Faculty Profiles - TAKAI, Jiro

Papers - TAKAI, Jiro

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Intragroup status, perceived discrimination and mental health among Japanese sexual and gender minorities

Navarro A., Takai J.

Asian Journal of Social Psychology Vol. 29 ( 1 ) 2026.3

Publisher：Asian Journal of Social Psychology

Although research on the mental health of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in Japan remains limited, existing studies suggest that many experience psychological distress due to societal stigma. However, little work has examined these experiences within a cultural framework that considers intragroup dynamics and social identity processes. This study addressed this gap by testing the cross-cultural applicability of the Intragroup Status and Health (ISAH) model among Japanese SGM (n = 222). The model posits that perceived status within one's minority group can have both direct benefits and indirect costs for mental health through identity-related mechanisms. Results indicated that the original ISAH model treating identity importance and identity-salience as a unified construct (identity-centrality) best fit the Japanese data, suggesting that these identity dimensions may be psychologically indistinct in collectivist contexts. Intragroup status was positively associated with mental health, both directly and indirectly, though indirect pathways through perceived discrimination partially offset these benefits. Subgroup analyses further revealed that model relationships were consistent across gender identities but varied by disclosure status and sexual orientation. Overall, findings support the ISAH model's relevance to Japanese SGM while underscoring cultural variation in how minority identities are structured and linked to mental health.

DOI： 10.1111/ajsp.70082

Scopus

Investigating Japanese university students’ intercultural behavioral intent: A longitudinal study using the theory of planned behavior

Deacon B., Gao X., Wang L., Hu X., Takai J.

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Vol. 110 2026.1

Publisher：International Journal of Intercultural Relations

Although intercultural communication competence (ICC) scales are widely used, research has seldom examined the antecedent traits and mediating processes shaping Japanese undergraduates’ intercultural development. This longitudinal study applied a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to investigate Japanese university students’ (N = 155) intercultural behavioral intent during a short-term study-abroad (STSA) program. The study hypothesized predictive links across four nomological steps: personality traits, mediators (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), intercultural behavioral intent, and actual intercultural behavior. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant increases in attitudes and perceived behavioral control. SEM showed good model fit and provided partial support for the hypothesized pathways. Openness emerged as the strongest personality predictor, while attitudes and subjective norms mediated intercultural intent. In contrast, perceived behavioral control was not significant. Longitudinal mediation analysis revealed significant indirect effects on actual intercultural behavior. Findings highlight the value of integrating personality and intent measures in STSA research. This study suggests that educators and program designers should pay particular attention to fostering openness, intercultural attitudes, and peer support to enhance students’ ICC.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102323

Scopus

Media channels and the secondary transfer effect: influences on willingness to interact with Asian international students in Japan mediated by outgroup morality perception

Gao X., Takai J., Chen S.

BMC Psychology Vol. 13 ( 1 ) page： 1056 2025.12

Language：English Publisher：BMC Psychology

This study examines the Secondary Transfer Effect (STE) in a non-Western context by investigating how Japanese university students’ contact with immigrants and LGBTQ individuals relates to their willingness to interact with Asian international students. Using data from 299 Japanese undergraduates and path analyses, we assessed four contact channels: direct interactions, traditional mass media, recreational media, and social media. Findings show that direct contact is strongly associated with perceived outgroup morality, making it the most reliable channel. Recreational media contact also correlates with higher perceived morality, suggesting it as another promising avenue. In contrast, traditional mass media and social media contacts show weaker or inconsistent links with outgroup morality, indicating that these channels may be less effective in fostering positive perceptions. The STE also differs as a function of the primary outgroup, the transfer medium and the psychological mechanism. For LGBTQ individuals, STE appears across all channels, while for immigrants it is most evident in direct contact and recreational media. Notably, negative traditional mass media contact with immigrants directly predicted willingness to interact—bypassing morality mediation—and negative news portrayals of LGBTQ individuals were paradoxically linked to higher perceived morality, highlighting how both the specific outgroup and the medium shape STE outcomes. Although immigrants and international students are generally viewed as separate social categories in Japan, we acknowledge some residual conceptual overlap and note this as a limitation. Overall, the study extends STE research beyond Western contexts and offers guidance for inclusivity interventions.

DOI： 10.1186/s40359-025-03420-6

Web of Science

Scopus

PubMed

The durability of imagined contact on intergroup attitudes and prejudice: An intervention among Japanese nationals towards Korean outgroups

Hu A., Brunotte J., Takai J.

