Precarious Japan by Anne Allison

7/29/2019 Precarious Japan by Anne Allison

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P r e c a r i o u s J a Pa n

a n n e a l l i s o n


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P r e c a r i o u s J a Pa n

Du Univsiy ss Duha an Lnn 203


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203 Du Univsiy ss

ihs sv

in in h Uni as ica n aci- pap Dsin by uny Lih a. yps in Minin by sn nain yss, nc.

Libay nss aain-in-ubicain Daa

isn, nn, 950

caius Japan / nn isn.

pas c

ncus bibiaphica ncs an inx.

ISBN 978-0-8223-5548-9 (ch : a. pap)

ISBN 978-0-8223-5562-5 (pb. : a. pap)

. JapanEcnic cniins989 2. Japancia cniins989 . i.

HC462.95.A45 203

952.05c23 20308903


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C o n t e n t s

Aowldgms vii

o n e . P a i n o f L i f e

t w o . f r o m L i f e L o n g t o L i q u i d J a P a n

2

t h r e e . o r d i n a r y r e f u g e e i s m :

P o v e r t y, P r e C a r i t y , y o u t h

43


5/24

f o u r . h o m e a n d h o P e

77

f i v e . t h e s o C i a L B o d y i n L i f e a n d d e a t h22

s i x . C u L t i v at i n g f i e L d s f r o m t h e e d g e s

66

s e v e n . i n t h e m u d

80

Nos 207 Rfs 29 Idx 23


6/24

a C k n o w L e d g m e n t s

Tis bn pain an pcaiusnss, su an hphas bn as

ha as i has bn suu i. a paicuay au h-

hs h hav ivn avic, supp, an hp an h ay.

Kn Wiss has bn in iau ih abu his pjc isincpin. s y i a Du Univsiy ss an, ipany,

as a ind, h has hlpd gmina and susain h ni pjc. F

his uianc an bi in , a p hans. Oin an has a vy-

hinuip isan avis, supp, an p as ny h

can. can iain havin cp his ihu hi. Davi a has

bn qui iay in h nchs ih in Japan, ivin xainay

assisanc and wisdm vy sip and iain. F his gnsiy

an sas, a py au. Yshi Kua is a in h has hp in vy pssib ay uin ips Japan. h is savvy an in,


7/24

ACkNowledgmeNtS viii

sucu an un, an y b h uns p. Ki ishiua has

bn a nuy sucu sach assisan in bh y an Du-

ha. han h hpin in s any ays.

hav an uch h any ih h hav sha y

na in cnvsains n sha pics ins. n paicua,

ish han: ian Gsn ( a hs aazin chas an sus-

ins), auia Knz ( bin y iin pan), Laun an (

h sunning wk and u cnvsains n aachmn, pcaiy, and

snsing), Lay Gssbg ( his indship and u pndings abu

ac, pcaiy, an h piica), Kahy Ruy ( h supp an u

wndul alks abu vyhing), ay aunian ( bing such

an inspiain an n in such a n i), n Kab an

J nivi ( h siuain u pcaius ain up), KahiWs ( ain an ain abu , hp, an pcaiy), an au-

c ( his biian cass n pcaiy), i Ya ( u vy u-

ings in Japan and bing such a gd cllagu), Michal ad (

his avic abu his pjc an h buny his ), as Maza

( a u icius chas an u cass n nhpy caiy

an c), an h vini ( h u ush h ha has

bn such an inspiain y n). F hi supp in siciin

ncuain y as han: na Muhbach, izan hsan,ic Ln, nia M, hih asua, aa an, an Vna Das.

F invvin in h Miian 80 n han nnis Ris an

i Miyazai, an hi anizain h ossbl Fuus of Jp

pjc, Fan ain an a Ozai as as a h paicipans. n

a vy spcia hans h vis ous Jp. T an-

ivnss an ca hy av hi as as incib, ain h

ha as in an push uh in in i b. On

y vis va hs a iin ha as h s xai-nay vi hav v a in y i: a pic -nin h b.

Kai a, han yu his i.

as ish han y caus in h Dpan uua n-

hpy a Du hi vyay ciaiy, incua ynais,

and supp; and u xcpinal gadua sudns, and paiculaly

hs h hav sha inss an chas aun pcaiy, paiy,

an hp: Lia a, Yain bai, Juni Kn, au ha, Yas-

min Cho, and Alyssa Miller. As at home, I have been grateul or those whoxn ppuniis spa sh, an h any n-


8/24

ACkNowledgmeNtS ix

a inacins v civ hi h. Ts incu (Dpans

nhpy Dpans an nsius Eas sian uis a):

Middlbuy llg, Rishchau Insiu, avad Univsiy, William

and May llg, Univsiy n, ufs Univsiy, Univsiy

Capetown, University o Pittsburgh, Cambridge University, New York Uni-

vsiy, niana Univsiy, p Univsiy Japan, phia Univsiy

in ky, Univsiy h alina mbk, ha n a Ric

Univsiy, Univsiy ba, Univsiy a a u, nsi-

u Ehny a caia inica, aina Univsiy inap,

Bandis Univsiy, Univsiy alinia a Bkly, and Univsi

aFscai.

