Mutual Help Networks in Japanese Society

Onda compares Japan’s traditional mutual help practices, an integral part of the nation’s societal fabric, with other countries across Asia including Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and in the Pacific Islands Region in Palau and Pohnpei.

The book advocates for the revitalization of the mutual help that has declined due to modernization characterized by changes in production and our urban lifestyle. It sheds light on the fading awareness of traditional mutual help practices and encourages the rediscovery of new connections and bonds in contemporary society. Onda’s comparative approach reveals the characteristics of mutual help networks based on the similarities (universality) and differences (uniqueness) with Japan’s mutual help practices, that stems from the social structures of individual regions.

A vital resource for scholars in sociology, folklore studies, social welfare, or economics and those interested in human connections, mutual help and cooperation.