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This research is entitled The Influence of Japanese Pop Culture on Children’s Toys Trends in Indonesia, 1980-2010. The study employs the historical method, which consists of four stages: heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography.John Fiske’s (2011) theory of popular culture and  Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power is used to analyze how Japanese popular culture, particularly through entertainment media and toy products, was disseminated persuasively and received by Indonesian children. Since the early 1990s, mass media such as television and children’s magazines have played an important role in introducing Japanese anime and characters, which subsequently encouraged the emergence of toy trends based on Japanese popular culture. The object of this research focuses on children’s toys influenced by Japanese popular culture that circulated in Indonesia between 1980 and 2010, including Tamiya, Beyblade, Tamagotchi, Crush Gear, B-Daman, and yo-yo. These toys not only developed as commercial products, but also contributed to the formation of children’s play patterns, communities, and social identities. However, during the period from 2008 to 2010, these toy trends began to decline due to the advancement of digital technology, changes in children’s consumption patterns, broadcast censorship policies implemented by Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), and increasing competition from popular culture of other countries such as Korea, the United States, and China. This condition reflects a shift in children’s play culture from physical toys to more modern forms of digital entertainment.

This paper explores the role of Mary as a model of salvation in Catholic faith, focusing on the understanding of Mariology within the cultural context of the Ende-Lio people in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. Mary is regarded not only as the Mother of Jesus Christ but also as an example of faith marked by humility, obedience, and hope. Her humility and willingness to accept God’s will, especially in the Annunciation, serve as a concrete inspiration for Catholics to respond faithfully to God’s call. Within the Ende-Lio culture, which values loyalty, solidarity, respect for ancestors, and harmony with nature, Mary becomes a figure closely connected to daily life. Devotions such as the rosary, pilgrimages to Marian grottoes, and the celebration of the Marian months highlight Mary’s living presence in both the faith and cultural traditions of the community. Thus, Mary serves as a bridge between the Gospel and local culture, revealing a Church that is rooted in its own soil yet remains faithful to Christ. This reflection affirms that contextual faith is a living faith deeply rooted in local culture while open to the saving work of God.

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the Papua Special Autonomy policy in improving the welfare of indigenous communities by reviewing the achievement of policy objectives, integration and coordination between institutions, and policy adaptation to the socio-cultural conditions of the local community. The approach used is qualitative with the Qualitative Secondary Analysis (QSA) method, utilizing various secondary data sources such as policy documents, government reports, and relevant research and academic journals. The results of the study indicate that the Papua Special Autonomy policy was designed as an affirmative policy aimed at accelerating regional development, improving community welfare, and recognizing the rights of indigenous communities. This policy has produced several positive results, especially in increasing regional fiscal allocations, developing infrastructure, and expanding community access to education and health services. In addition, the establishment of special institutions such as the Papuan People's Assembly provides space for the representation of indigenous people's culture in the regional government system. However, the study also shows that the Special Autonomy policy faces several challenges, including suboptimal inter-institutional coordination, limited institutional capacity of local governments in managing Special Autonomy funds, and the incomplete integration of indigenous socio-cultural values ​​in the planning and implementation of development programs. Therefore, strengthening policy governance, increasing accountability in fund management, and expanding indigenous community participation are crucial factors in enhancing the effectiveness of Papua's Special Autonomy policy. This research provides theoretical contributions to public policy development, particularly in the context of implementing asymmetric decentralization and culture-based development policies.

This study examines the integration of Christian values into the Merdeka Curriculum for Christian Religious Education (PAK) in junior high schools (SMP), focusing on the challenges and strategies for its implementation. The Merdeka Curriculum, introduced in 2022, offers flexibility in instructional design; however, its implementation in the field of PAK requires specific adaptations to maintain the relevance of Christian values such as love, justice, and responsibility. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using library research combined with empirical content analysis of various case studies in Indonesian Christian schools. The findings indicate that the primary challenges include resource constraints, the readiness of PAK teachers, technological infrastructure gaps, and the influence of secular digital culture. Effective strategies include the development of a contextual curriculum based on Christian values, the utilization of digital technology in learning, the enhancement of teachers’ professional competencies, and collaboration between schools, families, and churches. The implications of this study suggest that the integration of Christian values into the Merdeka Curriculum can foster the holistic character of junior high school students, equipping them with integrity, resilience, and the ability to face the challenges of the digital age.

