In the ancient, mystical land of Seken, where myths and legends walk among men, young Wakamono dreams of becoming a Kōken—a revered protector of the people. But the path to greatness is fraught with danger and darkness. Leaving behind the safety of his family’s farm, Wakamono embarks on a perilous journey toward the fabled mountain city of Sanpuku. Along the way, he faces terrifying beasts, testing his courage and resolve. Guided by the enigmatic and powerful warrior, Red Mist, Wakamono begins his grueling training, discovering that the life of a Kōken is far more dangerous—and rewarding—than he ever imagined. But as shadows gather in the mountains and a mysterious darkness threatens to engulf the land, Wakamono must confront not only the physical trials ahead but also the dark forces lurking within himself. Can he rise to the challenge and become the hero he aspires to be, or will the coming darkness consume him?

In the shadowed valleys beneath the towering mountains, where spirits and beasts roam freely, Wakamono’s journey as a Kōken apprentice takes a harrowing turn. Plagued by unsettling visions and haunted by a tragic spirit known as the Ubume, Wakamono finds himself drawn into a mystery that threatens to unravel everything he holds dear. As he battles both supernatural forces and the darkness within, Wakamono must confront his deepest fears and the shadows of his past. With the guidance of his mentor, Red Mist, he ventures into the heart of the mountains, where ancient secrets and forgotten sorrows await. In a land where the living and the dead are not so easily separated, Wakamono’s courage and resolve will be tested like never before. But some spirits are not so easily laid to rest, and the haunting presence that follows him may be more than he can bear.

The Fallen Kōken plunges Wakamono into a world of power and deception as he and his mentor, Red Mist, confront an old comrade turned tyrant. Shiro, once a proud Kōken, now rules a prosperous town through fear and control. As Wakamono is tempted by Shiro’s promises of wealth and power, Red Mist must guide her apprentice through the most dangerous challenge yet—choosing the right path. In a battle of ideals and swords, Wakamono faces a choice that will define his future. Will he rise to become the protector he was meant to be, or fall into the darkness that claimed Shiro?

Princess Mononoke (1997) is one of anime's most important films. Hayao Miyazaki's epic fantasy broke domestic box office records when it came out in Japan, keeping pace with the success of Hollywood films like Titanic (1997). Princess Mononoke was also the first of Studio Ghibli's films to be distributed outside Japan as part of a new deal with Disney subsidiary Buena Vista International. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the release of the film, Rayna Denison curates this new collection to critically reflect on Princess Mononoke's significance within and beyond Japanese culture. The collection investigates the production, and re-production, processes involved in the making of Princess Mononoke into a global phenomenon and reevaluates the film's significance within a range of global markets, animation techniques, and cultures. In revisiting this undeniably important film, the collection sheds light on the tensions within anime and the cultural and social issues that Princess Mononoke explores, from environmental protection to globalization to the representation of marginalized groups. In this remarkable new collection, Princess Mononoke is examined as a key player during a major turning point in Japanese animation history.

How do children determine which identity becomes paramount as they grow into adolescence and early adulthood? Which identity results in patterns of behaviour as they develop? To whom or to which group do they feel a sense of belonging? How might children, adolescents and young adults negotiate the gap between their own sense of identity and the values promoted by external influences? The contributors explore the impact of globalization and pluralism on the way most children and adolescents grow into early adulthood. They look at the influences of media and technology that can be felt within the living spaces of their homes, competing with the religious and cultural influences of family and community, and consider the ways many children and adolescents have developed multiple and virtual identities which help them to respond to different circumstances and contexts. They discuss the ways that many children find themselves in a perpetual state of shifting identities without ever being firmly grounded in one, potentially leading to tension and confusion particularly when there is conflict between one identity and another. This can result in increased anxiety and diminished self-esteem. This book explores how parents, educators and social and health workers might have a raised awareness of the issues generated by plural identities and the overpowering human need to belong so that they can address associated issues and nurture a sense of wholeness in children and adolescents as they grow into early adulthood.

From the 1960s onwards, Japan's rapid economic growth coincided with remarkably low youth unemployment. However, since the 1990s the ease with which young people have historically moved from education to employment has ended, and unemployment is now a real and growing problem. This book examines how the state, experts, the media as well as youth workers, have responded to the troubling rise of youth joblessness in 21st century Japan.

This book presents an ethnographic investigation of intimate and reproductive behaviour in current Japanese society, grounded in the viewpoints of a group of Japanese mothers. It adopts a new approach in studying the decreasing fertility rates which are contributing to the ageing population in modern Japan. Based on the accounts of 57 married Japanese women, it employs symbolic interactionism as a framework to examine the various factors affecting decision-making on childbirth. The influence of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs), abortion and contraception in the daily interactions and experiences of the mothers are analysed to offer a new perspective on the Japanese demographic conundrum. With strong contextual information as the foundation, the book contributes fresh insight into how Japanese women perceive the idea of childbirth in a modernized society, and also assists our understanding of the factors causing Japan’s ageing population. Further, it places the mothers’ experiences within current global debates to highlight the salience of the Japanese case. As the first book to provide an in-depth examination of the social process underpinning the decision to become a mother in Japan, it will appeal to students and scholars of Japanese culture and society, Gender Studies, and Sociology.