Givn h nau y pjcn pcaiy in aiy sus ha can

a ah bu as inship an hp as ja in cn-sany snifn hins u n h un ah han in a sysaic

i p-ain pan. as sin u haship in ishin

pp an ncssaiy n sha abu hi n ivs hav an

outsider poke her nose into. And yet many generously helped me, and those

h av invis, invi in hi sphs aciviy ( aciv-

is, pss, pubic spain, vyay i), ypicay i s in h is

hnusy busy schus. aicua hans Yuasa Mah

a in his NPo, Myai, an a i an xnsiv invi,Kiua aih in h pay shs uia an

pn up h h, uzui aayui inucin

his NPo an yuh supp cn in aa an ain h o

o m scn, Kaaa Ki h ah a U o jGna

Yji, Un higki and all h h paicipans h plgy -

sach up a y Univsiy hi nu n hp, Dhi

Masa cin in his acivis sin sina an invv-

n ih h aaya us Fun, suin Kji an a h bs the Kowaremono perormance group, Ochi oshi and Shikimura Yoshiko

hi inship an hspiaiy in aa, Ky van a his

hlp and supp mulipl summs in ky, Kus Kik h

cninu inship, Un hizu inviin in h h, n

h bihay, an invi. n aiin u i han: aiya

Kain, Miyam Michik, Osawa Machik, suumi Waau, Yshimi

hunya, Mi Yshishi, Rbcca Jacbsn, sumi ishi, umazaki

hi, uaaa Yui, aaa , an Kani Mai.Finally, in a bk abu a pcaiusnss ha xnds amily and


9/24

ACkNowledgmeNtS x

h, un y n. y sns, a an Davi az, h

a nin hi ay aay h, a s ucy hav h in y

i an b na in a in hi n. y sibins an hi

pans, ucy hav hi ah an sha ca-ivin ih

n anh, an u . y h, ih in u vnin chas

an ai h snh an siinc sh has cai his sa h

li. nd hali, I hank vyhing: ading vy wd,

bin sa abu vn ub hins, an pin y i ss pcai-

us han i u b ihu hi.


10/24

o n e . Pa i n o f L i f e

T sy abb h nains anin. T by a y--ya-

an, uiyin aay, as iscv n nh a savin

ah. y an a pubic fcia, h an as inay. u

h i ac in h apan buiin h ca h twenty years. A welare recipient ever since disease kept him rom work, he

as suny uns u b cu . Wih n n un , h an

was dad in h mnhs. ll aln, h kp a diay, pndingpag

a paha h cuny as in ciizns i hi h, su-

in iv, hav n cus bu i. y h n, huh, his huhs

w nly n d. Tis las ny was wha shckd ppl h ms

[] an is a a ic ba (og b) (Yuasa 2008a).

an is an cavin h cus Japans asa pain icball, a symbl li and h culual sul Japan , whn lacking,


11/24

CHAPter oNe 2

ah, sin, h u sussnss h is. T sy as chiin.

u, ccuin in Juy 2007, i ca a a n suin ih ns sii-

laly pinnd h cllaps mundan vydaynss livs a nc

bsss ih an hn unu by , huan cnncin, h.

Only n ya ali, xampl, anh cas a mummid bdy

ha bn p in h sa ciyKia Kysh iy. T cicusancs

siia: a i-a an sav ah a an a h. Tis

an ha as bn ni a bu, in his cas, ha nv bn an

i n h gunds ha h had amilyw adul snswh culd d

hi. u aiia ains sain an ny n sn, h

a a cnvninc s, gav his ah d. nd his, as h mdia -

p i, nv aun han an ccasina ba . Unab

wk and (wic) dnid wla, h man livd in an apamn hcun ainain; a uiiis ha bn cu an n han bn pai

nhs hn h i (Yuasa 2008a, 43).

Lie, tenuous and raw, disconnected rom others and surviving or dying

aln; such sis cycl hugh h nws hs days and hugh h

cicuiy inmain, cmmunicain, and ac ha s limn vy-

aynss pp in a psinusia sciy i Japan. i abu

a hss juni hih sch sun (Hmusu gus) bca a

naina bss hn as in Dcb 2007. Win by a auscian (aua ishi),1 i h, a a v an a havin

aay s his h canc, a by cs h n ay a ba-

up apan an a ah h s his chin sipy sca (s).

