Even Kazuhiro Soda gives it high praise! “Nonviolence as a Weapon: A Theory of Resistance Starting in Everyday Life” will be released on September 10th.
NHK Publishing Co., Ltd. Press release: September 10, 2025 To Members of the Press Kazuhiro Soda also gave it high praise! “Nonviolence as a Weapon: A Theory of Resistance Starting in Everyday Life” will be released on September 10th. How can “ordinary people” change society? Mari Nakami, known for appearing on NHK’s “100 Minutes of
Masterpieces,” presents ways for each and every individual to become involved in social change. Nakami Mari, professor emeritus at Seisen Women’s University, will release a new book, “Nonviolence as a Weapon: A Theory of Resistance Starting in Everyday Life,” on September 10th from NHK Publishing. Building on Gene Sharp’s theory of strategic nonviolent struggle, Nakami presents ways for “ordinary people” who are not particularly brave or admirable to engage in social change.
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■ Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda also gives it high praise! How do we resist oppression and invasion? ! Here is a third way, neither a military response nor surrender. Gene Sharp’s theory of nonviolent resistance is an eye-opener. This is the perfect introductory book. Kazuhiro Soda (filmmaker) How can “ordinary people” change society? How can we resist in a world where authoritarian leaders wield power? Building on Gene Sharp’s theory of nonviolent struggle, which brought a military strategic approach to the peace movement, this book clearly presents ways in which “ordinary people,” who are neither particularly brave nor admirable, can engage in social change. This book is based on the text of the “100 Minute Masterpieces” program and adds information about Japanese peace activists and nonviolent struggles. It is also full of practical tips for breaking free from everyday oppression and submission! The “Introduction” to this book has been published in NHK Publishing’s Digital Magazine. ■Table of Contents Prologue: The Shaking Foundations of Democracy The endless cycle of violence / Nonviolent social change / Lessons to be learned from military strategy, etc. Chapter 1: The Potential of “Ordinary People” A political scientist who has devoted his life to the study of “strategic nonviolence” / A theory for “ordinary people” to fight / “Resistance,” not “Negotiation” / No dictatorship is invulnerable / Is violence a “necessary evil”? /Column: Myanmar’s Democracy Movement, etc. Chapter 2: Nonviolence as a Weapon Neither coups nor elections will solve the problem / Avoid excessive reliance on “outside forces” / Cut off the source of power of dictatorial regimes / The Serbian democratization movement that toppled the dictator / Concentrated attacks on the media and police / Column: Serbia’s movement to oust Milosevic, etc. Chapter 3: Strategic Nonviolent Resistance Start with small actions / The cost-effectiveness of resistance movements / “Hidden disobedience” that strips dictators of their power / Lithuania’s independence restoration movement / Sharp’s theory of nonviolent struggle put to use / What saved Gorbachev from a difficult situation / Column: Lithuania’s independence restoration movement, etc. Chapter 4: Challenges to Overcome Preventing the birth of new dictators / The idea of ”Civilian Nonviolent National Defense” (CBD) / Authoritarian regimes also studying Sharpe’s theory, etc. Chapter 5 A stronghold of hope Nonviolent struggle leading to a democratic system / Costa Rica as a demilitarized nation / How to defend a country without an army / Implications for Japan’s future, etc. Chapter 6: Reachable Practical Examples Tomi Kobayashi’s Nonviolent Struggle / Case Studies of Itochu Aviation and Tokyo University of the Arts / Muneyoshi Yanagi’s Nonviolent Struggle / Masahiro Ahagon’s Nonviolent Struggle / Final Chapter: Facing the World with
Nonviolence, etc. Final Chapter: Facing the World with Nonviolence Sharp’s Legacy / The Strategic Nonviolence We Want to Spread / Future Challenges Afterword In place of a bibliography 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action Author Mari Nakami Born in 1949. Professor Emeritus at Seisen Women’s University and Director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. Specializes in international relations thought. Graduated from Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law with a doctoral degree. While a professor at Seisen Women’s University, she served as a visiting researcher at Princeton University’s Department of East Asian Studies and Vice President of Seisen Women’s University. Her major works include “Muneyoshi Yanagi: The Times and Thought” (University of Tokyo Press) and “Muneyoshi Yanagi: The Thought of ‘Complex Beauty'” (Iwanami Shinsho). His major papers include “Kiyozawa Kiyoshi’s Diplomatic Thought” (Misuzu), “The Institute of Pacific Relations and Japanese Intellectuals” (Shiso), and “Gene Sharp’s Theory of Strategic Nonviolence” (Seisen University Bulletin). ■Product information
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/18219/1174/18219-1174-a0bd5cc80e07c04c62c96dbe1ad36a81-965×1500.jpg NHK Publishing Paperback 749 “Nonviolence as a Weapon: A Theory of Resistance Starting in Everyday Life” Written by Mari Nakami Released September 10, 2025 ISBN: 978-4-14-088749-3 Price: ¥1,023 (tax included) Shinsho size, 224 pages EC site:
https://www.nhk-book.co.jp/detail/000000887492025.html
Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4140887494/
