of that the disabled people of Aichi
this is due to overwork: only 36
Prefecture are taken care of, and it
hours of off time can be taken per
is likely that other organizations
month by staff, and the pay fromhave begun appearing in other prethe government is very low. Somefectures as well.
times the stress of the job is projectNow, the question is: "Is there
ed onto disabled workers, who must
anything
the public can do?" If you
then deal with the caretaker’s
feelstrongly
about the disabled andstress, and the stress of not having
helpingthem,then keep up to datetheir needs always met.
on the laws surrounding them. Get
Another issue disabled people
out and vote for candidates thatface is the inability to allocate a
support them. Try to read the room,
proper amount of funding. This is
and reach out to help those you may
because the federal government has see struggling. Many have issues
set a limit on how much can bewith communication, and these isspent towards a city’s welfare sersues can vary from person to pervices. Without funding, nothing can son, so simp-ly reaching out might
be changed to better disabled peobe the help some people need.
ple’s lives without them being
The problems of disabled people
forced to seek non-government subdirectly
relate to problems withsidized caretakers. With a lack ofthemnotreceiving the care and atflexible funding and an even moretentiontheyneed. Sadly, disabled
restrictive working environment, we
peoplearestill
not taken seriously
can see why few people want tobythepublic,when
they should inwork as caretakers. Perhaps the fix
fact
the
first
to
be
taken
care of as
does just hinge on allocating morethepopulation
continues
to age andfunds to depart-ments, so they can
lose
more
and
more
of
their
motor
provide more services and workers.
abilities.
More
fundingfromthePresently, however, the lack ofgovernment
cangreatly
increasefunding creates problems that burden al-ready neglected disabled peo- the job opportunities for caretakers
and make the job more manageable.
ple, making life even harder for
More caretakers and more managethem.
able workloads are vital to increasAll of those problems compound ing disabled people’s quality of life.
into very real issues for disabled(6) Special Page

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
Photo:Mr. Shozo Michikawa using thepotter’s wheel and his artifact(below) at his atelier, in Seto City,
Aichi pref.

Mr. Michikawa’s conviction regarding the international potentialof Japan’s pottery industry recalls
its historical growth. Japanese pottery was first introduced into European markets by the Dutch and,since its introduction into Westernmarkets during the 17th century,
Japanese pottery has always beenhighly sought-after. Over the centuries, demand for pottery has grownexponentially. The Dutch originallyordered 4000 pieces in 1656, and by
1659, 65,000. By the century’s end,orders for ceramics frequently
reached six figures. Indeed, the recent excitement for Japanese ceramics represents not a new trend,
but rather a return to the past.

From page 1

July, 2022
automation, because highly skilled
potters are necessary to craft hyper
specific shapes that cannot be replicated by machines. Perhaps handcrafted and machine-manufactured
pottery can begin to survive harmoniously.
Despite the pottery industry’s
current struggles, Mr. Michikawa
suggests that we have many reasons to remain optimistic of its
growth. Japanese potters are creating a renaissance for the pottery
industry, finding new and innovative ways to evolve in stride withthe modern world.

my emotion. Thus, the cracks andpeculiarities of my work blossom
Q: Have your travels for exhibitions
forth in the moment. This style isoverseas influenced your work in
popular overseas, because it makes
any way?
my work stand out from more tradiThe substitution of metal with
A: For the most part, no. My inspi- tional Japanese conventions.
pottery for certain vehicle comporation mainly comes from Hokkaido
Q: Going forward, how can we pre- nents renews confidence that thiswhere I grew up. My creations repserve Japan’s pottery traditions?
historic industry will con-tinue
licate the natural beauty
thriving. Clay possesses the same
there,which I have always admired. A: Japan’s pottery industry is burstheat resistance as metal, but is far
To mimic this natural beauty, I ap- ing with potential that hasn’t beenlighter, less deformable, and has aproach each project with no precon- realized. As a country, Japan
low thermal expansion rate. Parts
ceived plan–a creation process that should market its pottery more
for vehicles and industrial maI encountered overseas. Instead, I
overseas and invest in individual
chines may become the new modern
pour my heart into whatever I’martists as it once did in the past.
-world-niche for pottery to fill.
creating so that every piece is
Moreover, we need not worry thatunique and becomes a snapshot of
this industry will be taken over by

From Page 8even multilingual support.