Dciding nd himsl ah han budn his siblings, amua

has his nihbh pa (nicna shi pa) an ivs, as h

says, like an animal: sleeping inside playground equipment, scavenging or

cins na vnin achins, ain caba an pin (aua

2007). Wha as (in cha s an n a shs an bsis) -a upn s h cpa ais a na i uc

scraping by in a park. Tat, along with the tragic story o amily dissolution

an ahy abannn: ha a his, as auas i ca i, an

nainin sy pvy (hiizu 200829). ic b, visin,

an vi vsins in 2008 an auas s-ca shi pa is

now a tourist site. As one commentator put it, we couldnt imagine a story

i his n yas a, bu n, in vy Japans aiy, h is s un-

happinss (hiizu 20082).T anuish vyay i hs h hav sciay ihan


12/24

PAIN o lIe 3

a cndiin said ac a las n millin Japans dayhas bn

an up by pp cuu. Ts iniviuas, ca omo, n ih-

a an ain in a sin hy ay, i v, av. iii

a sciay iscnnc an ach huan cnac: hss a

h, as n hiii scib i (suin 2004). M n a

han a an s cny yun aus, his is h picin ivn

hiiii in nhk osoh sy a univsiy pu h is

nin his uh ya isain. Win by a s-av hiii

as a ay a ny by nv avin h, nhk oso is viviy

bua. Zin in, as s aua, n h aphic ais a u

xisnc, h sy is sai b aisic in capuin h vyay iu-

as, nain bsssins, an paayzin usins a hiii. h

sa i, his s as a nv (2002) an vn in h ana(20047) an ani (2006) vsinshas bn ha as y n-

ainmn. Wih a sylin ha jags bwn ngams, ic wbsis,

suici pacs, an pyai schs, nhk oso as p, ah

xynicay, as nn-sp hiii acin.

T cnacin i in a nuus xisnc spu acin a i-

n in in h su 2008. sin vin aacs, a an

an cnspicuusy pubic, pau y sain in Jun. T s

pac in ihabaa (ys cnics an ou [an] isic) n aunay a nn hn h ss ha bn cs psians. Divin

his uc in h cssin an hn jupin u sab vicis, a

wny-v-ya-ld man killd svn ppl wihin minus. mp-

ay h a h ha s his jb, Ka hi iv a siay,

unsabl li sangd m his pans and lackingas h cmplaind

in h lng ail psings h lf n a wbsivyhing human

wh, including a gilind. Wihu anyhing liv and n plac

call hm (ibasho), Ka wn kihabaa andmly kill. is aci a sis cpyca aacs in pubic sins i as. T p-

pas sha cain i cicusancs ih Ka: siu, jb ins-

cuiy, aiia sann, pcaius xisnc. n hi s

yun, h as aac h su as ci by a svny-nin-

ya- hss an h, sabbin n in hibuya ain sa-

in, sai h iv as b ca pisn h sh u n sh-

an .

Tis vinc as nab h ipsna i as. Ran aacsn sangs by ppl dspaly discnncd hmslvs. Bu sis


13/24

CHAPter oNe 4

m inima vilnc a cmmn as wll. Ts ms spcacu-

laly nwswhy hav akn plac wihin amilisha uni assignd,

by sciy an h sa, h spnsibiiy uin caivin an vn

scialiy isl. In h sam mnh h kihabaa killings a svny-

svn-ya- an in y n his ichn an i his i ih

a hamm. ppanly nagd ha sh had calld him a nuisanc, h

man hn pcdd kill h s his hushlda sn, daugh-

in-a, an anchi: his ni bi n ny ca bu huan cn-

tact. As it was reported, this dangerous old man (abunai ojchan) thought

h b happy nc his aiy as a. as iiay a sh ha

c visi, c hi a a, an can his apan ha a n-

a by i his h a ya ai in May. n ha has bn h

psisn nd in amilial aackschildn agains pans and pa-iculaly mhshis n was spcially gusm. Dcapiaing h,

h svnn-ya- hn cai his hs ha ih hi a a-

a cub an a an inn ca. us aan si cayin h

hah by cnss h pic bu cu iv n iv i-

in a h h cai ba n u aains. s h ia p

i, h yuh ha spp in sch abu a nh b an as

ain icain anxiy hich h ha bn biy hspiaiz.

ha, hv, h ha bn a sun. n ac, i as in an a hihy an hih sch ha bh h by an his yun

bh ivin h in an apan aay h.

StorIeS rom tHe vyay h ah sas aiy i. Unas cips

h amilia and uin. disqui bushing h suac wh h all

na can un ay. Mhs bha, sans i, chin

abann, aus sav. Ts cauinay as , an , a

a n unin inscuiyaia, scia, xisnia. u hapcisy hy cauin aains? n, h pin, (h) s n

ain pcin?

tHe APANeSe Are cainly n aln in xpincing pcaiy hs

ays. Tis cniin has bc v aiia an ispa in h

h ny-s cnuy. i in h aah ab pin,

in h ac Gc anin v cs avin h e, an in h is

a nv-nin cnic cisis ha has ny xacba ha as a-ay a isin aphic ba ciizns a is pvy, is-


14/24

PAIN o lIe 5

as, unpyn, a. Evyh pp a suin, cauh by h

insabiiis an inquiis niba bais un a. n h acc-

ain, an spa, a a ic ha has pivaiz an

o lie and deregulated more and more o capitalisms engine or extracting

prots, the struggleand ofen ailureo everyday lie has become an all cn sy a any pp aun h .

