2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Yoga-scapes: The Economics of Imagination and Utopian Aspirations of Transglobal Yoga in Japan
| Project/Area Number |
17F17710
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
岩谷 彩子 京都大学, 地球環境学堂, 准教授 (90469205)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MCCARTNEY PATRICK 京都大学, 地球環境学堂, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-11-10 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | Global Yoga / Yoga in Japan / Yoga/Spiritual Tourism / Wellness Industry / Anthropology of Yoga / Politics of Imagination / Economics of Desire |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This project documents the consumption of yoga in Japan within the context of the global wellness industry. Dr McCartney has conducted ethnographic research at multiple yoga events, interviewed over 100 people, compiled a list of 3000 yoga-related businesses, and published some articles and presented at conferences.
Yoga in Japan is similar to other countries. Modern postural yoga (stretching/breathing) is more visible. Next, modern denominational yoga (devotion to a guru). Modern psychosomatic yoga focuses on a particular meditation method: as “authentic” Indian yoga and as “syncretic” forms. People have different reasons for trying yoga, which are related to wellbeing (de-stress), fitness (flexibility) and beauty (losing weight). More women do yoga in Japan 95+% compared to western countries (80-85%). People over 35 years are more attracted to meditation and worship than the physical practice.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Dr McCartney has been working very hard to establish a good base during the 1st phase of the project, which has led him to look far and wide across Japan to understand, at a “broad strokes” level, the larger, general themes inherent in Japanese culture related to the consumption of yoga. There have been some setbacks such as lack of knowledge of the time limit of spending the budget of the year, which made him unable to conduct research as he planned, or his level of understanding Japanese. Yet he continues learning Japanese by having an irregular language exchange with a MA student, and what he has produced in terms of data/analysis, publications and presentations is a very good. Now he is ready for taking the project into phase 2.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Dr. McCartney found that there are many styles and domains within which yoga-inspired lifestyles are unique to Japan. He will conduct more focused research in temples that offer a yuttari-style tera yoga, which he has started documenting. The main problem is the cost of attending yoga-related events, workshops, seminars, and classes. Yet he has been invited to attend some studios as a perpetual guest, which allows him not to pay any attendance fees. In addition, due to his previous experience as a yoga teacher and workshop facilitator, he has been invited to run several workshops in yoga studios. It will be a great way to meet people with whom he can then start a conversation about the project. Alongside the fieldwork, he plans to begin analyzing the data he's collected.
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