Asian Journal of Social Psychology Vol. 28 ( 3 ) 2025.9

Publisher：Asian Journal of Social Psychology

Imagined contact is a promising method for reducing intergroup prejudice with potential merits in terms of ease of application, among other features. However, little is known about whether its mitigating effects go beyond the laboratory and how long such effects might endure. This study investigated the use of imagined contact and its durability in the Japanese context, a setting in which this method has not been widely explored. Eighty participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups, one imagining a favourable interaction scenario with an outgroup member (Korean) and the other imagining a control contact scenario with an ingroup member (fellow Japanese). The effects and durability of imagined contact on intergroup attitudes and prejudice were tracked over time. Results showed that participants who imagined a favourable interaction with an outgroup member exhibited more positive attitudes towards the outgroup. While these effects were especially evident right after engaging in imagined contact, some indices of prejudice also showed positive effects lasting for 1 month after. A mediation analysis revealed that social distance partially mediated the relationship between imagined contact and willingness to engage in future intergroup interactions. This suggests that imagined contact reduces psychological distance, thereby increasing openness to contact. Overall, imagined contact demonstrated potential for application outside the Western context and may serve as a viable tool for fostering positive intercultural attitudes in Japan.

DOI： 10.1111/ajsp.70048

Web of Science

Scopus

The impact of study abroad social interactions on post-return relationships with international students: Japanese students’ perceptions of recategorization

Taniguchi N., Takai J., Iwaki N.

Frontiers in Education Vol. 10 2025

Publisher：Frontiers in Education

Previous research has focused on how students adapt to the host country during study abroad. However, less is known about how these experiences influence students’ social engagement upon returning home. This study explores how Japanese students’ social interactions abroad influence their relationships with international students in Japan after their return. Using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Japanese students who had studied abroad for one academic year. The findings suggest that social interactions abroad facilitate recategorization, a process in which individuals redefine group boundaries and develop a broader shared identity. This process was influenced by four key factors: language and social skills, motivation, opportunities, and perceived fit. Through this process, Japanese students expanded their group boundaries and formed a shared identity with international students in Japan as individuals with study abroad experience. As a result, they developed more positive attitudes toward international students, heightened empathy, and a stronger motivation to engage with and help international students. These findings indicate that recategorization can occur through the formation of a new social identity based on shared experiences rather than direct intergroup contact, highlighting the long-term impact of study abroad on students’ intercultural engagement. This study underscores Japanese students’ tendency to identify with international students in Japan rather than with host nationals upon their return.

DOI： 10.3389/feduc.2025.1550969

Web of Science

Scopus

Beyond physical withdrawal: A thematic analysis of the states and challenges of the socially withdrawn in China as depicted on SNS Reviewed Open Access

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 34 ( 1 ) 2025

Intergroup contact in Japan: An exploration of direct, E-contact, and mass-mediated modalities among Japanese and international students Open Access

Gao X., Takai J., Hu X.

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Vol. 98 2024.1

Publisher：International Journal of Intercultural Relations

This study explored relationship between intergroup contact and willingness to interact with each other among Japanese and international students in Japan, focusing on three contact modalities: direct, E-contact, and mass-mediated contact, from perspectives of both groups. The research identified unique relationships between contact types and intergroup anxiety and common ingroup identity as mediating variables. Key findings include (1) divergent paths between all three contact modalities with intergroup anxiety and common ingroup identity, (2) a more pronounced link between positive contact and interaction willingness among Japanese students, and (3) the dominance of positive over negative contact in predicting interaction willingness. Exceptions to the latter two findings were also explored. The study's nuanced insights offer valuable contributions to the field, guiding effective strategies in improving intergroup attitudes among domestic and international students.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101920

Open Access

Web of Science

Scopus

Psychosocial Effects of Self-Disclosure Among Chinese International Students in Japan: Focusing on Disclosure Media and Its Targets

Gao X., Takai J.

Journal of International Students Vol. 14 ( 1 ) page： 58 - 77 2024

Publisher：Journal of International Students

This study examined the effects of four types of self-disclosure on the life satisfaction of Chinese international students studying in Japan. Using an online survey, the study found that offline self-disclosure predicted life satisfaction both directly and indirectly, mediated by received social support and perceived social support, while the direct effect of online self-disclosure was not significant. All four types of self-disclosures predicted received social support, while the social support obtained from host nationals online did not affect perceived support. The analysis also revealed that the paths were moderated by the length of residence in Japan. Only online self-disclosure positively and directly predicted life satisfaction for newcomers, while only offline self-disclosure did for those who had stayed longer. Offline received social support was perceived as helpful for both groups, while that of online predicted perceived social support only for newcomers. Theoretical implications and limitations were discussed.

DOI： 10.32674/jis.v14i1.5098

Scopus

The Effects of Language Competence and Self-regulatory Focus on Intercultural Communication Apprehension: Comparing Japan, China and America Reviewed Open Access

Wang, Lina; Wu, Xiaoyan; Lee, S. Peter; & Takai, Jiro

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 33 ( 1 ) page： 1 - 15 2024

Cultural differences in emotions and opinions on painless delivery: Comparison of Twitter and Weibo posts Reviewed Open Access

Hu, X., Takai, J.