Givn h xmiy dpivain xpincd by s many h

wlds inhabians day, Japan wuld sm m nabl is vas

ah an ha s say is h s avanc cnsu cuu in h

. Evn ay, as cas a h busin is hihy n-

bubb cny, Japan bass h hi sns cny in h

(havin s h scn psiin cny hina). n any visi-

h has cny bn Japan i n ha pan ss si a bis businss vn picy ban-na s. Y Japan as has

h scn hihs v pvy an h Oanisain Ecnic

-pain an Dvpn (oeCd) b cunis. acua as

h numb ppl wh all blw hal h man incm, Japan

ih a a 5.3 pcnis scn ny h Uni as, hich has

a a 7. pcn. n 2007 his cnsiu ny iin Japans: n

u six. (Tis cpas ih an ava 0.7 pcn in oeCd -

b cunis an 4.5 pcn a cunis i ay.) Fuh, a cuny ha nc pidd isl n lilng mplymn, n- hid

a s ay a ny iuay py. in jbs ha a

pa im, mpay, cnac lab, igula wks lack jb scu-

iy, bns, cn as. supisin 77 pcn an ss han h

pvy v, quaiyin hby h vnns n caibainas

in p. T siuain is vn s n an yuhs; n-

hal o all young workers (between the ages o feen and twenty-our) and

70 pcn a a s a iuay py (Yuasa 2008a).ov, a s spn in Japan sinc h cunys iacu-

lus cvy af is dvasaing da in h cnd Wld Wa, has

un. acss h ba, cus. u h ans h p a

in (4.6 pcn chin; 20. pcn y), as is an aa-

nss ha hy acuay xis. F ny ha a sisic chan in h by

pliic has akn plac in cn yas: m a sciy wih a vas (and

aiay scu) i cass n ha is n, as is vaiusy ca,

dwnsaming, biplaizd, and iddld by class dinc. s acivisYuasa Ma (2008c) pus i, h svs (m) ha pp nc


15/24

CHAPter oNe 6

ab cun nhh savins in h ban, aiis n cu un

in i n, ucaina cniasa yin up. Japan is a

sciy n n inns an ss, jus ss. u, as Yuasa pins

u, pvy (hinkon) is m han maial dpivain aln. I als is

a sa dspain, panic v db cllcs and n, a li livd

n h . n, by his niin, Japan is bcin an ipvish

cuny. sciy h hp has un scac an h uu has b-

c ba incncivab ah.

Oy, n phaps, h as siiny in in h yas

pivain in h a. Tn, as nvis Muaai Ry has n,

n n ha anyhin bu hp. ay, by cnas, hp is h ny hin

ppl dn hav, as Muakami w h bm yas h bubbl

cny in his bssin bKb o u o osodsu (T Exus a uny p, 2002). p ha bc s cnsu by ai-

ais by h 980s ha iv an hp anyhin byn piva acqui-

siin as bbin aay. u hins ny sn. Whn h bubb bus

in 99, iin a cssin ha in n (an n), pp ban

ls n nly hi abiliy cnsum bu hi jbs, hms, and uu

plans. F b ws, h maialis dams pswa Japan a

cin unn.

PrecarityIS A word h is. ic up s by Eupan scia

an ab vns in h 970s,pinxs shi in a sa

capialism wad m xibl, cningn, and igula wk. is

bas, pcaiy s cniins ha a pcaius; pcaius

is pyn ha is uncain, unpicab, an isy h

pin vi h (Kab 2009, 2). y his niin, s

wk ms wks aund h wld has bn hisically pcai-

us, hich as pcaiy ss h xcpin han h u (isn anRssi 2008). a a s in h ay in h in-

a cny ha is, by niin, pcaius (anin 20). n in h

United States most jobs were precarious and most wages unstable until the

n h Ga Dpssin. u, in h cas h Uni as, h v-

nn spp in, bsin scia pcins an cain jbs ih

h Da. n as Fis h an unins (an s ihs

ccivy baain) snhn, ua u-i jbsan accss

h i cassbca h n by h 950s (Kab 20). nhs vp cunis ha, i h Uni as, njy a pi


16/24

PAIN o lIe 7

psa Fis ha acc is ciizns (in h c c

a las) scu mplymn, i is h dviain m his nm ha h

p(an h pcaia as h pcaius paia iu-

lar workers) in large part reers. Precarity reerences a particular notion o,

an scia cnac aun, . W ha is scu; ha scus

n ny inc an jb bu iniy an isy, inin capiais an

iniacy in an aciv si scuiy is (an 20). caiy

as h ss hish ss shin ha ny cain cunis,

at certain historical periods, and certain workers ever had in the rst place.

