Social Representation of Japanese Characters in Zainichi Film

Discriminative treatment and zainichi identity crisis have often focused on zainichi-themed literary and media works. In terminology, zainichi is a term for ethnic Koreans living in Japan. Koreans are victims because of their minority, and Japanese are portrayed as perpetrators who discriminate against them. This study focuses on the representation of Japanese people through the main characters in the film Zainichi, Hotaru (2001) and For Those We Love (2007), which are the objects of this research. This study uses the representation theory by Stuart Hall to propose how Japanese people are represented in the zainichi film media. This research uses documentation and literature study techniques for data collection and descriptive qualitative methods for data analysis The results showed that the representation of the Japanese through the main characters in the two films emphasized more the positive or humanist Japanese characters: 1) people who respect other nations; 2) people who are compassionate and appreciate human values; 3) people who are considerate; 4) trustworthy people; 5) people who are loyal and committed to their friends and lovers.

Semantic Approach on Toshihiko Izutsu’s Translation of Surah Al-Alaq (96:1-19): Comparison of 3 Qur'an in Japanese Translation

Toshihiko Izutsu is a japanese non-Muslim Islamic thinker. He translated the Qur'an into Japanese in a distinctive and striking style compared to any other Japanese translator ever. The study took one example of a letter in the Qur'an, Alaq (96:1-19), and compared Izutsu's Japanese translation with a translation by the Japan Muslim Association (JMA) and Makoto Mizutani. It can be said that the Izutsu version attempts to convey not only the complex layered meaning of each chapter and each section of the Quran, but also the atmosphere of the Quran and the Arabian Peninsula at that time to Japanese readers at the same time. On the other hand, the other two Japanese translations seem to be attempting verbatim translations that are more faithful to the Arabic original. However, it might be able to be said that the JMA version emphasizes providing an accurate meaning based on the Sunnah classics annotation by putting a detailed note even at the expense of readability while the Mizutani version is same level with JMA but the Arabic text is not attached and it’s the easiest to read among three version.Keyword: Semantics, Toshihiko Izutsu, Qur’an

Meaning's Comparison of Two Autumn Haiku Written by Masaoka Shiki and Takarai Kikaku

Every country has its own culture. Japan has a close culture of art, both modern and traditional. One of the Japanese arts in literature is poetry. Poetry in Japanese literature is called haiku. To find out the differences and similarities in the meanings contained in the autumn-themed haiku by Masaoka Shiki and Takarai Kikaku, the writer intends to analyze the comparison of the two-autumn haiku by Masaoka Shiki and Takarai Kikaku. Comparative analysis of meaning is studied using Ronald Barthes's semiotic study to find its meaning. The semiotic study used is Ronald Barthes's semiotics which uses two stages of study through denotation and connotation, then its relationship with myth or culture. The result of this research produces a comparison of the similarities and differences between Masaoka Shiki's autumn haiku and Takarai Kikaku's. The similarity of autumn haiku by Masaoka Shiki and Takarai Kikaku is the theme raised, namely the beauty of nature and the environment. While the difference between the autumn haiku by Masaoka Shiki and Takarai Kikaku is the philosophical meaning of the discussion, and in the background of time and atmosphere mentioned.

Tomaru Verb Polysemy in Japanese

Polysemy is the capacity for a word or phrase to have multiple related meanings. Tomaru verb is one of the polysemous verbs. This study aims to describe the basic meaning and the extended meaning of the verb tomaru in Japanese. Data collection in this study used the method of observing with the note-taking technique. In addition, the data analysis in this study used descriptive and agih methods. As for the presentation of the results of the analysis in this study using informal methods. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that the verb tomaru has one basic meaning and seven extended meanings. The verb tomaru basic meaning is to stop. Meanwhile, the extended meaning namely something that comes out does not come out; something that flows becomes nonflowing; something sustainable becomes unsustainable; something that comes does not come; resting temporarily in a certain place; undetached, fixed in place; and what has been seen and heard leaves an impression

Reversed Myth and Negative Symbols of Narcissus in Mother-Son Relationship in Hayashi Fumiko’s Narcissus

The famous myth of Narcissus is about a mythical handsome young man who indifferently rejects the love of the nymph Echo leading to Echo’s broken heart and untimely death and his being cursed to excessively adore his own handsome reflection on the pond till his death. The short story entitled Narcissus written by Hayashi Fumiko is intriguing because its title calls to mind the famous myth of Narcissus. However, this short story portrays the myth of Narcissus from a unique perspective. Thus, the aims of this paper are to analyse the reversed myth and negative symbols of Narcissus as reflected in the mother-son relationship in the short story. To support the analysis various psychological understandings of the myth of Narcissus are used as well as various understandings of the symbols of the flowers called Narcissus. The methods of research used are a comprehensive combination of textual-contextual methods as well as library research and qualitative research. The textual method focuses on the intrinsic aspects relevant to the focus of analysis, such as character, conflict, and setting, while the contextual method borrows the psychological concepts of the term Narcissus and the symbolic meaning of the flowers named Narcissus. The result shows that the mother-son relationship clearly portrays the reversed myth in the matter of the gender roles, the type of relationship, and the ending of the relationship. Another result shows that all the symbols related to the flowers of Narcissus turn into negative meanings in the sort of story entitled Narcissus by Hayashi Fumiko. In short, the short story writer turns upside down both the myth and the symbols resulting in an engaging story full of hidden meanings to be interpreted

Women’s Voices and Patriarchal Hegemony of the Edo Period in Shinju Tenno Amijima (1720)