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 33 ( 2 ) page： 14 - 34 2024

Japan-China-US comparison of communication anxiety, intercultural sensitivity, and global awareness

Wang, L; Wu, XY; Lee, PS; Takai, J

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 58 page： 67 - 67 2023.12

Can imagined contact improve outgroup attitude in the long run?

Hu, AQ; Takai, J

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Vol. 58 page： 112 - 112 2023.12

Affective and motivational accounts of judging moral acceptability of anti-COVID-19-preventive behaviors Reviewed Open Access

Journal of Cognition and Culture Vol. 23 ( 1-2 ) page： 164 - 185 2023.3

The Relationship between mental processes and Japan’s unique communication style of aisou Reviewed Open Access

Rin ITO, Alexander NAVARRO & Jiro TAKAI

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 32 ( 2 ) page： 38 - 50 2023

Intercultural Communication Anxiety, Intercultural Sensitivity, and Global Awareness in Japan, China and the United States: The Mediating Roles of Culture and Language Competence Reviewed Open Access

Wang, Lina; Wu, Xiaoyan; Lee, S. Peter; & Takai, Jiro

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 32 ( 2 ) page： 21 - 37 2023

An International Comparison of Factors Related to Long Work Hours1 Open Access

Kanai A., Laurence G.A., Sakata K., Fujimoto T., Yamaguchi H., Takai J., Suzuki A., Tak J.

Japanese Psychological Research Vol. 64 ( 4 ) page： 410 - 425 2022.10

Language：Japanese Publisher：Japanese Psychological Research

This study aimed to examine psychosocial factors related to working long hours, which causes depression, anxiety, and so forth, including karoshi [work to death]. In particular, the issue of working very long hours and its impacts on employees is seen as an urgent issue in Japan, and by clarifying the factors associated with this phenomenon, we aim to contribute to efforts to identify appropriate mitigation measures. We proposed a model of factors related to long work hours from multiple perspectives, and tested it in six countries: China, Finland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Data were collected via a web-based questionnaire survey. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that organizational level variables were related to work hours in all six countries, but individual level variables were related to work hours only in the United States. In addition, only in Japan did the maintenance dimension of leadership affect the extension of working hours. Organization level factors, rather than job or individual level factors, should be considered when establishing measures to prevent employees from working excessively long hours.

DOI： 10.1111/jpr.12338

Open Access

Web of Science

Scopus

Media Exposure and Risk Perception as Predictors of Engagement in COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors: Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior Across Two Cultures Reviewed

Xuechen Hu, Xingjian Gao, Wenzhen Xu, Jiro Takai

Online Media and Global Communication Vol. 1 ( 1 ) page： 90 - 123 2022.3

Intracultural and Intercultural Contact Orientation of International Students in Japan: Uncertainty Management by Cultural Identification Open Access

Taniguchi N., Takai J., Skowronski D.

Journal of International Students Vol. 12 ( 4 ) page： 843 - 866 2022

Publisher：Journal of International Students

The lack of exchange between international students and host nationals in Japan has long been a pressing issue, yet very little progress has been made to rectify this situation. In this study, we examined this issue by focusing on how international students in Japan perceive cultural contact with their host and home culture members during their sojourn. The study applied a qualitative approach based on grounded theory, collecting data through semi-structured interviews with 41 international students from China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. According to the social identity and anxiety/uncertainty management approach, we interpreted the findings on how international students manage uncertainty in the Japanese environment by identifying with the host and their own home cultures for their psychological well-being, which we distinguished as intercultural or intracultural contact orientation. International students demonstrated an intracultural rather than intercultural contact orientation due to the host nationals reacting to them as “foreigners.”.

DOI： 10.32674/JIS.V12I4.3747

Open Access

Web of Science

Scopus

Imaginal and Virtual Reality-based Public Speaking Practice for Communicating with Intercultural Audiences Reviewed Open Access

Josh Brunotte & Jiro Takai

Intercultural Communication Studies Vol. 31 ( 2 ) page： 6 - 28 2022

The relationship between frequency of performing acts of kindness and subjective well-being: A mediation model in three cultures

Claudia Gherghel, Dorin Nastas, Takeshi Hashimoto, Jiro Takai

Current Psychology Vol. 40 ( 9 ) page： 4446 - 4459 2021.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Springer

Two studies investigated the relationship between frequency of performing prosocial acts and subjective well-being. Adult participants from three countries (Japan, Romania, and the US) responded to online questionnaires measuring focal variables. In Study 1, a short scale measuring kindness was devised, and its validity for cross-cultural research was probed. Results revealed that engagement in prosocial behavior was positively associated with empathic concern and subjective well-being. Study 2 showed that the needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy mediate the relationship between frequency of performing acts of kindness and subjective well-being. The results contribute to the cross-cultural literature suggesting that engagement in prosocial behavior enhances the well-being of the benefactor.

DOI： 10.1007/s12144-019-00391-x

Web of Science

Scopus

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Papers - TAKAI, Jiro