Description: Social policies reflect important ideas about the relationship between the state and the individual. This book examines this relationship in a number of unexplored areas in Japanese society, including policies relating to fertility, perinatal care, child care, sexuality and elder care. It concludes that a major transformation occurred during the 1990s as a result of Japan's changing economy, demography and civil society. The volume challenges many Western preconceptions about Japanese society.
Review Quotes: "From birth to death, from civil society to citizenship, these essays provide fascinating insights into Japanese life, culture and social policy. The claim that anthropologists can make useful contributions to understanding the relationship of state policies and citizens' lives is well demonstrated." Pacific Affairs