Nation-State and identity in Japan

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the work of Nagao Nishikawa, an important Japanese social theorist whose “theory of the nation-state” (kokuminkokkaron) has greatly influenced recent debates on identity and culture in Japan. Nishikawa’s interpretation focuses on nation-state formation in Japan since the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and it follows a more general line of contemporary social thought that has tried to question traditional views of Japan as a homogeneous society. In contrast, Nishikawa’s argument stresses the conflicts that are pervasive in cultural practices in Japan. Moreover, he points to the need to think of Japan not as an isolated unit, but rather as part of a wider system in which the relations between Japanese society and the rest of the world play a crucial role in revealing a more complex reality. However, despite allowing for illuminating new perspectives, this interpretation also has its own difficulties and limitations, especially in regard to its normative consequences, which remain controversial. I conclude this article with a discussion of some of these issues.