Japan was n hs placs. Wha i had b, and wha has b-

cm his in h pcaiizain lab and li in h las w d-

cas, is h subjc his b. caius Japan, a cuny suc by a

aica chanin scicnic ains in ps-psa ishacnvys, an s cny inp as, a naina isas. n his

vn b h Ga Eas Japan Eahqua an accpanyin sunai

pun h nhas cas h cuny n Mach , 20, nin

i a y asan ah an bis. Tis cisis z u ha i-

aiz a uinss xisin aay. u n ny u. T sunai i-

a n in h Daiichi uca an in Fuushia ha sp

adiain. I was a nucla disas miniscn h dpping h

amic bmbs ha ndd h cnd Wld Wa and killd upwads n hun y husan a ishia an ihy husan a aa-

sai in uus 945a in Japans uniqu hisy as h s, an

ny, cuny b h vici nuca aa. ic bbs an

unbaabl wund bu als ndd Japans miliais ambiins nd

Eas sia is ipia ain. n in bacin a un h c-

cupain i (ainy ican) cs, Japan n is psa

pid asunding cnsucin, achiving high cnmic gwh

an asnica puciviy in c i.uca aiain an u. san cbinain ha ixs his-

is as as aphs. F i h isas a h Daiichi nuca ac

in Fuushia pv is Japans viciizain an vuna-

biiy a h n h acic Waan h i is an unnab,

invisib cnainainh sa u ha pu ha ha bn

si n h casin sina shin s: a iquiizain in scic-

nmic lains ha sad in h mid-1990s (bu acually b) wih

h un xibl mplymn and is ansmain wk and hpac. Tis is ca d in Japansh iquiizain xi-


17/24

CHAPter oNe 8

biizain an i. n iqu Japan a chan in h ic

sps in vyay ainaiy: ains nc vau hi suinss

in spac (sayin in h sa cpany nihbh cas) an

duabiliy v im (lilng maiags, gup mmbships, and jbs).

ciaiy ay has bc puncua an unhin. n ih

pacab an s is h hyh scia ipannc: -

ainships ha insananusy cnnc, iscnnc, nv sa up in

h s pac. On-hi a Japans iv an hs ays an h ph-

nmna bh Neet (n in ducain, mplymn, aining) and

hikikmi (scial wihdawal) a wll knwn amng yuhs. s Iv

land in h pcss ldwk in summs sinc 2008, many Japa-

ns ny, ha hy n bn (anyh), an a suin

by. cn spcia n pubic visin ncapsua cun cni-ins scia i ih h ab mu sh ainss sciy.

cia pcaiy. Liqui Japan.

Japan ha bn ubin n b h cn isas ahqua,

sunai, an nuca ac accin. s un, a sns i-

balance, the premonition o water turning everything into mud. Te events

o 3/11 spawned a crisis o unimaginable intensity. Over eighteen thousand

a issin a; h hun y husan ispac; as un-

imaginabl and nging damag businsss, ppy, livsck, andeveryday lie; and trillions o yen in clean up, reconstruction, and compen-

sation. Beyond those killed, it has made lie even less sae than it was beore

s any: pcaiy innsi. has as hn in i aspcs

i ha pcaius aay; h ac, xap, ha s any h

s in h Fuushia nuca pans , bh b an a 3/,

pa h pcaia (cs 88 pcn)ispsab s h

h say h Japans (as in canin up an cnainin h spa

and xpsu adiain) a nw s inimaly inwind. ws -ps n pcaius pyn (ispach, cnac, ay ab) a uch

cn hs ays, an h pcaia hav assu a c-

niin an sypahy in h pubic y. nsibiiis h Japans acss

h cuny hav as bn ais h piics h nuca via:

h cain s any nuca acs in h in hu h

bcaus is dpssd cnmy and aging ppulainsidns had

accpd h dangs in d scu vnus and jbs. nimns

aains nuca ny an h nuca inusy hav sa ( psansi n husan in Jun 20, bu anh ps sa in


18/24

PAIN o lI e 9

y h nhs a sixy husan), as hav isus an suspi-

cin aains h ns h nuca pans an h vnn hi

cusin ins, an hi isanan say uains,

can up, an ihhin, vn yin abu, inain ain ai-

ain xpsu.