Public services are a state obligation to meet the basic needs of the community and have a strong legal basis through various laws and regulations in Indonesia. However, in practice, the implementation of public services still faces various problems such as slow service processes, unclear procedures, lack of transparency in costs and service times, and maladministration. This study aims to analyze the gap between the normative concept of public services and their implementation in practice and to identify factors that influence the low quality of public services. The research method used is a qualitative approach with library research through analysis of various literature, laws and regulations, and data from public service supervisory agencies. The results show that the main problems in public services in Indonesia are related to the weak implementation of service standards, low transparency and accountability, and suboptimal professionalism of the apparatus. In addition, maladministration practices such as prolonged delays and procedural deviations are still common. Digital transformation through the implementation of e-government is one effort to improve service quality, although its implementation still faces obstacles in human resources, infrastructure, and bureaucratic culture. Therefore, strengthening public service governance, increasing transparency, and optimizing oversight are necessary to ensure public services are more effective, accountable, and oriented toward the public interest.

This study aims to analyze the need for redesigning the visual identity of PHD (Peternakan Hijau Daun) Nusantara as an effort to strengthen the brand image as an arts and culture-based educational tourism destination. The problems underlying this research are the inconsistent visual identity, the lack of representation of the brand's character, and the low level of audience recognition of PHD Nusantara. The research methods used include observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The results of the analysis indicate several main factors that form the basis for the need for redesign, namely the inconsistency of visual elements, the weak strength and readability of the logo, the inconsistency of the visual identity with the character of the destination, and the suboptimal visual experience of the audience at various interaction points. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the development of a more consistent, communicative, and characteristic visual identity is needed as a basis for the redesign process. The results of this study are expected to be a reference in redesigning a visual identity that can strengthen the image of PHD Nusantara and increase its appeal to the audience.

The Panji Story is one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) that has historical, cultural, and local identity values, especially for the people of Kediri. However, currently, the community's understanding of the Panji Story tends to be limited and is often considered only as a romantic story, so that the historical and cultural values contained therein are not fully understood. This activity aims to strengthen the community's understanding of the Panji Story as a source of history and local cultural heritage through a national seminar. The activity was conducted in the form of a seminar involving presentations by expert speakers, interactive discussions, and question and answer sessions with participants from various backgrounds, such as students, the general public, and cultural activists. The results of the activity showed an increase in participants' understanding and awareness of the historical, cultural, and educational value of the Panji Story. Participants not only understood the diversity of versions of the Panji Story, but also began to view it as an important part of local cultural identity that needs to be preserved and sustained. This activity showed that national seminars can be an effective educational medium in building collective public awareness of the sustainable preservation of local history and culture.

Vaname shrimp is one of the export commodities with high economic value. Therefore, to meet increasing market demand, it is necessary to improve aquaculture productivity. However, the development of vaname shrimp farming in Indonesia faces several challenges, including the emergence of viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases (Astria et al., 2022). Vibrio sp. bacteria can cause bacterial infections and are opportunistic in nature. Vibrio sp. can attack shrimp at all stages and may lead to decreased production yields (Astria et al., 2022). Generally, farmers control bacterial diseases by adding antimicrobial compounds. However, bacterial disease control in vaname shrimp culture can also be carried out using hydrogen peroxide (Astria et al., 2022). This study examined the effect of different doses of hydrogen peroxide in suppressing Vibrio sp. bacteria using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The doses used were 7 ppm, 9 ppm, 11 ppm, 13 ppm, and 15 ppm, with five treatments and five replications. The results showed that the application of different doses of hydrogen peroxide had a significant effect based on the One Way ANOVA test (0.00 < 0.05). The lowest effectiveness was observed in treatment 1 (7 ppm), while the highest effectiveness was found in treatment 5 (15 ppm). Although hydrogen peroxide was able to reduce the number of Vibrio sp. bacterial colonies, the doses used in this study were not able to completely eliminate the colonies (0 cfu/ml).

