Author Description

Japan Is Rightly Regarded As One Of The Most Technologically Advanced Countries In The World, Yet The Development And Deployment Of Internet Technology In Japan Has Taken A Different Trajectory Compared With Western Nations. This Is The First Book To Look At The Specific Dynamics Of Japanese Internet Use. It Examines The Crucial Questions: * How The Japanese Are Using The Internet: From The Prevalence Of Access Via Portable Devices, To The Fashion Culture Of Mobile Phones * How Japan's Cute Culture Has Colonized Cyberspace * The Role Of The Internet In Different Musical Subcultures * How Different Men's And Women's Groups Have Embraced Technology To Highlight Problems Of Harassment And Bullying * The Social, Cultural And Political Impacts Of The Internet On Japanese Society * How Marginalized Groups In Japanese Society - Gay Men, Those Living With Aids, Members Of New Religious Groups And Japan's Hereditary Sub-caste, The Burakumin - Are Challenging The Mainstream By Using The Internet. Examined From A Variety Of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Using A Broad Range Of Case-studies, This Is An Exciting And Genuinely Cutting-edge Book Which Breaks New Ground In Japanese Studies And Will Be Of Value To Anyone Interested In Japanese Culture, The Internet And Cyberculture.