Summaries

Valery Kistanov

The Policy of Japan in Northeast Asia: Certain Issues and Trends

Two key goals of the foreign policy of Abe in 2015 are the improving of strained relations with all its Asian neighbors (including Russia), on the one hand, and the strengthening of military-political relations with the United States of America on the other. The successful solution of these tasks will largely determine for the foreseeable future the positioning of the country in Northeast Asia.

Keywords: Japan, Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, USA, security, defense, Japanese aggression, the "comfort women", the Self-Defense Forces.

Oleg Kazakov

Russian-Japanese relations in 2014

The article describes the main events that influenced the Russian-Japanese relations in 2014.It is shown that because of the Ukrainian events the Russian-Japanese political relations were cooled, however large-scale crisis in the bilateral relations doesn't exist yet.

Keywords: Japan, Russian-Japanese relations, political dialogue, territorial claims, anti-Russian sanctions, public opinion, mass media, information war

Olga Dobrinskaya

The Characteristic Features of Japan's Soft Power in Central Asia

The article analyses the role of soft power in the process of shaping and carrying out of Japan's foreign policy towards Central Asia. Using cultural affinity as a basis Japan seeks to build an attractive image in the region. Japan actively uses the resources of public and cultural diplomacy and its official development aid. This creates the favorable environment for promoting business interests and implementation of foreign policy initiatives in the region.

Keywords: Japan, Central Asia, soft power, cultural diplomacy, ODA.

Eva Arutyunyan

Japan's Policy in the Persian Gulf Region During the Periods of Iran-Iraq War and Iran - Kuwait Conflict

This article discusses the policy of Japan in the Persian Gulf during Iran-Iraq war and Iraq - Kuwait conflict. Japan based on the assumption of its peace constitution did not take part in military actions in the region and was promoter of peaceful resolution of the conflicts. Due to Japan's efforts was signed a peace treaty between Iran and Iraq. During the Iraq-Kuwait conflict Japan gave financial aid to Kuwait. However, Japan's policy of non-intervention wascondemned which became one of the reasons for reviewing its Middle Eastern policy and for changing its approaches to regional problems.

Keywords: Iran-Iraq war, third oil crisis, OPEC, Persian Gulf, annexation of Kuwait, Japan's economic aids, activation of Japan's foreign policy.

Nelly Leshchenko

The History of the Nakai House from the Province of Omi.

In XVI-XVII centuries there were many trading houses, or trading and business houses in Japan - Konoike, Mitsui, Sumitomo, which were created by traders of the samurai class. The Nakai house from the province of Omi was one of them. The energetic entrepreneurs, who were at the head of the business, in a particular socio-economic situation managed to spread out multifarious activities, expand the geography of trade up to Ezo (Hokkaido) and create an innovative management style, the details of which can be seen in modern Japan.

Keywords: merchant, the Tokugawa era, the provincial merchants, a specific system of recruitment and training, the charter of trading house, innovation in the management and control system.

Larisa Zhilina

Tell me: Who is your friend? Japan VS China

In the paper an attempt was made to clarify problems Japanese public image is faced. Author shows the influence of relationships between Japan and its close neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region on changes in country image in 2014. The major focus is placed on Japanese national image in China, based on the 10th Japan-China Public Opinion Poll carried out in 2014.

Keywords: Public opinion polls, country ratings, reasons for negative and positive impressions, Japan, China.

Ksenia Naka

The Nobel Prize of Shinya Yamanaka as an Occasion for Rethinking the Role of Science and the Mission of a Scientist in Japan

The article is about the Japanese Nobel Prize-winning researcher in Physiology or Medicine, Shinya Yamanaka, his discovery and background, and about the current process of re-evaluation of the place of science and scientists in Japanese society after his winning the award. His discovery gave start to not only new directions in regenerative medicine, pharmacology and transplantation, but it also created an opportunity for　discussion of issues in the world of science in modern Japan. The award also drew attention to the role of researcher, often called "samurais of science", or "gakusya-no kagami" - the ideal to be aspired to for scientists.

Keywords: Nobel Prize, induced pluripotent stem cells, discovery, regenerative medicine, medical treatment.

Ekaterina Bolshova, Alina Scherbakova, Denis Scherbakov

Investment cooperation of Japan with Brazil and Mexico: current state and perspectives

This article is aimed to analyze the main projects, which reflect the tendencies of bilateral investment cooperation of Japan with leading countries of Latin America - Brazil and Mexico - in the branches, which are key for Japanese economy.