n p- an n ps-3/ Japan, uip pcaiis , sci-

aiy, i (an ah), as h cn cisis has bh xacba an x-

psdvlap and un gh lik mud. Bu ha dsn man ha

vyn is siuad similaly acd h sam way. ain wks

a m pn blng h pcaia, xampl: hs wihu

ps-scnay ucain an h c hushs ha a sin

pan an in cass ( in p). n, vn uin h b

pi h bubb cny, n vy psnaiv in hpipha c as pa-i s (hich hy ain ay ih

70 pcn a s py in iua jbs an ih 80 p-

cn mp wks bing mal) (Gid 2009). Ta pcaiy is

iniay isibu is sn in h aah 3/ as . Ts up

nh, aay ivin in a in cnicay pss an vy ppu-

lated by elderly, have been hardest hit by both the damage o the Great East

Japan Eahquak (and sunami) and h dadly ha adiaina

ha ha has c husans vacua hi hs ih n assu-anc v bin ab un. Ts h hav s vyhinaiy

mmbs, h bas acs usd mak a living, h vy villag

n has livd in sinc bihsaddl h pcaiy li in a paicu-

a anc ih ah. n ay sy in Fuushia p

h a a h ha s his i an h as happy s ha his

cabbas, a as, ha suviv. Whn hs hn bann sa

bcaus h adiain lvl was und b dangusly high, h man

ci suici.Tuh i ay sa in n pac, pcaiy sn sips in h in-

sins li. Inscuiy a wk, xampl, spads inscuiy whn

payin bis, yin p n h ab, ainainin hn an pi

(in ns cmmuniy had hushld), nding h ngy kp

ging. I is n nly a cndiin pcaius lab bu a m gnal

existential statea state where ones human condition has become precari-

us as (Lazzaa 2004). u h ainship bn ab an i,

jb scuiy an vyay scuiy, pns n h n ivs an hn is siua in h scicnic anscap nain, pac, an


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CHAP ter oNe 0

h. Ws in cunis ih scia pcins a ss vun-

ab ab a inscuiy han hy u b his. n Dna,

xap, s scuiy in i is n i a spcic jb; i a

ss a jb h can ih n anh n xpc supp (in ainain-

in a basicay cn i) h sa. Evn ih incas pcaiy in

h ab a, ca piics s aiv pcan puc

ps-mak scuiy: wha is calld xicuiy whn xibl hiing

an in s is cbin ih a bus scia scuiy sys

wks (Kallbg 2011, 15). w balanc xibiliy ( businss, in-

dusy, mplys) agains scuiy ( ciizns, sidns, mplys) is

a pnnia pb n, inusia sas. Din sas, a i-

n hisica is, sv i inyhuh sciais, cpa

capialism, nlibalism, sa wla, nlibalis scialism (hinasnlibalism as xcpin [Ong 2006]). nd, accding lanyi,

cunis hav swung hisically in h ninnh and wnih cn-

uis n n h spcu h h in a ub vn

bwn pivilging mak and cnmic gwh whn dsiuin

and unmplymn spik, spuing wk pss and ppulis ag

anin h ns ( scuiy) is ciizns (anyi 200).

Duin h 970s an 980s, Japan achiv a aab baanc b-

n hih cnic h an a hih v jb scuiy (a)s. Un Japan, nc., h cuny as cnsi a sup sab

sciy ( s): n ih a ci a, n a iiay

nan, an an nvinn n-asin jbs, aias, an s-

cia cnncins. cuiy a inas a nc xpc an si:

wha n add dilignc and cmplianc in a scial cnac ha

is as h n. Din h ps-a scuiy xi-

cuiy, hn s a pc ss by a spcic pac jb han

by the state-sponsored social security system, Japan, Inc. operated throughh mak. O, m pcisly, i an by cllapsing h mak in h

pac, hich caps in h scia acy h aiy an h.

Japan asn a a sa an h vnn aca i in h ay

scia pvisins (hich is si u ay). Rah, i as h cpa-

in an h aiy ha u as h ac a insiuins. Givn

a aiy a hav an supp a aiy, s an ca bu

as h paca ynaic ha xac ab a

s an as hi unpai ivs in anain h hush, h chi-n, an any aach y s ha h bainn cu iv a his


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PAIN o lIe

jb. Japans sup sab sciy pn n his n pnncis,

labors, and attachments. And, as it unraveled in post-postwar Japan, a very

paicua in pcaiy an pcaia has in is pac.

NINe moNtHS Ater h ahqua an sunai ha cash h c-

ing sysms a h Fukushima Daiichi nucla acs, causing a ml-

n a h unis, i as annunc ha h ha ha bn cnain.

T acs had bn pu in cld shudwn, im Minis da

Yshihi ca n Dcb 5, usin a chnica ha inicas

nmalcy: inac acs wih ul cs in sa cndiin. In his cas

c shun an ha h paus a h b h ps-

su vsss ac nubs , 2, an 3 ha bn sabiiz a 00 -

s, sin h as aiaciv aias. in sh pans cin sys by yas n, h vnn ha iv up is

pis s i sai. n ca cn v h aa acs;

naina say as s (Fac 20, A6).

