Nanette Gottlieb has written an informative study on the present state of language policy and management in Japan. Gottlieb's analysis is set against the backdrop of two significant social developments in recent years: (1) a large-scale, immigration-induced demographic change that is currently challenging pre-established notions of national monolingualism and monoethnicity, and (2) technological advancements, particularly in the domain of electronic text production, that are having a critical impact on the way the Japanese language is written. One of the stated aims of Gottlieb's book is to explain precisely the relationship between these developments—demographic change and electronic technologies—and language policy, and assess “whether and how language policy authorities in Japan are moving to accommodate these social and cultural changes” (p. ix).
From the outset of her study, Gottlieb challenges Japan's deep-seated notion of monolingualism, providing valuable evidence of an increasingly diverse society that is now being confronted with the realities of internationalization. The rising number of migrants since the bubble economy of the 1980s has led to a need for more opportunities to learn Japanese as a second language, but also to a call for multilingual language services that can improve the quality of life of foreign residents in the country.
Highlighting the existence of intellectual and ideological baggage of monoethnicity that has negatively informed the narrative and national discourse in the area of language policy, Gottlieb unveils the lack of a long-term governmental vision that can fully reflect the changes in immigration patterns and demographics seen over the last decades. Resources for teaching Japanese as a second language (JSL) and the teaching of foreign languages other than English are limited and in most cases supported only at a local level and with varying degrees of success. It is especially this latter area, Gottlieb maintains, that Japan needs to address. Revisiting the importance of teaching foreign languages other than English, she argues, would lead to a recognition of linguistic diversity, a strengthening of the concept of community languages, and a promotion of internationalization in terms that would benefit Japanese society at large.
The absence of a long-term vision in matters of language policy becomes even more apparent in the face of the latest technological advancements and their resulting impact on existing language policies, particularly those related to kanji. The recent increase of technology-mediated forms of text production has in fact led to a growing perception of declining kanji literacy among the public, prompting a governmental response at a national level that is evidence of an optimal case of corpus planning. Gottlieb's discussion of the process that led to the 2010 revision of the List of Characters for General Use is lucid and revealing of the process and efforts that are required to accomplish policy changes of this magnitude.
Drawing from the results of her analysis, Gottlieb finally argues for a national language policy that can effectively address the country's ongoing internationalization. Gottlieb acknowledges the existence of an important shift in public discourse now favoring the establishment of new provisions for the teaching of Japanese as a second language and the development of curricular opportunities for languages other than English. Yet, she is forceful in stating that more significant government intervention is needed if Japan is “to deal with the opportunities and responsibilities inherent in being a recognizably multilingual society” (p. 159).
Language Policy in Japan is intended primarily for researchers in language policy and management and as such it successfully addresses its targeted audience. It is a well-written study and a useful tool for anyone interested in becoming acquainted with the new linguistic realities that are facing contemporary Japanese society. It is an interesting read also for Japanese studies specialists. The discussion of the role of language ideology in contemporary Japan is refreshing, especially considering that most of recent scholarly discourse in this area has focused on the late nineteenth-century genbun itchi debate and its role in the building process of the modern state, leaving current issues of language policy yet to be fully addressed and analyzed. The chapter on electronic technology and its influence on the revisions to the kanji policy recently adopted by the government is of special interest for JSL professionals; it is a reminder that Japanese-language education around the globe must also continue to stay engaged in the debate and be ready to develop instructional tools and implement curricular changes that reflect the significant linguistic changes of the last decade. In addition, the book provides an informative account of the initiatives and key documents currently in place or under consideration as well as a thorough explanation of the bodies and organizations that at a local and national level are contributing to the policy-making process. Language Policy in Japan is therefore a welcome and important contribution to the field of Japanese studies, too.
