卒業論文詳細 | 同志社大学社会学研究科

学科	社会学科	ゼミ教員名	MATTIAS VAN OMMEN	年度	2025年度
タイトル	The Singularity of College Students Who Pick Up Women in Contemporary Japanese Society: A Deviant View of Romance Beyond the Decline of Pickup Culture and Risk Society Theory

内容	In contemporary Japanese society , romantic encounters are increasingly mediated by digital technologies such as dating applications and social networking services. As a result , face-to-face approaches toward strangers in public spaces—commonly referred to as nampa —have become less visible and are often perceived as risky or inappropriate. This study examines why some university students continue to engage in nampa despite the decline of this cultural practice. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six male university students who have experience with nampa , this research analyzes how participants interpret their actions and manage social risks in public spaces. The findings indicate that most participants-initiated nampa without clear role models and experienced it as an extension of everyday interpersonal communication rather than as a strategic romantic technique. While some participants perceived nampa as highly anxiety-inducing due to uncertainty and social risk , others reduced these risks through repeated practice and observational learning. This study argues that nampa functions not merely as a means of romantic pursuit but as a social practice through which participants confirm their sense of agency and capacity to act within increasingly regulated and digitized social environments. By situating nampa within discussions of social learning , risk society , and the digital transformation of intimacy , this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how young people negotiate intimacy and agency in contemporary Japan. This study is limited by its small , male-only sample and reliance on retrospective self-reports.

内容

In contemporary Japanese society , romantic encounters are increasingly mediated by digital technologies such as dating applications and social networking services. As a result , face-to-face approaches toward strangers in public spaces—commonly referred to as nampa —have become less visible and are often perceived as risky or inappropriate. This study examines why some university students continue to engage in nampa despite the decline of this cultural practice. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six male university students who have experience with nampa , this research analyzes how participants interpret their actions and manage social risks in public spaces. The findings indicate that most participants-initiated nampa without clear role models and experienced it as an extension of everyday interpersonal communication rather than as a strategic romantic technique. While some participants perceived nampa as highly anxiety-inducing due to uncertainty and social risk , others reduced these risks through repeated practice and observational learning. This study argues that nampa functions not merely as a means of romantic pursuit but as a social practice through which participants confirm their sense of agency and capacity to act within increasingly regulated and digitized social environments. By situating nampa within discussions of social learning , risk society , and the digital transformation of intimacy , this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how young people negotiate intimacy and agency in contemporary Japan. This study is limited by its small , male-only sample and reliance on retrospective self-reports.

講評	The strongest aspects of this thesis lie , first , in its conceptualization: it successfully approaches an everyday and relatable phenomenon—nanpa—from a sociological perspective , situating it within broader transformations in romance and dating practices in contemporary Japanese society. Second , the thesis demonstrates methodological persistence , with lengthy and engaging interviews that generate original empirical material and support the development of a distinctive argument. Throughout the research process , the author consistently took a proactive stance in seminar discussions and contributed thoughtful feedback to peers’ projects , in addition to advancing her own work. In the thesis’ current version , however , some issues remain , especially in terms of literature integration , which would benefit from further careful revision. Overall , this is an original and engaging thesis that reflects the author’s unique perspective and empirical effort , and it offers a valuable contribution to discussions of changing forms of romance and social interaction amongst contemporary Japanese youth.

講評

The strongest aspects of this thesis lie , first , in its conceptualization: it successfully approaches an everyday and relatable phenomenon—nanpa—from a sociological perspective , situating it within broader transformations in romance and dating practices in contemporary Japanese society. Second , the thesis demonstrates methodological persistence , with lengthy and engaging interviews that generate original empirical material and support the development of a distinctive argument. Throughout the research process , the author consistently took a proactive stance in seminar discussions and contributed thoughtful feedback to peers’ projects , in addition to advancing her own work. In the thesis’ current version , however , some issues remain , especially in terms of literature integration , which would benefit from further careful revision. Overall , this is an original and engaging thesis that reflects the author’s unique perspective and empirical effort , and it offers a valuable contribution to discussions of changing forms of romance and social interaction amongst contemporary Japanese youth.

キーワード1	nampa
キーワード2	intimacy
キーワード3	risk society
キーワード4
キーワード5