Bu n vyn blivd his assin. uspicius ha h gvn-

mn was alsly dclaing succss appas ppls as and ang

v is incpncy, any vic ub abu h accuacy an iin

his claim. Upn haing h nws, h gvn Fukushima -

cu immdialy challngd i. T accidn has n bn bughun cn h ps, pinin u h yia ans si

hanin his cninncy, incuin cnaina a (As Sm-

bu 2/7/20). n hi s xps pais h vnn an h

ky Elcic w mpany (tePCo), h wns h Fukushima

nucla acs, civly cling h acs dwn, hs dis-

iss h iusin say ipi by h c shun. Givn

ha a as h acs n in n an hav a aiain,

h nx (vy dlica) sag mving ul m h acs will bisi, ha, an i cnsuin han usua. shun is a

ha has bn u iv h ipssin a achin s

in csu, Ki iai, a pss a h Rsach Rac nsi-

u a Ky Univsiy, an, nin h vn accin vn-

n picins i u a a as u cas uy isan h

pans: W si ac a n ba pic ppins an by h i i is

ay v s us i b n a (abuchi 20, A8).

Dahinss, as Ki sus, shu b ac ah han cnainund als illusins by a gvnmn whs pmiss, and inasuc-


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CHAP ter oNe 2

u, say can n n b us. u h as sp a ba,

hin suviv in s ha ay qui n acics, aiancs, an

aps. piics suviva; a anc ih ah ha ans a in

inain a i. Wha his ans sins h ac aas

n ha h nuca cisis is ca b fciay v an vacuain

ds will sa lif is ha sm us un. Uncnvincd ha

hy can b sa h, any a avin ( bain up h aiy, avin

h husban bhin) a hi chancs as nuca us (gpsu

m) sh in h cunyan sh ha ans n ny -

sain ns cuniy, h, an () ivih bu as nin

in ha can b an ain an inhspiab ain. is isciina-

in aains Fuushia vacus a as iiay in h a-

ah 3/. Riniscn h sia ha as aach h aicbb suvivs (bus) ishia an aasai, hs h

living in Fukushima at the time o the disaster harbor a contamination that

can n h sciay puin (Duas 2002).

On nws sy I had in July 2011 pd n a wman wh lf

Fuushia cu iiay in 3/ bu nv un a h

anyh s iv an as n unin Minai a, hich is

hin is h Daiichi uca an an cs , bu n

insi, h vacuain zn ips a 3/. u a ih nhs p-nan, h wman was high isk, a li wk in wn id ll h.

Y sh as unin pcisy bcaus i as isy sh, h

an pi. , a as, sh ha bh a h an a jb. Risinss

n by ha an by h?

u as in Minai a a puy pincipa a hih sch isiss

h claims mad by h gvnmn ha, wih h cld shudwn an-

nuncd n Dcmb 15, h nucla cisis was nw v. Tugh his

school had reopened in October when declared sae ollowing a ast-pacedcanup, h pincipa as n cnvinc: Tis s n in u us

a a. y Dcb, ny 350 705 suns ha un. pain

h Daiichi uca an, bu as his n an h cuny phaps,

h sai h pan is i a bac bx, an n n ha is ay hap-

pnin. n i (abuchi 20, A8).

nd hn, umbling pnially und, is h ha anh

lag-scal ahquak wih h pssibiliy anh sunami. Wih is

jury-rigged cooling system, the recent repairs on the Daiichi Nuclear Planthav n bn a ihsan a aj ahqua hih- in su-


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PAIN o lIe 3

nai: a cincy in h iina pan as , cus. u iss

hav annunc ha anh aj qua (sh in h in

Japan, si sn) is n ny a pssibiiy bu a cainy. Ts a

acs as ys hn sanin in h uins shinai, h n

s hi by 3/, sui up in ubb an ay ba upn shvin

u in ay Juy. T a h vun pain ha jin, ac

a, s in n us, as in bs. ca a h n his spch

abu h ha, any sins, an b spcu h aa

an pp h ha su s uch. Tn, n incin s, h

us b ppa bcaus anh ahqua u c n ay sn.

inin his n h hi bhin hi, h su h shu

un i a sunai hi: Run up h hi. n un as.

Tis cndiin uncainy, umbling insabiliy, a ain mud-didby dbis, cnaminain, dahis wha Japans ac as hi

cuny vs a in his scn ca h ny- s cnuy.

s h cn cisis has shn, h cuny is n a au in. n a

sup sab sciy an n (y) n ha has cnain h aa an

ha is nuca accin. Rah, i is n acin h chan p-

caiy uip ins. an ay ca his pcaius siuain a c

shudwn?, askd Kud Kazuhik, a pss nucla ngining

a Ky Univsiy, upn hain h vnn cai ha is nucacisis as n un cn (Fac 20, A).

s cainy n. u jus asin h qusin, as s any ()

Japans a in hs ays, is a sin shin n. spas an

in an spain spicisa h vnn, is pca-

ains say an cn, an scia insiuins ha hav bn un-

nin n cain xpcains an ics (hiachy an pnncy) ha

may n lng mak sns. nd, in sm cass a las, ying u nw

acics (an sisancs) suviv pcaius is. Uncainy is uns-in. u cnnin ih i, in in h u, is a in spns

han gipping n amilia scuiis h auhiis ha pnunc

h. Tis is n h hs h b. sin in ha sns, an

wha lins, and wih wha cs and acs pcaiy is ngnding a

piics suviva: a psnain piics in a h qus-

in suviva (bs 200, 0).

