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Science, Technology and Society in Contemporary Japan

Hardback

Main Details

Title Science, Technology and Society in Contemporary Japan
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Morris Low
By (author) Shigeru Nakayama
By (author) Hitoshi Yoshioka
SeriesContemporary Japanese Society
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:240
Dimensions(mm): Height 237,Width 158
Category/GenreAsian and Middle Eastern history
World history - from c 1900 to now
History of science
ISBN/Barcode 9780521652827
ClassificationsDewey:509.52
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 5 Tables, unspecified; 5 Line drawings, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 28 November 1999
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This book explores the dynamic relationship between science, technology and Japanese society, examining how it has contributed to economic growth and national well-being. It presents a synthesis of recent debates by juxtaposing competing views about the role and direction of science, technology and medical care in Japan. Topics discussed include government policy, the private sector and community responses; computers and communication; the automobile industry, the aerospace industry and quality control; the environment; consumer electronics; medical care; and the role of gender. This is an ideal introductory text for students in the sociology of science and technology, the history and philosophy of science, and Japanese studies. Up-to-date research and case studies make this an invaluable resource for readers interested in the nature of science and technology in the twenty-first century.

Reviews

'As late as August 1998, Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi was unaware of the Y2K bug. That the leader of one of the world's most technologically advanced nations should have been ignorant of such a serious problem may come as a surprise. But it is one of many contained in a new book, Science, Technology, and Society in Contemporary Japan. Did you know, for example, that Japan has the worst dioxin contamination in the world? Or that the Japanese spend twice as much on prescription drugs as on rice? The warts-and-all picture of Japan that emerges from the book is very different from the glistening high-tech stereotype. It is painted by Morris Low, a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland, and two Japanese co-authors, Shigeru Nakayama, the preeminent historian of Japanese science, and his former student, Hitoshi Yoshioka' New Scientist