Routledge On the Margins of Japanese Society - Sociology Book

Challenge the common perception of Japan as a perfectly homogeneous and conforming society. In this study, Carolyn S. Stevens looks beyond the image of a wealthy and successful nation to examine the realities of the urban underclass living outside the mainstream. This book provides an intimate look at the lives of social outcasts in Japan. It explores the economic circumstances that separate these individuals from the rest of society and examines the lives of the volunteers who work to support them. These volunteers often find themselves becoming socially marginalized as a result of their dedication to helping those on the fringes. Part of the Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies series, this work is an essential read for those interested in anthropology, sociology, and the social structures of East Asia. It offers a deep perspective on the people living on the edges of Japanese life and the complex social dynamics that define their existence.