Japanese women's desire for the West and English study motivation

This study reconsiders the well-documented argument that young Japanese women's romantic desire ( akogare ) for the gender equality of the West motivates them to study English. This study analyzes numerical and written data from 100 female Japanese English learners aged 20 to 59. The findings revealed that while akogare for the West serves as a catalyst for English study among them, the motivational effect differs by age and self-perceived English proficiency. The study also shows that many research participants assess young Japanese women's akogare for the West as natural due to their perceptions of the West as a place endowed with positive attributes (e.g., appreciation for individual freedom). • Japanese women's desires ( akogare ) for the West are associated with their English study motivation, but not with life (dis)satisfaction with life in Japan. • The association between akogare for the West and English study motivation is impacted by age and self-perceived English proficiency. • Many participants assess young Japanese women's akogare for the West as natural by perceiving the West as a place endowed with positive attributes.