Quality of Life in Japan: Contemporary Perspectives on Happiness (Quality of Life in Asia Book 13)

This edited volume approaches the life experiences and well-being of Japanese people from an empirical perspective. It explores the current trend of happiness among Japanese over time and examines the association of income, lifestyle, and perceived life conditions using modern econometric models with supplementary qualitative observations. Issues relating to ageing, gender, household division of labour, and emigration are also examined to provide a wide scope of results based on both survey and field methods for culturally sensitive researchers. Going beyond the conventional cultural interpretation of the uniqueness of the Japanese case, this book provides timely, empirical evidence for understanding how the various social groups comprising the Japanese population have enjoyed a better quality of life, while some groups are very dissatisfied with social arrangements and have elected to emigrate. The book is a pioneering endeavour to reveal the detailed structure of quality of life and well-being in Japanese society. Front Matter ....Pages i-viii Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 An Introduction to Quality of Life in Japan: Contemporary Approaches (Ming-Chang Tsai, Noriko Iwai)....Pages 3-14 Happiness in Japan: A Hierarchical Age-Period-Cohort Analysis Based on JGSS Cumulative Data 2000–2015 (Kuniaki Shishido, Takayuki Sasaki)....Pages 15-45 Front Matter ....Pages 47-47 Happiness in Contemporary Japan: Study of Lifestyle and Values Using the Relative Income Hypothesis (Hiroo Harada, Eiji Sumi)....Pages 49-76 Income, Intra-household Bargaining Power and the Happiness of Japanese Married Women (Xinxin Ma, Xiangdan Piao)....Pages 77-106 Time Poverty and Maternal Wellbeing in Japan (Xinxin Ma)....Pages 107-130 Front Matter ....Pages 131-131 Changing Lives of the Japanese Elderly Under Uncertainty: An Analysis of Family Types and Economic Status (Hachiro Iwai)....Pages 133-149 Ancestor Worship and Quality of Life: Transforming Bonds with the Deceased in Contemporary Japan (Masayuki Kanai, Katsumi Shimane, Dang Thi Viet Phuong)....Pages 151-169 Intimacy, Similarity, and Equality Among Married People in East Asia (Ming-Chang Tsai)....Pages 171-192 Quality of Life in Japan and Emigration: The Perspectives of Japanese Skilled Immigrants in Australia (N. Oishi, I. Hamada)....Pages 193-214 Back Matter ....Pages 215-217