Re-thinking Japanese Philanthropy

Brüning explores how Western philanthropic norms, such as public donations and formal giving structures, encounter significant cultural, institutional, and regulatory hurdles in Japan. He argues that deeply ingrained civic norms, lower levels of civic trust, and corporate-centric giving channels limit the widespread adoption of Western-style philanthropy. The paper advocates for the development of culturally contextualized approaches to foster indigenous giving practices and promote sustainable civil society development in Japan.