Date: 2023. 5.13 (Sat) 14:00~17:30

Venue: Zoom

Zoom Address: https://snu-ac-kr.zoom.us/j/5832898745

Zoom ID : 583 289 8745

Host: Editorial Teams of Korean Journal of Japanese Studies  & SNU-IJS

The Editorial Teams of Korean Journal of Japanese Studies selected the theme of 29th  "Japanese society through normative consciousness and legal analysis“ (working title/ editor in chief: Yoo Hyuck Soo ), which will be published on August 15, 2023.

  In this special feature, we will illuminate modern Japanese society in various ways through the lens of normative consciousness. It is intended to provide a tool for perspective and perception of modern Japan by structurally analyzing the norms and values that define Japanese society with specific examples.

By contrasting Japan's normative consciousness with the legal system/system, we would like to pay attention not only to the actual law but also to the "living law" and to understand the conflicts and gaps between the traditional and modern aspects projected on the Japanese legal system. How consistent has Japan's traditional normative consciousness and legal culture been with the order principles of modern Western law in the historical, social, and cultural background?

First of all, it is an important perspective to understand how much the existence and growth of independent individuals, which was blocked by the traditional social order, was achieved under the "post-war democracy" banner. In the wake of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, volunteer activities expanded nationwide beyond the community, opening a new chapter in civil society, while self-reflection culture, "segan" and "social sanctions" are limiting individual autonomy.

It is also an important issue whether there has been a fundamental change in the legal system and normative consciousness that foreigners have been excluded under the family register system and the pedigree nationality system. Moreover, it is worth noting that the history of state-centered modernization and legislation still affects the legal system and culture in many ways, as Japan's acceptance of modern law was a means of political goal of revising the unequal treaty.

  This special aims to promote understanding of modern Japanese society by approaching Japan's normative consciousness and legal system from various angles, including law, sociology, and cultural anthropology, with Korean cases in mind.

  For a better outcome of this project, we will hold an academic conference as follows with the meaning of an interim report on a total of five papers. If you are interested, you can freely participate online, and please look forward to the results being published as “Korean Journal of Japanese Studies" in August 2023.