Routledge Sport and Body Politics in Japan - Academic Study

Explore the complex layers of Japanese society through the lens of physical activity. This academic work moves beyond common perceptions of sumo, karate, and baseball to examine sport as a unique cultural sphere. By looking at the intersection of body culture, political economy, and cultural globalization, this study provides a deep look into how sport functions in modern Japan. The text bridges the theories of Bourdieu and Foucault to explain how the body acts as a field of action and a topic of discourse. It examines how these elements work together to mold both the individual subject and society at large. Readers will find answers to important questions regarding how politics of the body are articulated within the Japanese context. This book is an essential resource for those studying the social, political, and cultural dimensions of sports in East Asia. It offers a comprehensive approach for researchers and students interested in how physical culture shapes national identity and social structures.