The Erosion of Connections: A Cultural Analysis of Japan's 'Muen Shakai' (Disconnected Society) Phenomenon

This study focuses on Japan’s Muen Shakai (無縁社会, "disconnected society"), analyzing its manifestations in both societal realities and abstract literary/artistic expressions. The phenomenon erodes social cohesion and collective identity, hindering societal progress. To address this issue, it is critical to excavate its deep-rooted causes embedded in Japan’s unique historical and cultural soil. Culture serves as the bedrock of a nation’s development, shaping values and worldviews. The underlying drivers of Muen Shakai are inextricably linked to Japan’s distinct historical-cultural context, where cultural evolution and social fragmentation mutually reinforce each other. By dissecting these dynamics, this research enhances understanding of Muen Shakai as a socio-cultural pathology and its profound cultural determinants.