This investigation offers an etymological overview of the genealogy and history of the national name “Nippon/Nihon” (日本), as well as of the debates regarding its original meanings. These contested views play an important role that is not merely historiographical, since they represent strategic aspects of the question of the definition of national identity. Firstly, this study focuses on the more general issue of the negotiation of collective identity in contemporary Japan, which is still to a large degree divided between sustainers of a 'strong' identity founded on essentialist paradigms of homogeneity, harmony and exclusiveness, and advocates of a 'weak' identity based on constructionist paradigms of heterogeneity, conflict, and inclusiveness. Secondly, this study sets out to confront the complex relation between the dimension of auto-representation in Japan and hetero-representation of Japan, especially in European and American contexts.

Che cos'è il 'Giappone'? Il dibattito sul nome nazionale,

MIYAKE, Toshio
2012-01-01

Abstract

This investigation offers an etymological overview of the genealogy and history of the national name “Nippon/Nihon” (日本), as well as of the debates regarding its original meanings. These contested views play an important role that is not merely historiographical, since they represent strategic aspects of the question of the definition of national identity. Firstly, this study focuses on the more general issue of the negotiation of collective identity in contemporary Japan, which is still to a large degree divided between sustainers of a 'strong' identity founded on essentialist paradigms of homogeneity, harmony and exclusiveness, and advocates of a 'weak' identity based on constructionist paradigms of heterogeneity, conflict, and inclusiveness. Secondly, this study sets out to confront the complex relation between the dimension of auto-representation in Japan and hetero-representation of Japan, especially in European and American contexts.
2012
Il Giappone moderno e contemporaneo: Stato, media, processi identitari
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3672673
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