Description

A deep dive into Japan's koseki system and its impact on identity, exclusion, and social control.

For over a century, Japan's koseki registration system has been the official measure of 'Japaneseness, ' documenting family status and bloodline. Masataka Endo's The State Construction of 'Japaneseness' traces the system from the Meiji era through colonial holdings to today, revealing how it has fostered prejudice and discrimination. This work challenges the system's foundations, exposing its use of ethnicity, citizenship, and family to define and exclude.

Explore the historical and political underpinnings of this bureaucratic system and its impact on Japanese society. Discover how the koseki system has shaped notions of identity and belonging, creating a divisive understanding of who qualifies as 'Japanese' and the consequences for those who don't fit. Perfect for scholars and anyone interested in Japanese studies, sociology, and human rights.