Thesis On "Japan-Bashing"

[Mulboyne]

For anyone with the time and interest here is a link to a thesis submitted to Murdoch University by Narelle Morris:
Destructive Discourse: 'Japan-bashing' in the United States, Australia and Japan in the 1980s and 1990s

This thesis argues that the invention and popularisation of the highly-contested label "Japan-bashing", rather than averting criticism of Japan, perversely helped to exacerbate and transform the moderate anti-Japanese sentiment that had existed in Western countries in the late 1970s and early 1980s into a widely disseminated, heavily politicised and even encultured phenomenon in the late 1980s and 1990s. Moreover, when the term "Japan-bashing" spread to Japan itself, Japanese commentators were quick to respond.

An interesting read even if there are aspects that will sound off-key to anyone watching events at the time. The thesis is unfortunately in the form of PDF files which is a pain. If you can't be bothered to go through the whole thing, I'd recommend the chapter on "Popular Culture".

[Mulboyne]

There's another one coming in October that looks like it might be a good read:

Intercultural relational development between Australian students and host Japanese students: A longitudinal study of students' socio-emotional experiences and interpretations

However, judging from this comment in the abstract, I have to wonder about the competence of the researcher:

Unexpectedly, the research also found that social drinking was perceived by many students, across the two groups, as a facilitating factor at the early stage of intercultural development.

Unexpectedly?

[Takechanpoo]

Unexpectedly?

Probably because most of Japanese students could had done superficial communication with Aussie counterparts so far.

"I love Austrailia!!!!" "Australia is so beautifull!!!!" "I love Aussie beef!!!!"
"Japan and Australia is friend forever!!!!" "Bye bye lovely Aussies!!!!!"

Or probably this is reason. Most of Aussies have inferiority complex about their own roots being criminals of Britain.

"In spite of the fact, we are proud whites!!!! we must surpass yellow monkey Japs!!!!" So most of Aussies stick to being whites more than the other country's whites and they think they never want to be equivalent to Japanese.

[Charles]

There's another one coming in October that looks like it might be a good read:

Intercultural relational development between Australian students and host Japanese students: A longitudinal study of students' socio-emotional experiences and interpretations

However, judging from this comment in the abstract, I have to wonder about the competence of the researcher:

Unexpectedly, the research also found that social drinking was perceived by many students, across the two groups, as a facilitating factor at the early stage of intercultural development.

Unexpectedly?