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The enigma of Japan as a testing ground for cross-cultural criminological studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Setsuo Miyazawa
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Summary

The purpose of this paper is to discuss methods and hypotheses of empirical comparative research on criminal behavior from the perspective of a Japanese criminologist. Referring to the title of van Wolferen’s book on The Enigma of Japanese Power, the author studies Japan as an ideal testing ground for any approach in comparative criminology : with an apparently contradictory combination of tremendous economic development and a consistently low crime rate, lower than those in most other developed countries, Japan still needs comparative research of three types : first, using data from a culture or country different from those where theories to be tested originated; second, confronting qualitative research focusing on only two or three cultures; third, comparing quantitative research involving a large number of cultures or countries.

Resume

Resume

L’objet de cette étude est de présenter le point de vue d’un criminologue japonais sur les méthodes et hypothèses de la recherche empirique comparée relative au comportement criminel. Paraphrasant le titre de l’ouvrage de van Wolferen, The Enigma of Japanese Power, l’auteur présente le Japon comme le banc d’épreuve idéal de la criminologie comparée : associant de façon apparemment contradictoire un développement économique saisissant et des taux de criminalité stables et faibles, inférieurs à ceux de la plupart des pays développés, le Japon continue à requérir trois types d’investigations comparatives : d’abord la confrontation du cas avec des théories construites dans d’autres contextes culturels ou nationaux; ensuite, la comparaison de données qualitatives sur deux ou trois cultures; enfin, des recherches quantitatives à grande échelle.

Resumen

Resumen

El objeto de este estudio es de presentar el punto de vista de un criminòlogo japonés sobre los métodos e hipótesis de la investigación empírica comparada, en lo que respecta al comportamiento criminal. Parafraseando el título de la obra de van Wolferen, The Enigma of japonese Power, el autor presenta el Japón como el banco de experimentación ideal de la criminología comparada; asociando de manera aparentemente contradictoria un desarrollo económico sorprendente e índices de criminalidad bajos y estables -inferiores a los de la mayor parte de los paises desarrollados-, el Japón sigue necesitando tres tipos de investigación comparativa: en primer lugar, la confrontación de los casos con las teorías construidas en otros contextos culturales o nacionales; enseguida, la comparación de datos cualitativos referentes a dos o tres culturas; finalmente, investigaciones cualitativas a gran escala.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
International Annals of Criminology , Volume 32 , Issue 1-2 , 1994 , pp. 81 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 International Society for Criminology

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