Japanese Language and Soft Power in Asia

Dr Kayoko Hashimoto is Lecturer at School of Languages and Cultures, University of Queensland, Australia. Her main research areas are language policies and Japan’s educational policies. She has been Asian Studies Review Language and Education Thematic & Review Editor since 2013.

“This book’s biggest strength lies in its comprehensive, current outlook on Japanese language as soft power. … the book offers valuable insights into issues which have remained largely unexplored. For those wishing to obtain a sound, comprehensive understanding of and appreciation for current Japan and its attempts in creating and exercising soft power, this is an indispensable read.” (Mitsuyo Sakamoto, newbooks.asia, July 3, 2020)

• Introduction.- Why language matters in soft power.- Part I Cool Japan and Japan’s soft power.- Cool Japan versus the China threat: Does Japan’s popular culture success mean more soft power?.- Cool Japan and Japanese language: Why does Japan need “Japan fans”?.- Part II Japanese language and the historical construction of Asia.- Japanese language education in the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and the kokuji mondai (National Script Problem).- Media and cultural policy and Japanese language education in Japanese-occupied Singapore, 1942-1945.- Part III Japanese language teaching in Asia.- Japanese language for trainee nurses from Asia: the EPA scheme as a missed opportunity.- The roles of native Japanese speaker in Japanese language programs at high schools in South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.- Japanese pop culture as a motivating factor for Japanese language learners in Qatar.- Part IV Japanese language and learners’ empowerment.- Japanese Language in the wake of Hong Kong’s Umbrella movement: Is it a form of soft power?.- Accessing the soft power of Japanese language in Australia: Young Korean migrants studying Japanese as a foreign language.