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@article{ART002914216},
author={Kyungmin Park},
title={‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects},
journal={Asia Review},
issn={2234-0386},
year={2022},
volume={12},
number={3},
pages={111-150}

TY - JOUR
AU - Kyungmin Park
TI - ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects
JO - Asia Review
PY - 2022
VL - 12
IS - 3
PB - 아시아연구소
SP - 111
EP - 150
SN - 2234-0386
AB - This study examines the post-bubble Japan’s efforts to redesign a state model and a national identity in the global era, by looking at the policies of ‘Internationalized Person’ (kokusai-jin) and ‘Global Talent’ (gurobaru-jinzai) . The introduction of a market-oriented economic system to Japan and the high visibility of foreign-born population in the public life have led to social unrest and identity crisis in this society. It has accompanied with the current predicaments including a technological stagnation, an inward-looking social orientation, and human resource shortages as well. All of these have required to give a new explanation for “what Japaneseness is.” The study considers the national projects of internationalization and globalization as part of the oft-stated discourse of “Third Door-Opening of Japan” for decades that is a recurring political rhetoric at a moment of national crisis in this society, aiming for the restoration of Japan. I call the discourses of human resources in the contemporary Japan derived from the policies of internationalization and globalization as a Global Nihonjinron that is a state-led explanation to redefine the urgent social crisis and Japanseness in the global era. With this, I critically review Internationalized Person campaign and Global Talent policy, by discussing a shift in the concept of the Japanese human resources as part of Global Nihonjinron: from sarariman who is a Japanese white-collar male regular worker represented the Japanese Developmental State to an entrepreneurial-self under the rubric of neoliberalism. I also examine wakamono, Japanese youth, who has been named as not only the target subject of the Global Talent policy but also the main culprit in the current inward-looking mood of the society. This study argues that there has been some deflections in the policy process for the Global Talent all the way: the ever-present idea of the boundary of “Japaneseness” in the state-led projects has connoted the introverted tendency in it already. In addition, the absence of “down-to-earth youth” and the prioritization for “business-friendly employees” in the policy process have restricted the positive potential of global talents in Japan.
KW - Third-opening of Japan;Internationalized Person (kokusaijin);Global Talent;Revival of Japan;Global Nihonjinron;National identity;Wakamono (Japanese youth);Higher Education Reform
DO -
UR -
ER -

Kyungmin Park. (2022). ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects. Asia Review, 12(3), 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. 2022, "‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects", Asia Review, vol.12, no.3 pp.111-150.

Kyungmin Park "‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects" Asia Review 12.3 pp.111-150 (2022) : 111.

Kyungmin Park. ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects. 2022; 12(3), 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. "‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects" Asia Review 12, no.3 (2022) : 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects. Asia Review, 12(3), 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects. Asia Review. 2022; 12(3) 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. ‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects. 2022; 12(3), 111-150.

Kyungmin Park. "‘The Third-Opening of Japan’ for Revival and a Global Nihonjinron: A Critical Review of Internationalized Person and Global Talent Projects" Asia Review 12, no.3 (2022) : 111-150.