Prostate Health, Ageing and Society in Japan

This ethnographic investigation of prostate health in the super-aged, Japanese society analyses prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia. Castro-Vázquez examines how biomedical perspectives link prostate health to ethnicity and lifestyle choices, where a clinical issue renders a social matter, and early detection and prevention become an individual responsibility. Grounded in symbolic interactionism, the book presents the viewpoints of Japanese urologists, and men who navigate prostate conditions from an eclectic and multidimensional perspective. It explores the impact of 'Westernised' eating habits, ethnicity, gender and sexuality on prostate health, while critically analysing health economics, through medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries that commodify men's health. The research introduces the concept of 'prostate-self' to fathom how Japanese men journey prostate health, highlighting how their embodied experiences connect. It contributes significant insights to global debates on benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. An essential resource for scholars, researchers and students in medical sociology, gender and sexuality studies, medical anthropology, Japanese studies as well as those interested in gender, sexuality, sociology of health, and the body and society.

Genaro Castro-Vázquez is Professor of Sociology in the Asian Studies Programme at Kansai Gaidai University, Japan, where he teaches courses related to sociology of health, sociology of education, gender and society, and sexuality and society. His area of study is Japan, and his interests of research involve health, medicine, sexuality, gender, ethnicity and education, as well as issues faced by Latin Americans living in Japan. Recent publications include Masculinity and Body Weight in Japan: Grappling with Metabolic Syndrome (Routledge, 2020) and Intimacy and Reproduction in Contemporary Japan (Routledge, 2016).

List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Introduction: Incontinence or after-dribble 1 Contexts and prostate health 2 Investigating prostate health 3 Cultural scripts and prostate health 4 Urologists and prostate health 5 The embodied self and prostate health 6 Lifestyle and prostate health 7 Prostate health and economics Conclusion: Why prostate health? Index