Keywords: Japan, Latin America, Brazil, Mexico, foreign direct investments, motor industry, energy, biofuels

Anastasia Lozhkina

The All-Union Society for Cultural Ties with Abroad and the Development of Soviet-Japanese cultural relations (1925-1939)

The article analyzes the role of the All-Union Society for Cultural Ties with Abroad in the development of Soviet-Japanese cultural relations. The author focuses on the main stages of the evolution of Soviet-Japanese relations from 1925 to 1939. Cultural activities contributed to the development of friendly bilateral relations. Notions about each other, familiarity with each nation's traditions and customs have been formed through various exhibitions and film screenings. Toursof "Kabuki" in the USSR and visiting B. Pilnyak of Japan played an important role in the cultural convergence of the two countries.

Keywords: The All-Union Society for Cultural Ties with Abroad (VOKS), Soviet-Japanese cultural relations, E. Spalvin, O. Kameneva, Kabuki Theatre, Culture, B. Pilnyak.

Vladimir Datsyshen

The Japanese in the Descriptions of the Participants of the Soviet-Japanese war of 1945

70 years has passed since Soviet-Japanese war in August of 1945. This war had a big impact on relations between Russia and Japan. In 1945 many Soviet soldiers met many Japanese soldiers and their experience and feelings were an important contribution in the making of the image of the Japanese in Russian society. The making of this image can be traced down in newspapers and memoirs of the participants of the war.

Keywords: Soviet-Japanese war of 1945, the image of the Japanese in Soviet society, Japanese prisoners, Soviet newspapers, memoirs of war participants.

Evgeny Baksheev

On Ryukyuan Cosmogonic Myths

 The article considers different variations of Ryukyuan state (court) and folk cosmogonic mythology (myths on creation) in historical, religious and cultural context of the region. Basic sources on the issue (OmoroSo:shi, Ryu:kyu: Shinto:ki, Chu:zan Seikan, etc.) and the Author's field research data are used.

Keywords: Ryukyu/Okinawa, Ryukyuan mythology, cosmogonic myths (myths on creation), state (court) and folk mythology, Ryukyuan religion, Ryukyuan Shinto, priestesses cult.

Yury Kuzhel

Buddhist Dry-lacquer Statues and Clay Sculptures

The clay and dry-lacquer sculptures form the central theme of the present article which introduces the readers to the creations of the Nara, Heian and other periods that survive today in the temples of the ancient capitals. The statues in many ways symbolize the aesthetic achievement of the age which produced a number of Buddhist images of such astonishing beauty and technical perfection that they rightly stand among the sculptural masterpieces of the world.

Keywords: Dry-lacquer statues, clay sculpture, Four Celestial Kings (Guardians), five-story pagoda, Buddhist sculpture, mandorla, painted clay, attendant, Gold Hall, Inner Gate, Thousand-armed Kannon, temple, statue, Buddhist images, iconography

Vasily Molodyakov

The Japan of Claude Farrere: the Image of the Country and its Politics through the Eyes of a French Intellectual

This article deals with the image of Japan in the works of French writer Claude Farrere (1876-1958) known as an author of ‘colonial' and ‘exotic' novels about ‘the Orient' from Turkey to Japan. Confrontation between the East and the West, conflict of Old and New as depicted in the novel "The Battle" on the Russo-Japanese war as well as ‘Japonophile' essays of the 1930s where Farrere advocated Japanese colonial policy and expansion in Asia are the main subjects of this study.

Keywords: Japan, China, war, modernization, colonization, expansion.

Olga Zaberezhnaya

The Ethical Thought of the Japanese White Birch Society (Shirakaba-ha) - the Problem of Egoism

The ethical thought of three major writers of Shirakaba Group - a literary society and at the same time a humanistic movement is the theme of this paper. We focus mainly on the problem of egoism - one of the important issues facing the young intellectuals of Taisho Japan (1912-1926) that saw an active development of individualistic thought.

Keywords: Shirakaba, ethics, thought, Taisho, Mushanokoji Saneatsu, Arisshima Takeo, Shiga Naoya, egoism, personalism, ego.

