The daiku phenomenon: social and cultural influences of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Japan

In the rude awakening of western colonisations in Asia during the nineteenth century, Japan drastically embraced the ‘better and more modern’ western values towards the end of that century—which began with the Meiji Restoration (Meiji Ishin [ ]). Since the nation began frantically learning everything Western—while keeping its traditional values at heart, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony ‘Choral,’ or daiku as it is known in Japan, has been present throughout the turbulent twentieth century. The social and cultural phenomenon known as nenmatsu-no daiku ([ ] A countless number of annual year-end Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony concerts held throughout Japan each year.) is the subject under scrutiny in this paper. Japan’s almost desperate pursue toward westernization and the much-debated Japanese cultural trait, the ‘groupism’ mentality would make the existence of the daiku phenomenon appear to the bewildered outsider as a horrendous mix of the two elements, but is that simply so? Evidently, the sudden influx of western cultures and ideologies from Europe and the U.S.A. is in great part accountable for the continual and prevalent existence of the daiku in modern Japan. However, we must not overlook the underlying home-grown factors, which have kept the phenomenon well and alive even today. This paper intends to discuss the historical background leading to this phenomenon and present a summary of what daiku is, giving examples of different types of performances as a result of the phenomenon. An attempt will also be given to examine the significance Beethoven’s Ninth has for the Japanese in both social and cultural contexts.     

Interpersonal and Personal Antecedents and Consequences of Peer Victimization Across Middle Childhood in Hong Kong

Although much is known about peer victimization, the majority of the longitudinal research in this area has been restricted to Western settings. The main objective of this study was to examine the interpersonal (rejection) and personal (withdrawal, aggression) antecedents and consequences of victimization for Chinese children living in Hong Kong. A sample of 1,058 children (501 boys; M age = 9.5 years) in Hong Kong was followed longitudinally from the 3rd and 4th grades to the 7th and 8th grades. Consistent with a transactional framework, rejection and withdrawal contributed to, as well as resulted from, victimization. Although victimization predicted later aggression, aggression was unrelated to later victimization. These findings closely replicate past research conducted in North America and European settings, and suggest considerable correspondence in the links between maladaptive child characteristics and victimization across Western and Hong Kong schools.     

论软件最终用户侵犯著作权之刑事责任

近年来,计算机软件“最终用户”的法律责任问题成了知识产权理论界关注的热点,“软件最终用户”“商业使用”侵权复制品的行为属于“复制或者部分复制著作权人的软件的侵权行为”已经成为理论界和实务界的共识。“最终用户”因此承担民事责任乃至受到著作权行政管理机关行政处罚的案例已经屡见不鲜。“最终用户”从最初的不承担侵权责任,到承担民事责任、行政责任,有没有可能承担刑事责任?《刑法》关于侵犯著作权犯罪的规定究竞能否适用于“最终用户”?这些问题至今没有引起理论界的重视,以至在执法、司法实践当中存在不少认识上的误区,行政执法机关遇到此类案件在是否向司法机关移交的问题上也是莫衷一是,左右两难。笔者根据工作中的体会,对这一问题进行初步探讨,以期引起学界关注,起到抛砖引玉的效果。     

Determining Shoe Length from Partial Shoeprints

The length of a shoe has significant value in reflecting characteristics of the owner, and thereby, it can help in tracking suspects in criminal cases. However, the shoeprints left at a crime scene are often incomplete, resulting in difficulties in assessing shoe length. To find a way to estimate the shoe length from a partial shoeprint, 109 shoes with different sizes and general patterns were collected, and their prints were lifted using magnetic powder. Four feature points were defined on a shoeprint, and the longest distance between the feature points was defined as shoe length. Using linear, quadratic, and cubic regression analyses, a total of 15 equations were obtained between the shoe length and the other distances between the feature points. Out of these, the five most accurate equations were selected as the optimal equation. The verified test, including another 18 pairs of shoes, showed an average error of equations between 0.591 cm and 0.732 cm. The equations were also applied in two practical cases, resulting in good accuracy. The study demonstrates that shoe length could be determined from partial shoeprints through the proven equations.     

从可持续发展的角度看稳定中国的人口规模

当前中国实行的计划生育政策其实是一种压缩型人口政策,随着社会、经济的发展,以及计划生育本身作用的发挥,人口增长面临严重下滑趋势,不利于中国可持续发展,亟需引起重视。     

利用多波段光源显现提取麻点状表面客体上的手印

在犯罪现场上,案犯在麻点状表面客体上留下手印经常可见。完整有效地提取这类客体上的手印,成为勘验人员急需掌握的技术。笔者经反复利用多波段光源试验提取该类客体上的手印,收到良好的效果。     

当代中国马克思主义大众化进程中存在的主要问题

马克思主义是引领我们兴党、富国、强民的科学理论。推动当代中国克思主义大众化,不仅仅是一种理论诉求,也是一种现实需要,更是一种历史使命。但是,由于宣传主体、理论宣传等方面存在的问题,影响和制约了当代中国克思主义大众化的进程。只有通过对这些问题的分析,才能为推动当代中国马克思主义大众化的实现提供新的思考。     

关于非政府组织参与公共危机治理的思考

在公共危机治理中,政府因其权威性、资源的优越性以及自身的使命理所当然成为公共危机治理的主体。有效的危机治理需要多元化参与和合作。因此,积极探索充分发挥非政府组织在公共危机治理中的应有作用及其实现路径,不仅具有重要理论价值,也有重大现实意义。     

从人性完满实现看和谐社会的构建

和谐社会是一个以人为本的社会,以人的全面自由发展为目标。而人的全面发展也即人性的完满实现。科学对人性完满实现的作用是有其限度的。吸收宗教的合理成分有助于人性的完满实现。“构建社会主义和谐社会”的提出体现了向一种神圣与世俗相结合的新价值观的转换。