Towards deeper understanding

At the basis of Muslim students’ issues in Japan resides a lackof empathy. Japan may not be able
To tackle the multifaceted isto accommodate minorities because
sues that they encounter in Japan, it still has the idea, “Gō ni ireba gō
Muslims have been employing soni shitagae,” which means “When incial media and university facilities. Rome do as the Romans do.” HowFor example, on YouTube, “Theever, following Covid-19, Muslims
Young Muslims Channel” provides will continue engaging in Japanesefascinating insights regarding Mus- society, whether it be through tourlim life in Japan. This works to not ism, studying, or working. If Japan
only break down misconceptions,seeks to continue inviting foreign
but also provides Muslims in Japan talent and tourism, should it notwith a means to connect with their work to find a middle ground, emreligion. Moreover, Tsunagaru, anpathizing with different beliefs andInternational Action Group at Aichi cultures?
University, is currently working toThis is a question Japan needs
prepare the 2026 Asian Games fortoseriously
consider as its foreign
Muslim tourists.
and Muslim population continues
In this action group, members
growing.
have begun planning the provisionof prayer facilities, Halal food, andFrom Page 5
On the other hand, Japanese
respondents were more likely toanswer negatively. The main reason
being their fear of COVID-19. The
respondents also gave the following
answers: "I would be embarrassed
without a mask," "I am used to amask," "the mask hides the flaws of
my face." The reasons for the positive answers of Japanese respondents were similar to those of foreign
respondents: "it is very hot to wear
masks in summer," and “masks areuncomfortable."In the survey, we can clearly
see the trend of "underwear for theface." For many students, masks
curb feelings of embarrassment andboth appearance and purpose. Thea flawed appearance.
pandemic had initially stirred up
Face masks have a long history the mask market, providing great
incentive to start producing masks.
in Japan, undergoing changes inAbove: Members of 'Young Muslim Channel' who provide information overYouTube to promote understanding of Muslims living in Japan.

Left: Mask "SUMICCO," which
Ms. Tezuka designed ( Photo:provided by Miki.,CO.LTD)

Many companies will haveto re-purpose their production
systems and return to pre-Covid
activities. Nonetheless, themask industry will not completely disappear, with many people
still hoping to protect themselves from infection or hide
their face. One thing is for sure:the pandemic has greatly affected Japanese people's attitude towards face masks, resulting in
Now, however, more than two years
novel uses that might be here toafter the start of the pandemic, it isstay.
becoming increasingly obvi-ous thatthe mask trend is passing.

July, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(７) Society

Job Market

The Extinction of Japan's "job for life" Mentality
Business impacts and solutions
By GIRAUD Maui and
SAKAMOTO Noa

The Japanese labor market has
been experiencing a change in employee behaviour for several years.
The professional goals of the newgeneration are different from thoseof previous ones, and companies are
struggling to keep up. Traditionally, in large Japanese companies, it
is very rare for employees to resign
before retirement age. However,more recently, this "job for life"
mentality has loosened and people
are no lunger afraid to change jobs.
Within this context, Japanese companies must begin thinking about
how to avoid turnover. The negative
effects of Japan's employment system have become more pronounced
since the 1990s, when Japanesesociety was in the midst of a prolonged economic recession. Discussions to reform the system havetaken place on several occasions
and continue to this day.

Above: Changes in the Number ofPeople to Change Jobs (left), Statusof Occupation Movement at theTime of Decision (ages:20-24: provided by Recruit Agent
Below: Work staff in NUFS

Who are leaving their jobs?
A growing number of young
people in Japan are switching jobs
mid-career, reflecting an increasingly active search for jobs in growing industries. An analysis of youth
utilization by Recruit Agent, an
employee placement service, foundthat in 2020, the number of workers aged 20-24 who found a new job
mid-career was 3.5 times the 20092013 average, twice the average forall generations. In addition, 52 percent changed industries, 11 percentage points higher than 10 years
ago. By industry, college graduatesin accommodation and food services
and bachelor's degree holders had
the highest turnover rates. Career
mobility also depends on the genderand status of the individual, for example there is a tendency for married women to stay with their company while unmarried women havegreater career mobility.