PreCArIt, dItH Btler has au, ans shin hancniin an: uh n hin ha h cniin pcai-


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n o t e s

C h a P t e r 1 . P a i n o f L i f e

1. Japans nams a in las nam s.

2. N.H.k. ni ys anslas as Wlcm h N.H.k. NHk is h nainal

badcasing sysm in Japan. Bu in h sy h main pagnis, h is su-ing m dlusins, hins his sands ippn hiimi yai h Japans

iimi ssciain.

3. Manga a cmic bs, hil anim a animad vids cans. ai-

m asuhi, h auh, publishd h nvl in 2002 ih Kadaa shn.

T manga vsin, als publishd by Kadaa, as sializd in is manga maga-

zin Shnen Ace bn Jun 2004 and Jun 2007. T lvisin anim, badcas

in ny-u pisds, as lvisd by Gnz bn July and Dcmb 2006.

T a English vsins h nvl, cmic b, and animad can.

4. Tis is smha a n usag by Yuasa, hich h as m ds li ta-

mekomu ( had sav up) and tameiki ( sigh).

5. i Budiu (1998) is n h s schlas said hav usd h d.


24/24

Note S to CHAP ter two 208

6. amd a ny Fd, h sad h Fd aumbil plans in Dabn,

Michigan, in 1915, Fdism s a scial and cnmic sysm indusial

mass pducin. Uniqu h Unid as unil h nd h cnd Wld

Wa, Fdism spad and as xpd h cunis in Eup, Lain mica,

Japan, and Eas sia in psa ims. Basd n aylizain, pducin as b-n dn in disc sps ma i m ainal and fcin. ls, und h

mdl inducd by Fd, s paid a sufcinly dcn ag s hy

culd puchas h bjcs hy pducing hi n cnsumpin (such as

a Mdl- Fd). Du a numb acs, including h il shc in 1973 and in-

casd innainal cmpiin cnsumpin gds, Fdis pducin sad

shiing ps-Fdism in h 1970s chaacizd by m jus-in-im pducin

( lan pducin), xibl lab, and usucing (s avy 2007).

7. ccding Guy anding (2011, 910), h pcaia (s in pcai-

us mplymn) lac svn ms lab-lad scuiy: 1) lab ma scu-

iy (adqua incm-aning ppuniis), 2) mplymn scuiy (pcin

agains abiay ing), 3) jb scuiy (h abiliy advanc), 4) scuiy

(pcin agains accidns), 5) sill pducin scuiy (h ppuniy ac-

qui and advanc sills), 6) incm scuiy (adqua incm), and 7) psna-

in scuiy (accss a cllciv vic in h lab ma).

8. Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War IIis h il Jhn Ds

(1999) xclln hisy abu Japans da in h cnd Wld Wa and is sub-

squn cnsucin und llid (mainly mican) ccupain.

9. By May 2012 h dcisin had bn mad nv pn h u nucla -

acs in Fuushima. T numb nucla acs in h cuny is hus allidn b y, n y-u, ha is, y n pnding pning.

10. T is an mgn bdy schlaship n h ac/snsing/mbdimn

/vydaynss pcaiy/suvival/a li/abandnmn. My n has bn

dply inmd and inuncd by his schlaship, and paiculaly ha by ll

anhplgiss n: dinay acs and pcaiys ms (a 2007, 2012), li in

zns scial abandnmn (Bihl 2005), aciv spac and phanmic xisnc

(ava-Yasmin 2012), a li and h hp/uglinss scial ms (Rss 2010),

xisnial cipciy and living n h magins (Luch 2012), h unvn disibu-

in ll-bing (Jacsn 2011), scial suing and pain (Das 1997), ca and dbamids unqual scial aangmns (an 2012), h chniciy pain in a pasal

clinic (Gacia 2010), hics and vlunism (Muhlbach 2012), xhausin, ndu-

anc, and a scial his (vinlli 2011), and qunss, pcaiy, and abulusiy

(Manalansan, al givn a Fminis Ty Wshp, Du, Mach 23, 2013).

11. Japans nams a in in hins idgams (kanji) ha can b ad in

din ays.

C h a P t e r 2 . f r o m L i f e L o n g t o L i q u i d J a P a n

1. Mass culu als picd up h hm h h sacd impial galia in iscmmcial slgans dsiabl cnsum gds: h h S s h la 1950s and

Precarious Japan by Anne Allison

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