Undermining the Japanese Miracle: Work and Conflict in a Japanese Coal-mining Community

by Matthew Allen

Overview

This book is about the underside of Japan's economic miracle. It is an account of people who have been forgotten in Japan's push to industrialize in the postwar era: the coalminers of Chikuho on Japan's southernmost island. The dirty and neglected character of Chikuho is in stark contrast with Japan's prevailing image as an international leader in technology and an affluent, socially cohesive country. The book challenges the concepts of industrial harmony, cultural homogeneity and caring government that dominate much of the literature on Japan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521450096
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/25/1994
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

List of Plates; List of Maps; List of Figures; Acknowledgements; Glossary; List of abbreviations; Notes on translation and anonymity; Introduction; 1. Chikuho: a short description; 2. The Chikuho revivalists; 3. Idegawa; 4. A short history of coalmining: Chikuho in context; 5. The picture show man; 6. A culture in violence; 7. H-san mine: violence and repression; 8. The bathing master; 9. Labour conflict: the case of the K-san union action; 10. D-san and the students; 11. Mizuno; 12. The Y-san disaster; 13. Sono; 14. Welfare; 15. Welfare in Chikuho; 16. A Yakuza story; Conclusion; Bibliographical Essay; Bibliography; List of Informants; Index.