Palgrave Series of Sport in Asia – serie

This book explores the transformation of cultural and national identity of global sports fans in South Korea, which has undergone extensive cultural and economic globalization since the 1990s.

This book explores the transformation of cultural and national identity of global sports fans in South Korea, which has undergone extensive cultural and economic globalization since the 1990s.

Based on a unique blending of sociology, history, anthropology, and philosophy, this book seeks to reinvigorate youth-centered sports along a path of inclusivity, play, and enjoyment. Beyond the Black Clubs represents a groundbreaking collaboration between leading global researchers as they unravel the intricate tapestry of youth sports in Japan. From Japan’s opening to the West in the nineteenth century, the state-driven fusion of sports and education has given rise to a powerful apparatus of moral education, which has helped sustain social stability, order, and hierarchy. And yet, the current state of youth sports is unfortunately pockmarked by so-called "black clubs"—school sports clubs that allow practices such as hazing and corporal punishment, and which lead to many injuries and accidents. This meticulously researched book unveils the global undercurrents that have shaped youth sports in Japan and created the conditions for these black clubs to emerge and, by demanding the attention and action of fellow adults, lays the intellectual foundation for a brighter sports future for all Japanese youth as well as all youth athletes abroad.

This book sets out to fill a gap in the literature and will be of particular relevance to those who are interested in globalization, sports studies, political economy, cultural studies, event management and policy, sociology, media studies, and Asian studies