Japanese Rebels - Non-conformists in a Conformist Society

Japan is often seen through the lens of an unusually resilient stereotype that it is a nation of risk-averse conformists. In "Japanese Rebels," David McNeill and Stephen McClure McNeill and McClure deconstruct that stereotype by showing that there have always been Japanese people who have rejected the status quo, challenged injustice and fought for personal freedom.
The book delves into the notion that Japan is a monolithic society in the hope of dispelling it. The authors profile people who have dared to make their voices heard in a society that has traditionally placed a premium on fitting in and not rocking the boat. By telling their unique stories, "Japanese Rebels" it offers readers a more nuanced and deeper understanding of movements for change in historical and contemporary Japan.
A critical read for academics and scholars in the fields of Japanese Studies, Asian Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, as well as those with a longstanding interest in Japan and Asia, especially in individual or social movements for reform and freedom of expression.

List of contents

Introduction 1 Activists 2 Artists 3 Athletes 4 Authors 5 Bureaucrats 6 Businesspeople 7 Entertainers 8 Historical rebels 9 Foreign rebels 10 Inventors and scientists 11 Journalists 12 Movie directors 13 Politicians 14 Religious rebels. Postscript

About the author

David McNeill is Professor of Communications at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo and co-chairs the Event and the Freedom of the Press committees of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.
Stephen McClure is a freelance journalist, editor and narrator. McClure has written on a broad range of topics, including business, media, pop culture, travel and science, including "Nippon Pop," the first English-language book on Japanese pop music.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen McClure, McNeill David
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 09.04.2026
• EAN: 9781032914510
• ISBN: 978-1-032-91451-0
• No. of pages: 342
• Weight: 453 g
• Illustrations: schwarz-weiss Illustrationen, Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Series: Routledge Contemporary Japan Series
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Social sciences (general); Japan, History, Popular Culture, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture, Humanities, Regional Studies, Regional / International studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Classes & Economic Disparity, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / Asian Studies