their jobs. Ms. Takashima first noted that the number of young people
who have changed jobs is increasing year by year compared to othergenerations. This shows the growing number of people who have decided to change jobs. The light blueline is the transition from 20 to 24
years old. From this table, we cansee that the number of young people who decide to change jobs is increasing year by year. The number declined across all generationsin 2020, most likely because COVID-19 made it difficult to interview for
new jobs. Ms. Takashima also emphasized that many people have not
only been changing their occupation, but also their industry. This
information is shown in the above
pie chart, in red. In addition, many
young people change jobs to companies that are new and growing. The
tendency to transfer to new compaA study by Mr. Hiroshi Inoue,nies, Ms. Takashima notes, sugIBM Research - Tokyo, explainsthat about 30% of young graduates gests that young people are seeking
employment with a positive mindleave their jobs within three years
set. Whereas many people cite negof recruitment. In the same study,
ative reasons for leaving a job, such
Inoue notes that a young worker
must continue a job for at least four as low wages, or poor working
years before becoming fully autono- conditions, newer generations seemmous. In other words, if companies to want to expand their potential bymust regularly recruit new employ- working at emerging businesses.
ees to compensate for high turnoverWhat can companies do?
rates, their employees are neverreaching full levels of autonomy
This change in mentality andand efficiency.
behavior in younger workers has
In an exclusive interview for
The NUFS Times, Ms. Yuka Takashima, who works for a recruiting agency, provided more detailed
information regarding the demographics of people changing

lows workers to refine their professional abilities, but is costly forcompanies. Further, early retirement poses a huge risk to companies. Early retirement, com-binedwith high turnover rates, means
companies must invest more money
into training new employees–money
which may very well go to waste(August 23, 2019, mitsucari, what
are the drawbacks of early rotation).
A healthy balance between employee well-being and employee involvement in the workplace could
help reduce turnover. The Ministryof Health, Labor and Welfare seeks
to explain the relationship between
well-being at work and work engagement. A worker who feels fulfilled will not seek to leave his job;
and a satisfied employee is moreproductive at work. It is therefore
in the company's interest to improve the working conditions of its
employees in order to reduce turnover and increase performance.

in-house training or the opportunity to be recognized and promoted
for one's work. The survey was conducted over the Internet fromMarch 18 to March 25, 2022, amongusers of a 20-year-old career development site operated by Gakujo.
216 valid responses were received.
Just under 90 percent of respondents said they like companies thathave training and career transition
programs in place.
According to a survey by the
Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, turnover rates also change
according to company size. A company with five employees has avery high rate, while larger companies, such as Toyota Motor Corporation, tend to have lower rates. As
discussed earlier, perhaps this isbecause Japanese people want towork for big companies that havethe resources to promote and improve employee wellbeing, resulting
in higher work engagement andsatisfaction.

The mentality of the Japaneselabor market is changing– longterm employment, once a pillar of
the Japanese employment system,
is gradually losing its relevance inthe minds of 21st century workers.
Various data and interviews illustrate that companies which support
internal retraining (job changes by
employees) are favored by young job
seekers. In addition, both compaAccording to a survey conduct- nies and employees benefit fromed by Gakujo Co., Ltd. on job moti- creating a more flexible environvation for people in their 20s, thement in which employees canpercentage of respondents who felt thrive. This makes it easier forthat "their level of aspiration willcompanies to recruit and retain emincrease" if companies implemented ployees, reducing their recruitment
training and systems to support
costs and turnover rates. While Jaemployee retraining (re-learning)
pan still remains a long-term emwas over 80%. More than 60% of
ployment society, younger generarespondents were aware of compations are beginning to value fulfillrepercussions for companies. Long- ny retraining efforts in their career
ment at work over the security of aterm employment encourages work- change activities. An increasing
job they do not like. How will Japaers to stay and secure their future
number of young people are attract- nese companies tackle the future ofwhile contributing to the company’s ed to companies that actively prowork culture, helping new generagoals. Indeed, gaining experience
mote in-house human resource detions find value in their jobs?
through numerous job changes alvelopment, whether it be through(８) Different Culture

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

July, 2022

Muslims in Japan: To Understanding and Cohabitation
By Reina Takahashi andVictor Mencia Santiago

The Muslim population is
growing in Japan, but Japan does
not seem ready for it. According to
the Japan Muslim Travel Index
2017 (JMTI), published by
MasterCard and Crescent Rating,the number of Muslim travellers toJapan was expected to increase
from 150,000 in 2004 to 1.4 million
in 2020. Moreover, according todata provided by the Ministry ofJustice, there are 121,709 foreign
residents from countries with ahigh Muslim population, ten times
more than in 1990.
The Muslim population in
Japan is clearly becoming more
prominent, however, social andcultural policies for integrating
minorities do not reflect this reality.
According to a survey conducted by
students at the Nagoya Universityof Foreign Studies, most young
Muslims come to Japan for
academic or family reasons. 70% ofsurveyed people think that living inJapan is difficult, citing various
reasons, including the inability tofind a sense of belonging andacceptance from others. What
struggles is Japan’s Muslim
population facing, and how can wetackle these issues?

