Humans and Devices in Medical Contexts, edited by Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholar Susanne Brucksch and sociologist Kaori Sasaki, is a multidisciplinary anthology that explores the development, use, and social implications of devices in Japanese medical contexts. Leading experts in STS, sociology, political science, history, law, medical engineering, and Japanese studies have contributed to the book. Empirical areas include radiation measurement (Part I1), diagnosis, interven-tion, and safety management in clinical settings (Part III), innovation and diffusion of medical devices (Part IV), and rehabilitation and treatment through a robotic system (Part V). This is one of the few social science/humanities studies to appear in English on devices in Japanese medical contexts. It is a must-read for students in STS and cognate fields in Japanese medical practices. Individuals interested in medical technology on transnational and/or transdisciplinary grounds will find this book insightful.
The overall aim of this volume is to explore the question, "In what ways and on what grounds are variations of socio-technical settings articulated in medical contexts in general and exemplified in the locale of Japan in particular?" (5, emphasis in original). The following two ideas seem apparent here. First, devices are fused into broad-term socio-technical settings. A considerable portion of the book (Part II and Part III pays only minimal attention to medical devices as narrowly defined. Further-more, all chapters treat (medical) devices not as a technical, esoteric subject, but as part of interrelations of actors, infrastructures, histories, and meaning. Second, the overall research question is framed in parallel with international and domestic research. Comparative insights extend into Japan's so-called Westernization, global inflow of knowledge and materials, and cultural stereotypes, among others.
Donze (Chapter 8) provides a comprehensive analysis of post-war trends in the medical device market in Japan. I would like to examine it here at some length as an ideal reference point for this review. Donze demonstrates the influence of market conditions on the adoption and adaptation of medical technology.
