Why Does Japanese Sociology Lack Global Influence? A Study of Pseud‐Indigenization via Imported Scholarship

Journal article

Despite Japan's long academic history, its sociological research has maintained limited global influence. This paper investigates why Japanese sociology has struggled to contribute to the global development of the discipline, examining this issue through the framework of “pseudo‐indigenization via imported scholarship.” The study first identifies key characteristics of Japanese sociology through a literature review: a scarcity of international citations, a predominance of Japanese‐language publications for a domestic audience, and a heavy emphasis on “theoretical studies” (理論・学説研究) that analyze Western theories in isolation from international academic discourse. While some scholars describe these tendencies as “indigenization,” this paper argues that the term does not fully capture the Japanese context. Instead, the author adopts the concept of “pseudo‐indigenization” to highlight a historically entrenched pattern where Western theories and methodologies are assimilated and cultivated within Japan through “translated” or “imported” scholarship. By analyzing the distinctive ways in which this domestic orientation is emphasized, this paper seeks to elucidate the unique trajectory of Japanese sociological research from the perspective of a researcher experienced in international academic environments.

Authors: Kariya, T

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Japanese Journal of Sociology
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 1
• Article number: e70008
• Publication date: 2026-04-19
• Acceptance date: 2026-04-08
• DOI: 10.1111/ijjs.70008
• EISSN: 2769-1357
• ISSN: 2769-1365
• Language: English
• Keywords: pseudo‐indigenization; imported scholarship; theoretical studies; academic globalization; Japanese sociology