Lecture 7 - Inherent Assumptions and a Critique of the 'Kinship' Model

Question 1

What are the five assumptions about Japanese society that Nakane makes in her work?

Answer 1

1. Vertical nature of Japanese society has always existed and always will, ‘essence of Japanese society’.
2. Japan is monolithic, a single society, and homogeneous.
3. Japanese society is harmonious and a stable society where there is competition between groups but no class conflict.
4. Japanese society is highly efficient and easily mobilised because through the inverted V system you can incorporate people quickly into structural change.
5. Japanese society is, in all of these aspects, unique.

Question 2

What are the six complaints about Nakane’s assumptions?

Answer 2

1. Massive evidence in Japan of conflict and of cases where people do not put wider group first.
2. Historically lots of evidence for paternalistic neglect in Japan.
3. Inverted V model ignores comparative similarities with models elsewhere.
4. Japanese inverted V model cannot explain any inter-group relations unless there is an overarching structure.
5. Idea that Nakane presents does not demonstrate any form of social stratification.
6. In Nakane’s model there is no idea of free will within the group.