The Status of Women in Japan
“In Japan the traditional definition of woman is ryosai kembo (good wife, wise mother), and this is still the ideal today. By far the majority of Japanese women show they can find happiness and fulfillment within that role. However, especially since World War II, woman's status in Japanese society is changing (Japanese Women Today, 2005)”. The World War ll is the turning point of women in Japan. Before the World War ll, women had no property rights in Japan. They had to use their husbands’ family name, had no marriage freedom. The relationship between them and their husbands were similar with the relationship between father and son. But after the World War ll, the status of Japanese women was much higher than before. “They’ve got suffrage, marriage freedom, relative power, inheritance, and working right and women basically have the same equal rights as men” (Ling Jiang, 2001, p150). “Article 14 of the constitution, which was promulgated in 1946, states ‘all of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social, status or family origin’. Especially important was the revision of the civil code in 1947, which gave women equal legal status with men in all phases of life, thereby abolishing the old patriarchal character of the family. Thus, the civil code and laws pertaining to elections, education and labour were subsequently revised in accordance with the principle of sexual equality” (B. N. Murthy, 2013). In addition, “the Japanese government prepared the Plan for Gender Equality 2000 in 1996, and this led to the passing of the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society in 1999. The five basic principles covered in this law are: respect for the human rights of women and men, consideration to social systems or practices, joint participation in planning and deciding policies, compatibility of activities in family life and other activities, and international cooperation” (Web-Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan).
Although the Japanese women can enjoy the equal rights as men, the traditional views of women still affect women’s status somehow. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported: “More than half of the public supports the idea that husbands should be the breadwinners, while wives should stay home and do housework, a recent government survey showed. According to the survey on gender equality by the Cabinet Office, 51.6 percent of respondents supported traditional roles for married couples. The percentage increased by 10.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009. By age, the rise was largest among those in their 20s, at 19.3 points” (Yomiuri Shimbun, 2012). In general, the number of Japanese women in leadership positions is small. They still have less chance than men in the many areas, like employment. By researching, “some Japanese women still get a day off from work every month because of their periods and many works as men-flattering bar hostesses. Women made up only two percent of all the personnel in the military, where they learn important skills like flower arranging” (http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=627, 2009). Also, the situations of domestic violence still exist now in Japan. Here is a fact which is the men who have been accused of repeatedly beating their wives was former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, winner of the 1974 Nobel Peace Prize. This event causes that many Japanese men still feel they have a right to beat their wives at home. In addition, there is still no legislation about domestic violence passed in Japan until now.
In the aspect of status of women, Japan still has a long way need to go. The battles of gender inequality are still going on in Japan, and this fight needs a plenty of supports from Japanese men. Hopefully, the status of Japanese women is as same as Japanese man.
“In Japan the traditional definition of woman is ryosai kembo (good wife, wise mother), and this is still the ideal today. By far the majority of Japanese women show they can find happiness and fulfillment within that role. However, especially since World War II, woman's status in Japanese society is changing (Japanese Women Today, 2005)”. The World War ll is the turning point of women in Japan. Before the World War ll, women had no property rights in Japan. They had to use their husbands’ family name, had no marriage freedom. The relationship between them and their husbands were similar with the relationship between father and son. But after the World War ll, the status of Japanese women was much higher than before. “They’ve got suffrage, marriage freedom, relative power, inheritance, and working right and women basically have the same equal rights as men” (Ling Jiang, 2001, p150). “Article 14 of the constitution, which was promulgated in 1946, states ‘all of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social, status or family origin’. Especially important was the revision of the civil code in 1947, which gave women equal legal status with men in all phases of life, thereby abolishing the old patriarchal character of the family. Thus, the civil code and laws pertaining to elections, education and labour were subsequently revised in accordance with the principle of sexual equality” (B. N. Murthy, 2013). In addition, “the Japanese government prepared the Plan for Gender Equality 2000 in 1996, and this led to the passing of the Basic Law for a Gender-equal Society in 1999. The five basic principles covered in this law are: respect for the human rights of women and men, consideration to social systems or practices, joint participation in planning and deciding policies, compatibility of activities in family life and other activities, and international cooperation” (Web-Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan).
Although the Japanese women can enjoy the equal rights as men, the traditional views of women still affect women’s status somehow. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported: “More than half of the public supports the idea that husbands should be the breadwinners, while wives should stay home and do housework, a recent government survey showed. According to the survey on gender equality by the Cabinet Office, 51.6 percent of respondents supported traditional roles for married couples. The percentage increased by 10.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009. By age, the rise was largest among those in their 20s, at 19.3 points” (Yomiuri Shimbun, 2012). In general, the number of Japanese women in leadership positions is small. They still have less chance than men in the many areas, like employment. By researching, “some Japanese women still get a day off from work every month because of their periods and many works as men-flattering bar hostesses. Women made up only two percent of all the personnel in the military, where they learn important skills like flower arranging” (http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=627, 2009). Also, the situations of domestic violence still exist now in Japan. Here is a fact which is the men who have been accused of repeatedly beating their wives was former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, winner of the 1974 Nobel Peace Prize. This event causes that many Japanese men still feel they have a right to beat their wives at home. In addition, there is still no legislation about domestic violence passed in Japan until now.
