In Pink Globalization, Christine R. Yano examines the creation and rise of Hello Kitty as a part of Japanese Cute-Cool culture. Yano argues that the international popularity of Hello Kitty is one aspect of what she calls pink globalization—the spread of goods and images labeled cute (kawaii) from Japan to other parts of the industrial world. The concept of pink globalization connects the expansion of Japanese companies to overseas markets, the enhanced distribution of Japanese products, and the rise of Japan's national cool as suggested by the spread of manga and anime. Yano analyzes the changing complex of relations and identities surrounding the global reach of Hello Kitty's cute culture, discussing the responses of both ardent fans and virulent detractors. Through interviews, Yano shows how consumers use this iconic cat to negotiate gender, nostalgia, and national identity. She demonstrates that pink globalization allows the foreign to become familiar as it brings together the intimacy of cute and the distance of cool. Hello Kitty and her entourage of marketers and consumers wink, giddily suggesting innocence, sexuality, irony, sophistication, and even sheer happiness. Yano reveals the edgy power in this wink and the ways it can overturn, or at least challenge, power structures.

This book evaluates the record of the Left in Brazil and Venezuela, two key cases of the “pink tide” wave. The wave of Left governments that emerged across Latin America in the early 2000s – a process dubbed the “pink tide” – has been on the wane in recent years. The Left regimes that, at one point, seemed unbeatable have either been defeated at the ballot, ousted through coups or have had to contend with increasing economic and political conflicts which have nullified many of their achievements. This book argues – like many voices on the Left today – that the waning of the “pink tide” in the region must be viewed in the context of the Left’s inability to initiate radical structural changes in its constituencies. At the same time, however, the book makes the case for a more nuanced and balanced evaluation of the development record of the Left than is often done. In doing so, it seeks to go beyond the reform–revolution binary that has blinkered recent assessments and intends to highlight alternative paths that the Left could have taken.

What do we think of when we think pink? In this richly illustrated homage to the color, artist Kaye Blegvad explores its significance across history and cultures, from gender connotations to product marketing, symbols and iconography, and more. Through engaging mini essays, interactive exercises, object studies, and interviews, readers will learn about a vibrant miscellany of pink facts and pink occurrences: like iconic applications of the color, from Elvis's cars to cotton candy; or the etymology of phrases like "tickled pink," "pink slip," or "rose-tinted glasses." This ebook will captivate those with a passion for pink and anyone with a curiosity about color.

Presents "Challenges of Globalization," the remarks by Joan E. Spero, the Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, at the World Economic Development Congress in Washington, DC, on September 26, 1996. Discusses the challenges of the increasing integration of the world economy.

How do you decide when to enter into a global business and whom to seek advice for the correct strategy? What all factors will you consider when you enter any new market outside your home country or whose opinion will you seek in case you are new in the export-import business. Do you base your decision on the fancy website that has been created by some agency in a remote corner or will you base your decision on the number of likes the adviser is having on Youtube or social media? Sadly, few people start global trade without proper research and knowledge. If this is the way you will find your navigation route for global business then I am sure it could be a hit-or-miss approach. The reality is that we are living in one of the most dynamic environments that have ever been seen in history. There are so many “influencers” on social media and “advisors cum consultants" in the marketplace that it becomes impossible for any small enterprise or entrepreneur that is starting a business to get genuine and real-time information. I believe that to enter into a global business, your foundation has to be strong. Not only the product has to stand out in the marketplace but your mind and vision have to be tuned to become a long-term player with grit and determination. One of the common mistakes that I have seen in my professional career is that people assume too many things about foreign markets. The presumption starts with the fact that something that is going well in local markets also has the potential to be exported abroad. However, the reality is that “one size fits all “ does not work in international markets. Something that goes well in Nepal may not work at all in Kuwait. It's all about understanding your “avatar “ properly and making your strategy accordingly. In my view, to make a real impact in the global markets, we need to encourage and empower the small exporters and entrepreneurs so that they develop enough courage and confidence to create a positive impact in international business. We need to ensure that people engaged in global trade are empowered with the right knowledge and skills so that they can stand for something beyond themselves and guide others to lead and win the global marketplace. This book is an attempt to uncover the various strategies and best practices that are needed to succeed in international trade. Some companies & brands come from nowhere and become a sensation in the global arena. Some even become a part of the culture and adapt themselves to mix with the local markets. Also, the concept of globalization has completely changed the rules of international business. But is the concept of globalization really universal? Is it real or imaginary ! The truth is that the world of global business is dynamic and changing every moment wherein nothing is permanent. Like a flowing river, things are changing all along. So, the competitive advantage that a firm has today becomes obsolete soon and later becomes its biggest liability in3 this ever-changing environment. This book will be useful for students, exporters as well as practising managers as it has several learnings and incredible stories of individuals as well as brands that came along through challenging times. Brands that boomed in World war 1 and 2, the period of the great depression, and of course the modern internet age phase have been widely covered. The book has amazing tales of innovation, determination, and entrepreneurship. Written like a practical guide, the book has a buffet of past research, deft reasoning, and analysis of the events that guided most of the global trade. The learnings that you get from this unique book that has several published posts will definitely change your perspective on international trade and will help you evolve your strategies to enter the international business with more knowledge and avoid costly mistakes. After all, each cent counts in global business!

