Inside a Japanese Sharehouse: Dreams and Realities

This book explores social change in Japan at the most intimate site of social interaction – the home – by providing a detailed ethnography of everyday life in a sharehouse. Sharehouses, which emerged in the 2007 sharehouse boom, are considered an experimental space for the construction of new social identities. Through a description of the micro-level, mundane, material interactions among residents, the book considers what these interactions indicate about existing ideas about intimacy, privacy, gender, the individual, family, community, and the home. It highlights how sharehouse residents, despite rejecting the twentieth-century domestic model, are uneasy about overturning existing gender roles and prioritizing the individual over the community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 148 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate realm of social change in Japan, shedding light on the most intimate setting of human interaction: the home. By conducting a thorough ethnography of everyday life within a sharehouse, a unique residential arrangement that emerged during the 2007 sharehouse boom, the author offers a profound exploration of the dynamics of society. Sharehouses serve as a deliberate alternative to traditional family homes, functioning as experimental spaces where new social identities are constructed.

Through a detailed account of the micro-level, mundane, and material interactions among residents within a mid-sized, mixed-sex sharehouse, the book delves into the broader implications of these interactions. It examines what these interactions reveal about prevailing notions regarding intimacy, privacy, gender, individuality, family, community, and the concept of home. By highlighting the complexities and contradictions within these ideas, the book sheds light on the evolving social landscape of Japan.

While sharehouse residents may appear to be a radical departure from the twentieth-century domestic model, characterized by the ideal of the family home as a partnership between a male wage-earner and a dedicated housewife, they exhibit a certain unease about challenging established gender roles and prioritizing individualism over community. This perception leads to their being regarded as foreign imports, contributing to the ongoing debate about the country's cultural identity and social dynamics.

This thought-provoking book not only provides a valuable insight into the changing social landscape of Japan but also offers a broader reflection on the dynamics of human interaction and the construction of social identities. It serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of human societies as they navigate the ever-evolving tides of change.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367561666