Tama University

This paper looks at consumption practices among the Naga people, an ethnic minority group in Northeast India. Until recently, the growth of consumerism in India was slow, mainly due to the influence of the spiritual rejection of materialism, which was Gandhi’s contribution to the independence struggle, and Nehru’s secular modernism, which promoted economic self-sufficiency.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that a conservative political orientation is a robust predictor of punitiveness. A recent study has suggested that the relationship between conservative political orientation and punitiveness is mediated by moral foundations. However, the applicability of this mediation mechanism beyond the United States remains uncertain. In view of this, the present study aimed to examine this mechanism within the context of Japan. An analysis of data from 256 Japanese adults revealed the following: (a) binding and individualizing moral foundations showed no significant correlation with political orientation or attitudes toward criminal justice (including punitiveness); consequently, (b) the mediation mechanism between political orientation, moral foundations, and attitudes toward criminal justice did not manifest. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural and social contexts when applying the moral foundations theory.

In the present chapter, we describe several procedures utilizing symmetric multidimensional scaling to analyze asymmetric proximity data along with applications to similarities between occupational categories contained in Table 1.19. These procedures are classified into two categories.

This chapter presents remarks on performing an analysis by using mainly one-mode two-way asymmetric multidimensional scaling based on the radius-distance and ellipse-distance models.

In this chapter, we present applications of asymmetric multidimensional scaling based on the models described in Chap. 3 to empirical data. These applications reveal features of objects which underlie asymmetric relationships between objects, and depict differences in revealing features of objects which determine asymmetric relationships between objects from one model to another.

Disgust is related to harsher moral judgments, which is known as the amplification effect. Previous studies have examined other effects (e.g., the cleansing effect) based on the assumption that the amplification effect exists. This is problematic if the amplification effect does not exist. Therefore, this study investigated the robustness of the amplification effect. We set two conditions (disgust vs. neutral), presented visual images, and subsequently asked the participants to make moral judgments. We compared the disgust and neutral conditions and observed significant differences in the amplification effect on moral judgments, although the effect sizes were relatively small. This study makes a valuable contribution to existing theories on disgust and morality, especially regarding methodology, and its findings may apply to the mechanisms of other related phenomena.

This paper seeks to reassess the balance between chaos and systematicity within the Japanese writing system (JWS), which is noted for its complexity. As potential factors for chaos, Section 2 focuses on two important conventions. The first is the simultaneous use of multiple scripts as components of a largely systematic whole, even though it also affords considerable levels of graphematic variation. The second convention of dual-readings turns on kanji graphematically mapping to both Native-Japanese (NJ) and Sino-Japanese (SJ) morphemes, which yields the JWS’s intriguing form of morphography. However, as a factor that is, to a considerable degree, a major source of systematicity, Section 3 outlines the graphematic representation of SJ compound words. More specifically, starting from the morphological structures of two-kanji compound words (2KCWs), Section 3 introduces the dominant morphological patterns of three-kanji (3KCWs) and four-kanji compound words (4KCWs), which underscore the significance of 2KCWs within the Japanese mental lexicon, and concludes by noting Hatano, Kuhara, and Akiyama’s (1981) study about inferring the meanings of SJ compound words.

Multidimensional unfolding models have been applied to several data types, for example, 2-mode 2-way proximity data. Of course, extensions of these models to multi-way data have also been proposed. When analysing preference data, a particular case of proximity data, we must exclude errors in data or extend the model to treat them. We propose a distance model that is a type of probabilistic distance model for treating the errors in data. A small simulation study was done, and an application to an actual data set is also shown

First, conceptualizing capability is deeply rooted in fundamental human abilities. We can freely envision things that we are not currently seeing or touching using our knowledge and senses; this is what we call utilizing our imagination. However, in the Western world, imagination has traditionally been undervalued compared with logical thinking.

Conceptualizing capability involves the use of imagination, subjectivity, and practical skills. Imagination is more than merely fantasizing or making connections.

Let us now turn our attention to the role of conceptualizing capability in shaping parts of history across eras.

Theme of this chapter is a para-existent society and its path toward sustainable development through knowledge creation. The key lies in society’s conceptualizing capability, which plays a vital role in generating knowledge. Within this social system, individuals collaborate to generate new value and address challenges for the betterment of society, even in the face of uncertainty and complexity. A comprehensive approach is essential to foster innovation and secure long-term sustainability in a para-existent society. This approach involves adopting a broad perspective and engaging in an ongoing dialogue.

Chaos (hun dun) appeared in ancient Chinese mythology as a central emperor without the seven orifices of the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. This tale, found in the inner chapters of the book of Zhuang Zi, serves as a metaphor suggesting that imposing reason on matters forcefully is akin to “carving the seven orifices on Chaos.” It is an allusion to the limitations of conventional technical rationalism in the modern era.

As we saw in the previous chapter, Kiyoshi Miki's conception of formative conceptualization capability is powerful and revolutionary. How can this fundamental human capability lead to innovation? It is different from simple product ideas or delusional visions.

Conceptualizing capability comprises imagination (particularly historical imagination), (inter-)subjectivity, and practical ability.

The manner in which economic activities are conducted will be transformed by significant societal changes. In this era of unpredictable existence, corporate management and strategy must be adjusted accordingly. We are seeing days of competition-driven approaches from the twentieth century to the past. Now, the focus is on world-making and building relationships for co-creation. A management system that only focuses on profit and the growth of its own company is no longer sufficient for survival. The importance of sustainability and interdependence is now placed on. As mentioned earlier, the ability to conceptualize ecosystems is crucial. Businesses should see their customers not just as consumers but as social beings. It is essential to clearly articulate their purpose and why they exist as managers.

Projects aimed at innovation or creating new value, regardless of scale, require the organization and synthesis of purposes for success.

In the early twentieth century, Miki Kiyoshi, a Japanese thinker, set out on a journey to explore the idea of conceptualizing capability (kōsō-ryoku). His understanding of this ability revealed several key characteristics.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused mental health issues in both adults and adolescents. The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) questionnaires measure anxiety and persistent and disturbed thoughts (also known as obsessions) related to COVID-19. We developed Japanese versions of the CAS ( i.e. , CAS-JA) and OCS ( i.e. , OCS-JA) questionnaires to make them suitable for adolescents and validated the characteristics of these scales. Methods Two online surveys were administered to high school students aged 15–18 years. A total of 263 students participated in the first survey and almost half of them participated in the second survey. In the first survey, participants responded to the CAS-JA, OCS-JA, generalized anxiety and obsessive–compulsive subscales of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and Kessler 6 Scale (K6). The SCAS and K6 were used to verify discriminant validity and inter-scale correlations. In the second survey, the participants completed the CAS-JA and OCS-JA again to verify test–retest reliability. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis and calculated the model fit indices. Additionally, we examined the internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and inter-item correlations of the CAS-JA and OCS-JA. Moreover, differences in CAS-JA and OCS-JA responses by gender and region of residence (state of emergency and non-emergency areas) were examined. Results The results of the single-factor model confirmatory factor analysis of model fit indices were above the threshold. The required criteria for internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, and discriminant and convergent validity were met in both the CAS-JA and OCS-JA. No statistically significant differences attributed to residence and gender were found in both questionnaires. Conclusions The results indicate that the CAS-JA and OCS-JA questionnaires are useful in measuring COVID-19-related anxiety, and persistent and disturbed thoughts in Japanese adolescents.