In the postwar period, Japanese politics has evolved considerably, with issues of gender, representation, and household economics becoming increasingly salient. Meanwhile, since the end of the Cold War, Japan has joined other developed states in the process of decentralization and deindustrialization. Yet, its restructuring has come at a slower pace, as the Japanese bureaucracy attempts to retain a more traditional approach. This book, a translated and updated version of the author's 2010 monograph Nihon seijiron, traces these developments in Japanese politics from the end of the Asia Pacific wars to the present day. Examining each of the key stages of transition, it looks at four aspects of Japanese politics: high politics, interest-centered politics, life-centered politics, and globalization. It also provides up-to-date analysis of contemporary themes, including the Abe administration’s challenge to international politics and coverage of nuclear issues. Written by an experienced Japanese scholar, this book ultimately demonstrates how globalization has transformed the nature of local politics, as well as national security. However, as seen in the recent triple disaster of 2011 (a chapter on which has been added), Japanese politics retains traditional practices that have led to corruption, scandal, and political mistrust among the electorate. Offering a comprehensive introduction to Japanese politics, this book will be invaluable reading for students and scholars of Japanese politics and comparative and Asia politics in general.

From the Foundations in Global Studies series, this text offers students a fresh, comprehensive, multidisciplinary entry point to East Asia. After a brief introduction to the study of East Asia, the early chapters of the book survey the essentials of East Asian history; important historical narratives; and the region's languages, religions, and global connections. Students are guided through the material with relevant maps, resource boxes, and text boxes that support and guide further independent exploration of the topics at hand. The second half of the book features interdisciplinary case studies, each of which focuses on a specific country or region and a particular issue. Each chapter gives a flavor for the cultural distinctiveness of the particular country yet also draws attention to global linkages. Readers will come away from this book with an understanding of the larger historical, political, and cultural frameworks that shaped East Asia as we know it today, and of current issues that have relevance in Asia and beyond.

Combining global, media, and cultural studies, this book analyzes the success of Hallyu, or the "Korean Wave” in the West, both at a macro and micro level, as an alternative pop culture globalization. This research investigates the capitalist ecosystem (formed by producers, institutions and the state), the soft power of Hallyu, and the reception among young people, using France as a case study, and placing it within the broader framework of the 'consumption of difference.' Seen by French fans as a challenge to Western pop culture, Hallyu constitutes a material of choice for understanding the cosmopolitan apprenticeships linked to the consumption of cultural goods, and the use of these resources to build youth’s biographical trajectories. The book will be relevant to researchers, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students in sociology, cultural studies, global studies, consumption and youth studies.

Anime, Manga, Sushi, Teriyaki, J-pop, Harajuku fashion ... these are just some of the cultural exports from Japan that the rest of the world have embraced and Singapore is one of Japan's biggest fans. Singaporeans have benefited not just by being a consumer of the many technological advances from Japan (Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, Panasonic, and Sony to name a few) but also shared and learnt through economic, political, and intellectual exchanges over the past 50 years since the start of the bilateral ties between these two nations.In 1868, Japan was the first East Asian country that underwent rapid modernization and its development was shared with Singapore from the 1970s onwards as the Japanese growth model was selectively emulated by the Four Asian Tigers (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan). Currently, as the most advanced economies in Southeast and Northeast Asia respectively, Singapore and Japan will continue to be demonstrative case studies of economic development in the region. There are similarities too between these two countries: an aging population, changing geopolitical realities, mature economies, and environmental challenges. The Merlion and Mt. Fuji is not just a historical account of the bilateral cooperation but also includes honest narratives on what it is like being a Singaporean student on exchange in Japan, an anime and manga fan outside of Japan, and some omotenashi appreciation.

This new inter-disciplinary book is the first comparative, case-based analysis of media panoply in (and out of) Asia today. Examining what the authors call the "media/tion equation", the contributors demonstrate the multiple links between media, society and culture, and advance the claim that media is the key means through which Asians experience, understand, effect and are affected by the worlds containing them. Exploring a relatively neglected principle in cultural studies - that context counts - medi@sia highlights how the experiences of those encountering media messages differ depending on social, economic, politial and ideational conditions. Balancing social, cultural and media theory with empirical research, the essays in this collection provide a better understanding of the complex relationship between media and people’s practices, values and behaviour in contemporary Asia.