A Qualitative Study on Views of the Body and its Management in Contemporary Japan

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21530505
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Sociology
Research Institution	Waseda University
Principal Investigator	KUSAYANAGI Chihaya 早稲田大学, 文学学術院, 教授 (40245361)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2011
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
Budget Amount *help	¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2011: ¥260,000 (Direct Cost: ¥200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥60,000) Fiscal Year 2010: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000) Fiscal Year 2009: ¥390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥90,000)
Keywords	身体 / 身体管理 / 身体観 / 健康 / 主観的意味 / 知識 / 自己 / 相互作用 / 社会学 / 日常知
Research Abstract	This research explores the different ways people perceive their bodies and what actions they take to care for themselves in contemporary Japan. Everyday knowledge regarding the body and its care is analyzed by examining health-related books and magazines. Interviews with persons interested in the body and its care such as practitioners of Yoga are also included. It was found that there are two different views of the body : the body perceived as either a subject or an object. This research makes the argument and concludes that viewing our body as a subject could be a starting point to discuss and work towards solutions to the various problems in contemporary society.