UC San Diego

This thesis explores the ways in which alcoholism is defined in Japan and the ways in which people understand and deal with a diagnosis of alcoholism. Through examination of recent ethnographic work, this thesis seeks to answer the questions of how an assessment of alcoholism is made amidst the high tolerance for seemingly problematic drinking behavior in Japan, and argues that a Japanese emphasis on the relativity of ethics to specific social situations renders alcoholism difficult if not impossible to define outside of the situation in which it occurs. This thesis also examines other causes of ambiguity regarding alcoholism in Japan, namely the fine line between nurturing and codependent behavior as perceived by wives of alcoholics, and the lack of clarity regarding whether alcoholism is best conceptualized as a physical disease, mental illness, or moral failing. Comparisons are drawn with concepts of alcoholism in the United States to further illuminate the distinctiveness of the Japanese situation as well as to highlight traits shared in both contexts