Japan is often seen through the lens of an unusually resilient stereotype that classifies it as a nation of risk-averse conformists. In Japanese Rebels: Non-conformists in a Conformist Society (Routledge, April 16, 2026), David McNeill and Stephen McClure challenge that stereotype by showing that there have always been Japanese people who have rejected the status quo, challenged injustice and fought for personal freedom.
The book delves into the notion that Japan is a monolithic society in the hope of dispelling it. The authors profile people who have dared to make their voices heard in a society that has traditionally placed a premium on fitting in and not rocking the boat. By telling their unique stories, Japanese Rebels offers readers a more nuanced and deeper understanding of movements for change in historical and contemporary Japan.
Japanese Rebels is a critical read for academics and scholars in the fields of Japanese Studies, Asian Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, as well as those with a longstanding interest in Japan and Asia, especially in individual or social movements for reform and freedom of expression. It’s also aimed at and accessible to non-academics who are interested in Japanese history and contemporary society.
McNeill and McClure will discuss how they decided who to profile in Japanese Rebels, what they learned while writing the book, and what role rebels play in achieving social change in Japan.
David McNeill is a former correspondent for The Independent and The Economist newspapers. He is a professor of communications at the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo and co-chairs the Freedom of the Press committee of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.
Stephen McClure, formerly Billboard magazine’s Asia bureau chief, is a freelance journalist, editor and narrator. He's the author of Nippon Pop, the first English-language book on Japanese popular music.
Doors open at 5:45 pm with a casual “meet the author/cocktail time” from 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served from 6:30 pm and the talk begins at 7:15 pm.
The menu is Chinese Style Salad, Sautéed Salmon with White Miso Vin Blanc Sauce, Bread, Dessert, Coffee or Tea. A vegetarian option is available. Please inform the club of food restrictions when reserving (front@fccj.or.jp). Price: 3,000 yen for members; 4,000 yen for non-members.
Beverages can be purchased in the venue at just 550 yen per drink (non members can purchase drink tickets at Reception).
Online attendance (Zoom) is available by reservation at 550 yen per person.
The member reservation deadline is 2 pm April 14.
Non-members must reserve and pay by Thursday, April 9.
No cancellations after Saturday, April 11.
(The talk will be in English)
Library, Archives & Workroom Committee