In the aspect of status of women, Japan still has a long way need to go. The battles of gender inequality are still going on in Japan, and this fight needs a plenty of supports from Japanese men. Hopefully, the status of Japanese women is as same as Japanese man.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
economic system of Japan
The economy of Japan is the third largest in the world by nominal GDP, the fourth largest by Purchasing Power Parity and is the world's second largest developed economy. Its economy is highly efficient and competitive in areas linked to international trade, but productivity is far lower in protected areas such as agriculture, distribution, and services. Japan has few natural resources, and trade helps it earn the foreign exchange needed to purchase raw materials for its economy.
Less than 15% of Japan's land is arable. The agricultural economy is highly subsidized and protected. With per hectare crop yields among the highest in the world, Japan maintains an overall agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 40% on fewer than 4.6 million cultivated hectares (14 million acres). Japan normally produces a slight surplus of rice but imports large quantities of wheat, corn, sorghum, and soybeans, primarily from the United States. Japan is the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports (http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/japan/economy, 2012).
Deposits of gold, magnesium, and silver meet current industrial demands, but Japan is dependent on foreign sources for many of the minerals essential to modern industry. Iron ore, coke, copper, and bauxite must be imported, as must many forest products.
Japan's main export goods are cars, electronic devices and computers. Most important trade partners are China and the USA, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany. The most important import goods are raw materials such as oil, foodstuffs and wood. Major supplier is China, followed by the USA, Australia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
By researching, we know that gross domestic product rose at a 4.1% annual pace in the first three months of the year. On a quarterly basis, Japan's GDP increased by 1.0%.
Less than 15% of Japan's land is arable. The agricultural economy is highly subsidized and protected. With per hectare crop yields among the highest in the world, Japan maintains an overall agricultural self-sufficiency rate of about 40% on fewer than 4.6 million cultivated hectares (14 million acres). Japan normally produces a slight surplus of rice but imports large quantities of wheat, corn, sorghum, and soybeans, primarily from the United States. Japan is the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports (http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/japan/economy, 2012).
Deposits of gold, magnesium, and silver meet current industrial demands, but Japan is dependent on foreign sources for many of the minerals essential to modern industry. Iron ore, coke, copper, and bauxite must be imported, as must many forest products.
Japan's main export goods are cars, electronic devices and computers. Most important trade partners are China and the USA, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany. The most important import goods are raw materials such as oil, foodstuffs and wood. Major supplier is China, followed by the USA, Australia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
By researching, we know that gross domestic product rose at a 4.1% annual pace in the first three months of the year. On a quarterly basis, Japan's GDP increased by 1.0%.
Oil Producers vS. Consumers
1. Record:
Oil Production: 135,510 barrels per day
Oil Consumption: 4,714,800 barrels per day
2. Summarize: Write a short paragraph explaining the information you discovered and conclusions you can draw. How does this information help you develop a sense of place for the country -- living conditions, social development, use of land or other resources, etc.?
Afrter researching, I found that the total oil production in Japan were 135,510 bbl/day and the oil consumption were 4,714,800 bbl/day. Japan is the third largest oil consumer comparison to the world. Because Japan's oil resources are very limited, the country relies almost solely on imports to meet its oil consumption needs. Actually, Japan consumes most of its oil in the transportation and industrial sectors. Coal is the second energy consumption in Japan.
3. Contemplate: What questions does the information raise in your mind. Write down two questions you have based on what you have discovered.
1. From what countries would you predict that Japan import oil? Why?
2. List some resources that Japan will export to other countries?
Oil Production: 135,510 barrels per day
Oil Consumption: 4,714,800 barrels per day
2. Summarize: Write a short paragraph explaining the information you discovered and conclusions you can draw. How does this information help you develop a sense of place for the country -- living conditions, social development, use of land or other resources, etc.?
Afrter researching, I found that the total oil production in Japan were 135,510 bbl/day and the oil consumption were 4,714,800 bbl/day. Japan is the third largest oil consumer comparison to the world. Because Japan's oil resources are very limited, the country relies almost solely on imports to meet its oil consumption needs. Actually, Japan consumes most of its oil in the transportation and industrial sectors. Coal is the second energy consumption in Japan.
3. Contemplate: What questions does the information raise in your mind. Write down two questions you have based on what you have discovered.
1. From what countries would you predict that Japan import oil? Why?
2. List some resources that Japan will export to other countries?
Summary & GDP information
The economic system in Japan is capitalism which is also called market economy. Japan's economy relies on its manufacturing industry which produces automobiles, electronic equipment, robots, and televisions. Fishing and agriculture is also important. The economy of Japan is the third largest in the world by nominal GDP, the fourth largest by Purchasing Power Parity and is the world's second largest developed economy. Its economy is highly efficient and competitive in areas linked to international trade, but productivity is far lower in protected areas such as agriculture, distribution, and services. Japan has few natural resources, and trade helps it earn the foreign exchange needed to purchase raw materials for its economy. " Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. A small agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. While self-sufficient in rice production, Japan imports about 60% of its food on a caloric basis." Japan's main export goods are cars, electronic devices and computers. Most important trade partners are China and the USA, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany. The most important import goods are raw materials such as oil, foodstuffs and wood. Major supplier is China, followed by the USA, Australia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
By researching, we know that gross domestic product rose at a 4.1% annual pace in the first three months of the year. On a quarterly basis, Japan's GDP increased by 1.0%.
GDP per capita (PPP) is $36,900 (2012 est.).
By researching, we know that gross domestic product rose at a 4.1% annual pace in the first three months of the year. On a quarterly basis, Japan's GDP increased by 1.0%.
GDP per capita (PPP) is $36,900 (2012 est.).