Aida Suleimenova

The birth of the New Woman in Japan and the point of view of Okamoto Kanoko

The paper discusses the significance of the image of "New Woman" in context of female literary in the twentieth century. The focus of discussion is concentrated on the essay "The dialog on a contemporary woman" (Shinjidai josei-no mondou, 1925) and the novel "Wheel of life" (Shoujou ruten, 1939) written by Okamoto Kanoko (1889-1939). These works concern the New Woman in its transformation - from "a woman fighting for her rights and freedom" to a "modern girl" (moga).

Keywords: Japanese prose of the twentieth century, female images, Okamoto Kanoko.

Elena Katasonova

Yakuza-eiga: History of genre

This article deals with one of the most prominent genre in Japanese cinema - yakuza-eiga, which focuses on the problems of the Japanese organized crime syndicate (yakuza). Beginning in the post-war period these films have an interesting history and remain extremely popular today. This genre helped to establish a number of internationally recognized film-makers (Kinji Fukusaku, Takeshi Kitano, Suzuki Seijun) and actors (Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara, Jjunko Fuji) while several studios («Toei», «Nikkatsu») have been firmly established because of it success.

Keywords: Japanese cinema, yakuza, yakuza-eiga, ninkyo:, jitsuroku, sukeban.

Natalya Egorova

The way of the Japanese book: the History of Printing Books from Antiquity till Present Time

The article talks about the history of Japanese printing and publishing from Nara period (710 - 794) till present day. Attention is payed to the form of a book, several types of binding are given as an example. The history of Japanese printing is shown by the example of the largest Japanese publishing company - Kodansha. Connection with such factors, as outside influence (China and West) and literature process in Japan, is stressed.

Keywords: book, printing, binding, Kodansha, history, Japanese publishing companies.

Ruslan Kantur

The Institution of Genro in the System of Political Power of Japan of the Meiji Period

The article attempts to scrutinize the role and the place of the institution of Genrō within the government system of Japan during the Meiji era, and its evolution at the turn of the XXth century. The author analyzes the sources of influence of Genrō in Japan's political sphere and explains the reasons for the unprecedented political heft of this institution.

Keywords: Genrō, Meiji restoration, Itō Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo

Alexander Mescheryakov

Understanding of Life Environment in the Process of Self-identification by Japan and the Japanese

The article deals with the problem of understanding of environment (the size of the Japanese land, its richness, climate, etc.) in Japanese history from 8 to 20 centuries and its relation to self identification of Japan and the Japanese. No universal attitude towards environment was found and several periods were detected. The attitude to environment was determined by optimistic/pessimistic atmosphere in state&society and by the world view of the period.

Keywords: Japan, identification, history, environment, world view.

Konstantin Sarkisov, Alexander Panov

Russia and Japan: Peculiarities of Historical Development in 16-18-th Centuries

Comparative study of Russia and Japan identities in this period is tackling such problems as state-society relations, effectiveness of regimes, structural reforms, transformation of political power and society, influential groups and elites, their conservative nature and ability to make changes.

Keywords: Japan, Russia, 16-18 centuries, political elite, national identity.

Alexander Panov

The Epoch of Reforms in Russia and Japan (Middle of 19-th - Early 20-th Century)

Russia and Japan in the mid-nineteenth century commenced a series of reforms aimed at radical modernization of the socio-political and economic structures of both nations. Russia's "Great reforms" and the Japanese Meiji transformation were united by a common goal - to eliminate the backlog from the Western countries in order to guarantee their own security and to obtain a chance for an active participation in the processes of the reconstruction of the world order in the era of capitalism.

Both in Russia and in Japan, many of these reforms were common or identical by their nature. These reforms have been heavily influenced by the European experience of state and public administration. However, the Japanese society demonstrated a greater readiness to accept Westernizing reforms than the Russian one.

The process of modernization caused opposition in both countries, which was more stringentin Russia than in Japan. Both countries were challenged by the vital problem of retaining their national identity in the process of adaptation to the new realities of political, economic and social development.

 Over the three decades of the Meiji period Japan created the constitutional order, performed industrialization, introduced capitalist system and reformed the social structure.

While in Russia the reforms were less radical by nature, Russian society has also undergone major changes. Russia took the path of progressive development by the capitalist model. In Russia, opposition to reform on the part of landowners, and nobility led to the failure in adopting the Constitution and, limiting the power of the monarchic regime. The fact that reforms have been middle-of-the road created the preconditions for the revolutionary upheaval in 1905.

Keywords: Modernization, land reform, the development of industrial production, establishment of banks, military reform, judicial reform, educational reform, constitutional reform, creation of political parties, counter-reform, national identity.