Japan and self-help groups

Alcohol self-help groups

Self-help groups are a world-wide phenomenon that, in most cases, exist outside the medical system and involve individuals affected by alcohol coming together to share their experiences and provide mutual support.

This project works collaboratively with Japanese alcohol self-help groups in Japan to understand the problem of alcohol misuse and recovery in Japan. For the past 10 years fieldwork has been conducted with Danshukai (alcohol stop drinking group) and more recently with Danshu-dojo, a therapeutic community that draws on Japanese principles of selfhood and recovery.