The Edo Period (1603-1868), known as the feudal era, lasted for nearly three centuries in Japan. Confucian teachings applied in all sectors of life had a great influence on the expansion of the patriarchal system in Japanese society at this time. Under the strict control of the Tokugawa shogunate government, the implementation of social class stratification was firmly established, including in the hierarchical relationship between men and women. The period of peace that occurred throughout the Edo period had contributed to a conducive situation for the rapid development of Japanese culture. Male artists were very dominant in the development of Japanese culture, and they were centred in big cities during this period. On the other hand, this era had become a dark age for women who did not get the opportunity to speak and create as men did. The female figures of the Edo period were presented in the works of male writers. This study focuses on examining women’s voices in the works of these male writers in the period. After exploring research on this period’s literary works, we found that these studies have various focuses related to the disclosure of women during the period, starting from the representation of women, their relationship with a male and other female characters, to their roles and positions. This research will contribute to discussions on gender, history, and literature, as well as on the way women's voices in this work serve a purpose in supporting the patriarchal hegemony that occurred in the period. We aim to reveal women’s voices in a male writer's play Shinju Tenno Amijima (1720) by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1725) through a feminist critique approach. To explain women's voice and patriarchal hegemony, we apply the concepts of silence from Olsen (2003) and hegemony from Antonio Gramsci. The results of this study indicate that women’s voices raised in this play are the ones who support men's interests and are subject to patriarchal values. This play consistently displays the exclusion of women's voices of opposition and defiance. This work also shows its existence as a locus for the dominant values emphasized for women in the Edo period.

Classroom Action Research on Thematic-Designed Online Learning for Contemporary Japanese Literature

This study aims to implement contemporary Japanese literature learning with thematic designs as a learning strategy for 60 students in literary study classes (Poetry, Prose, and Drama) at Darma Persada University that were conducted online during the pandemic. This study was conducted using Kurt Lewin's Classroom Action Research model consisting of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting; particularly for the observing section, the assessment was measured using two indicators based on students’ understanding of the material and satisfaction with online learning. Data was collected using questionnaires and filled out via google form. The findings of this study indicate the level of student understanding of the material, the constraints of online learning, and feedback from experts. The findings are useful for improving Japanese literature learning, to be more precisely during the online course

Word-Formation Process on COVID-19 Related Terms as Japanese Language Variation

This research aims to identify the types of vocabulary in Japanese, to explore the word-formation process, and to analyse the function of COVID-19 related terms conveyed by various content creators on YouTube channels, from Japan and Indonesia. The seven YouTube channel accounts are Aki no Sora (Indonesia), po.n.go_id or Pocket Nihongo (Indonesia), Sakura Pinku (Indonesia), Wagomu (Indonesia), Omoshiroi Nihongo (Japan), Japanese Ammo with Misa (Japan), and Coto Academy (Japan that used as the data source. Data were collected using the observation method and analysed by the distribution method. The results showed that the COVID-19 related terms are dominated by the type of vocabulary kango as the form or type of vocabulary that is most widely used in matching the COVID-19 related term. Among all word-formation processes, the COVID-19 terms in Japanese identified as borrowing, compounding, and multiple processes. However, the multiple word-formation processes are dominated on COVID-19 terms in Japanese. It related to the domination of the type of kango used. From that, there are multiple functions that are included in COVID-19 terms in Japanese, namely disease information, preventive action, symptom, and announcement. Therefore, this research can be contributed to data analysis, which used morphological analysis in Japanese terms.

The Accepted Outsider: A New Interpretation of The Folktale of Momotaro

Momotaro is one of the most widely heard folktales in Japanese society, even becoming a compulsory material taught in all elementary schools in Japan. Folktale is something that reflects the structure of thinking of society. Therefore, the folktale of Momotaro was examined to reveal the thinking structure covered in the story. The thought is the view of Japanese society towards people outside their community. This view in Japanese culture is very important. Surprisingly, until now there has been no researcher who relates this folktale to this view. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to fill this void, by presenting a new interpretation different from the previous studies. This research is cultural research, not literary research. Almost all cultural research on Momotaro cannot be separated from the use of a historical approach. What distinguishes it from previous research is the use of a non-historical approach. This study used Levi-Strauss’ structural approach. This approach is to look at the forms of structure or 'logic' used in the folktale of Momotaro, more specifically the logic about the meaning of outsiders for Japanese society.

Hidden Facts and The Representation of Indonesia within Mamiya Mosuke’s “Kichi no Seikatsu”

Despite witnessing modernization in Indonesia, nanpōchōyōsakka (South-dispatched writers) depicted Indonesians as people who remain undeveloped because of Western colonialism. This article argues that there must be “hidden facts” behind the representation of Indonesia within the writers’ works due to a mission of disseminating the idea of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. Using Mamiya Mosuke’s military essay “Kichi no Seikatsu” as the object of study, this article seeks to explain what kind of “Indonesia” Mamiya represents and the impact of such representation on “Indonesia” as a spatial concept by illuminating “hidden facts” behind his expressions. This article employs the concept of contact zone (Mary Louise Pratt) to view Indonesia as a social space already shaped by Dutch colonialism and uses sakuhinron method to analyze Mamiya’s expressions in representing Indonesia. Through analysis, Mamiya portrays Indonesians as reliant people and blames such conditions on the Dutch colonial policy while leaving local intellectuals and nationalist movements out of his narrative. This article concludes that Mamiya justifies the notion of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere by denying Indonesian agency, gives an impression that Indonesians need Japanese guidance to stand on their own. Keywords: Contact Zone; Kichi no Seikatsu; Mamiya Mosuke; Nanpōchōyōsakka; Representation