They’ve spent their lives training to explore the stars and now it’s time to take their space cruisers out to discover the universe. But before Ethan and Ren leave Earth behind, they want one last epic adventure together in the chaos and beauty of Japan. It was supposed to be everything they dreamed of. But lifelong dreams have become torment, and neither knows how to escape the inevitable. In Japan, it’s not the crowded cities, endless stimulation, or relentless rush of activity which overwhelms Ethan’s senses, but the merciless doubt of his own uncertain mind. His path has always been laid out for him but now he’s adrift, lost at the crossroads of his life and feeling more alone than he ever has. He clings to Ren like a lifeline, the familiar perfectionism, enthusiasm, and unconditional acceptance of his best friend exactly what Ethan needs to find his way. The problem is that Ethan’s way will soon no longer follow Ren’s and the change terrifies him. From the frenetic streets of Tokyo, to the historical majesty of Kyoto, to the peaceful resilience of Hiroshima, Ethan follows Ren’s lead and his packed itinerary across the island of Honshū in a whirlwind trip which leaves little room to catch his breath. And breathless is exactly how Ren leaves him, as they see the sights as a couple, reveling in their newfound freedom to explore every aspect of their relationship. As deep as their love is, though, the enormity of their separate and solitary futures can’t be denied. And time is an enemy they’re powerless to fight. The only thing that’s certain is that they have to say goodbye. The universe waits for no one, and even though Ethan’s waited so many years to finally have Ren for himself, he knows where their story goes. Because though they’ve walked the same path together, here’s where it diverges. Here’s where they become galactic explorers. Here is where they discover the true meaning of love. This work is intended for a mature audience and contains mature content. For a more comprehensive list of content tags, please see this book’s information page at the author’s website. Keywords: gay sci-fi romance, gay space opera, LGBTQ+ science fiction, mm gay romance, intergalactic travel, space exploration science fiction, future universe

The myths of the noble Samurai and the sinister Ninja are filled with romantic fantasy and fallacy. Samurai and Ninja expert Antony Cummins shatters the myths and exposes the true nature of these very real--and very lethal--medieval Japanese warriors. The Samurai and Ninja were, in fact, brutal killing machines trained in torture and soaked in machismo. Many were skilled horsemen and sword-fighting specialists, while others were masters of deception and sabotage. Some fought for loyalty, others for personal gain. What these warriors all shared in common was their unflinching personal bravery, skill and brutality. In Samurai and Ninja, Cummins separates myth from reality and shows why the Japanese were the greatest warriors of all time: He describes the Samurai and the Ninja as they really were in earlier times when battles raged across Japan--not in later times when war became obsolete and Japanese warriors became philosophers, scholars and courtiers. He describes the social context of the day and the feudal world into which the warriors were trained to fight and die for their lords. He exposes the essentially brutal nature of warfare in medieval Japan. This book is illuminated by many rare Japanese manuscripts and texts which are translated into English for the very first time.

The recent manifestation of exclusionism in Japan has emerged at a time of intensified neoliberal economic policies, increased cross-border migration brought on by globalization, the elevated threat of global terrorism, heightened tensions between East Asian states over historical and territorial conflicts, and a backlash by Japanese conservatives over perceived historical apologism. The social and political environment for minorities in Japan has shifted drastically since the 1990s, yet many studies of Japan still tend to view Japan through the dominant discourses of “ethnic homogeneity (tanitsu minzoku shakai)” and “middle-class society (so ̄churyu ̄-shakai)” which positions the exclusion of minorities as an exceptional phenomenon. While exclusionism has been recognized as a serious threat to minority groups, it has not often been considered a representative issue for the whole of Japanese society. This tendency will persist until the discourses of tanitsu minzoku shakai and so ̄churyu ̄-shakai are systematically debunked and Japan is widely recognized as both multiethnic and socio-economically stratified. Today, as with most advanced capitalist countries, serious social divides occasioned by the impacts of globalization and neoliberalism have destabilized Japanese society. This book explores not only how Japanese society is diversified and unequal, but also how diversity and inequality have caused people to divide into separate realities from which conflict and violence have emerged. It empirically examines the current situation while considering the historical development of exclusionism from the interdisciplinary viewpoints of history, policy studies, cultural studies, sociology and cultural anthropology. In addition to analyzing the realities of division and exclusionism, the authors propose theoretical alternatives to overcome such cultural and social divides.