Considering "Japanese as a Japanese Person": On Plain Language

This book examines the future of the Japanese language in Japanese society by looking at international examples of "easy-to-understand language" in fields such as communication between experts and non-experts, administration, mass media, business, healthcare, nursing care, and Japanese language education.

In Europe and the United States, since the 1970s, there has been a demand for easy-to-read texts (plain language), and in Japanese society, there is a growing demand for "easy Japanese," which could be called "plain Japanese." The goal is for "anyone who reads it to have the same interpretation." For example, in the medical field, informed consent is emphasized, and it is necessary to accurately convey medical information to patients and their families. Furthermore, with the introduction of the lay judge system, changes are occurring in the use of legal terminology and other expressions specific to the judicial system in trial proceedings where experts and non-experts deliberate together.

This book explains the challenges and changes in the Japanese language for native Japanese speakers, and aims to create a society where everyone can understand and act equally.