Heung-wah Wong

This book explores how Japanese popular culture, exported to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, is received in these societies. Based on extensive ethnographic research observing in detail the reception of a particular Japanese cultural product, the book shows how, even when the product has been modified to anticipate a different reception in each of the three places, even then the reception is different. The book goes onto discuss more generally the nature of Japanese popular culture and its reception in the three places, showing how history and continuing national antagonism influence attitudes in China, how Hong Kong’s special “in between” status affects the reception there, and how in Taiwan the memory of Japanese colonialism is being re-formed in order to reinforce Taiwan’s cultural distinctiveness.

This book charts the development of Hong Kong identity from the Second World War to the present. It argues that understanding popular culture is key to understanding how Hong Kong identity has evolved, and it discusses how, in the post-war period, popular culture has gone through various phases where particular aspects of popular culture dominated, for example tourism, television dramas and popular music in the 1970s, shopping culture in the 1980s, and sex culture in the 1990s. The book examines how the consumption of popular culture has been related to the changing geopolitical situation, to the politics of economic transformation, and to community building. It shows how behind all these aspects of popular culture lies the essential "in-between-ness" of Hong Kong, neither Eastern/traditional/conservative nor Western/modern/liberal.

This book explores how Yaohan, a Japanese supermarket chain, expanded into Hong Kong in the 1980s and mainland China in the 1990s, and how this expansion evolved from initial success to ultimate failure and the company’s bankruptcy. It outlines the development and structure of the original Japanese company, and considers why it moved into Hong Kong and China. It explores the changing nature of society, consumerism and shopping in East Asia and shows how the company’s expansion fitted in to this. It also discusses the company’s culture and management as it expanded. Overall, the book emphasises what this case study shows about cross-cultural interaction in East Asia, arguing that globalisation of products and consumer tastes is much more complex than simply homogenisation along Western lines, or local adaption as a reaction against Western products and tastes.

This book explores censorship, particularly film and video censorship, in Japan in modern times. It shows how most censorship has been the film and video industry exercising self-censorship and how this system has been problematic in that it has allowed dominant players in the industry to impose their own standards and exclude independent filmmakers. It outlines notable obscenity cases and discusses how industry self-censorship bodies have been undermined both by industry outsiders setting up their own alternative regimes and by the industry self-censorship bodies themselves being prosecuted for obscenity. The book also examines the conflict between the obscenity law, introduced in Meiji times when Japan was importing Western models, and the freedom of speech law, which was put in place by the US occupation administration after World War II. The book concludes by assessing the current state of censorship in Japan and likely future developments.

Family businesses have been an important part of the economy in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and in the Chinese diaspora, and, since the reforms, in mainland China itself. Some people have argued that the success of Chinese family businesses occurs because of the special characteristics and approach of such businesses. This book examines the nature of Chinese family business and the key issues involved by exploring in detail the case of a leading Hong Kong jewellery company which was established in the early 1960s and which has grown to become one of the biggest jewellery manufacturers, exporters, and retailers in post-war Hong Kong. The book considers the motivations of Chinese people to set up their own businesses, outlining the strategies adopted, including the strategies for raising capital, and the qualities of successful Chinese entrepreneurs. It discusses the management of the company, including relations between family members, profit sharing and succession planning, and assesses how conflict and crises are coped with and overcome. It charts the evolution of the company, looking at how it has been transformed into a listed corporation. The book concludes by arguing for the importance of studying Chinese family businesses culturally.

This book explores censorship, particularly film and video censorship, in Japan in modern times. It shows how most censorship has been the film and video industry exercising self-censorship and how this system has been problematic in that it has allowed dominant players in the industry to impose their own standards and exclude independent filmmakers. It outlines notable obscenity cases and discusses how industry self-censorship bodies have been undermined both by industry outsiders setting up their own alternative regimes and by the industry self-censorship bodies themselves being prosecuted for obscenity. The book also examines the conflict between the obscenity law, introduced in Meiji times when Japan was importing Western models, and the freedom of speech law, which was put in place by the US occupation administration after World War II. The book concludes by assessing the current state of censorship in Japan and likely future developments.

Unlike many other books on pornography which concentrate on arguments about restricting or not restricting pornography, this book focuses on the production of adult videos. It outlines and examines the industrial dynamics of the industry, its strategies, technological capabilities and organisational structure. It discusses the socialisation of those who participate in the industry, the role of censorship, the nature of markets and the wider cultural impact of the industry.

Family businesses have been an important part of the economy in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and in the Chinese diaspora, and, since the reforms, in mainland China itself. Some people have argued that the success of Chinese family businesses occurs because of the special characteristics and approach of such businesses. This book examines the nature of Chinese family business and the key issues involved by exploring in detail the case of a leading Hong Kong jewellery company which was established in the early 1960s and which has grown to become one of the biggest jewellery manufacturers, exporters, and retailers in post-war Hong Kong. The book considers the motivations of Chinese people to set up their own businesses, outlining the strategies adopted, including the strategies for raising capital, and the qualities of successful Chinese entrepreneurs. It discusses the management of the company, including relations between family members, profit sharing and succession planning, and assesses how conflict and crises are coped with and overcome. It charts the evolution of the company, looking at how it has been transformed into a listed corporation. The book concludes by arguing for the importance of studying Chinese family businesses culturally.

This book explores the debate between those who argue that globalisation is leading to worldwide cultural homogeneity, with American cultural good predominating, and those who argue that cultural goods are always adapted and contextualised in the particular setting in which they are used. Based on extensive original research on how Japanese adult videos are consumed in Taiwan, it presents a rich picture of how Japanese adult videos are transformed into something Taiwanese, and how they are incorporated into both male and female Taiwanese sexual culture.

Unlike many other books on pornography which concentrate on arguments about restricting or not restricting pornography, this book focuses on the production of adult videos. It outlines and examines the industrial dynamics of the industry, its strategies, technological capabilities and organisational structure. It discusses the socialisation of those who participate in the industry, the role of censorship, the nature of markets and the wider cultural impact of the industry.

This book explores the debate between those who argue that globalisation is leading to worldwide cultural homogeneity, with American cultural good predominating, and those who argue that cultural goods are always adapted and contextualised in the particular setting in which they are used. Based on extensive original research on how Japanese adult videos are consumed in Taiwan, it presents a rich picture of how Japanese adult videos are transformed into something Taiwanese, and how they are incorporated into both male and female Taiwanese sexual culture.