Hardships as Muslims

Top: Praying in the Nagoya Mosque at noon
Left below: Interview by Takahashi (left) with Ms. Sarah
Qureshi, the director of the Nagoya Mosque, Aichi prefecture

Hasan says,“the thing I
miss the most is
the culture.
Where Muslim
culture tends tobe very
supportive andclose, Japanesepeople seem to
be moreindividualistic.
For example, I
sometimes do
not even know
who lives next
to me.” Hisham,another
student, adds
that theirdoctrine says “take care of yourneighbours more than you take careof yourself.” Through these culturaldifferences, some Muslims, such as
Misa Inoue, find it difficult topractice their religion. The directorof the Nagoya Mosque', Sarah
Qureshi Yoshimi, explained that “itis easier to develop your beliefs inan environment where one cannaturally become a Muslim.” Accessto halal food and prayer locations
are indispansable for Muslims inJapan to feel closer to their religion
in a largely non-Islamic society.

discrimination in Japan is very
indirect. Ali Aqlan from NUCB,
says that he does not blame theJapanese even if they do notsomething offensive because they
don’t know about Islam–accordingly, 83 % of Muslims in our
survey feel that Japanese people do
not know very much about Islam.
Whether or not Japanese are awareof such xenophobia, stereotypes anddiscrimination towards Muslims isa very real issue, with 33.7 % ofsurveyed subjects feeling
discriminated against.

One of the prominent issues
that Japan’s Muslim population
faces centers on dietary restrictions.
Muslims can only eat “Halal,” whichliterally means “permissible” inEnglish. Halal is based on Islamic
dietary laws and is preparedaccording to certain guidelines, oneof which is the exclusion of alcohol.
Every Muslim in our survey
Hasan, who is currently studying atstated that, to tackle this xenoNagoya University of Commerce &phobia and lack of understanding,Business (NUCB), identifies halal
Japanese need to be taught more
food as the main thing he would
about Islam. By this, respondents
like to change about Japan. “Myplanned, prepared, and served by
do not mean that Islam should beuniversity promised to offer halal
students. However, unless there
indoctrinated in Japan’s youth, butfood” he states. However, after
exists a high proportion of Muslim
rather introduced in a curriculum
contacting the university, we
students at a university, it is notthat encourages the acceptance ofconfirmed that they still have notcommon to offer halal food, making
diverse beliefs and cultures. Citing
taken any action. Another interJapan a very difficult study abroad
instances of Islamic extremists inviewee, Hisham Khan, says thatlocation. Hence, Muslim students
Japan, Sarah Qureshi Yoshimi“access to ’halal’ food is extremely
are unlikely to insist on halal food–strongly supports the application ofdifficult.” It is difficult to find halal and even if they do, they arethis idea in school education. Lots offood for Muslims because they must unlikely to be taken seriously.
people dismiss Islam or Muslims
avoid food including chicken andbecause they automatically
Another important thing forbeef extracts, such as lard, gelatin,
associate them with extremists.
and animal shortenings. Genetically Muslims is to pray five times a day.
This tendency to criminalize Islam,With increased Muslim awareness,
modified plants are consideredrelating it to terrorism, does not
the number of prayer rooms has
halam, which means “prohibited.”
only occur in Japan but also
increased year by year. You can findthroughout the world. If Japanese
Moreover, for those who do not them in the Aeon Mall NagoyaTackling Xenophobia
people become able to recognize
understand Japanese, it is tougher Chaya, and the highway service
Another issue for Muslims in
to discern what is edible. In somearea, Hamanako. However, prayer Japan arises from xenophobia and a that extremists are notrepresentative of the Islam religion,
cases, the labels do not provide
locations can only be found inlack of understanding. Hisham,enough information to determine
Japan’s largest cities. Accordingly, another student from NUCB, stated then discrimination issues may
decrease. Through education,
whether the food is halal or not.
more than half of the interviewees
thatJapanese
peoplehaveaJapanese people should take a more
While Nagoya University does not
are concerned about having a place “stereotype of Muslims," so theynuanced and open-minded approachdirectly respond to Halal dietary
to pray.
treat
Muslims
differently
dependingto people of different religions.
requests, it tries its best to adjust toonhowwesternised
theyappear.
Someofthestruggles
occur
at
a
the student population. At theContinued on Page 6
Other Muslims say that
more foundational, cultural level:
university, Halal food is currently

Editor in Chief: Kazuhiko KOJIMA, Adviser: Hiroko TOKUMOTO, Adviser & Proofreader: Jacob TEICHRIB