This study examines the impact of MBKM, campus culture, and learning achievement on work readiness in Islamic financial institutions, specifically for students from the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business at UIN Datokarama Palu, Class of 2022. Using a quantitative approach with descriptive research design, the study aims to analyze how these factors influence students' preparedness for work in the industry. The findings show that MBKM, campus culture, and learning achievement each have a positive and significant effect on work readiness. MBKM, with its emphasis on direct industrial experience, has the strongest impact, while campus culture shapes students' character and work ethics. Learning achievement reflects academic competencies essential for entering the workforce. The combined influence of these three factors was proven to significantly impact work readiness, with an F-value of 5.393, greater than the F-table value of 2.72. This demonstrates that work readiness stems from a combination of practical experience, acceptance of campus values, and academic success, all of which should be developed continuously.

The development of digital technology affects tourism promotion strategies. Promotion of cultural tourism in remote areas. The Tarung Traditional Village (KA) is one of the trains located in West Sumba district that has cultural heritage and historical value but still cannot be promoted properly due to the lack of digital media. Therefore, the researcher created a website as a medium for promoting cultural tourism destinations for Tangung Train. The system development method applied is the waterfall model with phases of needs analysis, system design, implementation, and testing. Information collections are carried out through literature studies, observations with traditional and community managers, and direct interviews. The process of developing this system must be able to meet the community's information needs related to the profile of customary areas, customary houses, customary ceremonies, photo galleries and tour guides of the Tarong Train. The result of this research is to get promotional media for the Tarung Train in the form of an informative site about the potential of the Tarung Train containing train profiles, traditional houses, traditional ceremonies, photo galleries, and tourist guides. As well as promotion in the form of a website that is able to increase access to information from the general public and also introduce cultural image.

Leadership constitutes a critical determinant of organizational efficiency, yet the relationship between leadership styles and administrative effectiveness remains incompletely understood, particularly across different institutional contexts. This comparative study examines how transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles influence administrative efficiency in public and private sector institutions in Indonesia. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected from 428 employees across 28 public institutions and 24 private organizations through validated survey instruments; qualitative data were gathered through 36 semi-structured interviews with organizational leaders and managers. Results reveal significant positive relationships between transformational leadership and administrative efficiency in both sectors (β = 0.54, p < 0.001 for public; β = 0.48, p < 0.001 for private), with transactional leadership showing moderate positive effects (β = 0.32 public; β = 0.38 private) and laissez-faire leadership demonstrating negative relationships (β = −0.28 public; β = −0.24 private). Leadership styles collectively explain 52% of efficiency variance. Mediation analysis reveals that organizational culture (28%), employee engagement (35%), and trust in leadership (22%) partially mediate transformational leadership's effects, together accounting for 62% of total indirect effects. Sector differences emerged qualitatively: transformational leadership leverages public service motivation in public institutions, while transactional leadership's performance accountability resonates more strongly in private organizations. The study contributes theoretical understanding of leadership effectiveness across institutional contexts and provides practical guidance for developing contextually appropriate leadership development programs.

This study examines the dynamics of Islamic civilization and cultural expressions in Southeast Asia through a comparative analysis of Muslim communities in Indonesia and Thailand. Southeast Asia represents a unique region where Islam has interacted with diverse local traditions, producing distinctive cultural forms and civilizational patterns. The research aims to explore how Islamic values, cultural traditions, and historical experiences shape the development of Muslim societies in both countries.Using a qualitative comparative approach, this study analyzes historical sources, academic literature, and socio-cultural practices within Muslim communities in Indonesia and Thailand. The research focuses on three main aspects: the historical development of Islam, the interaction between Islamic teachings and local cultures, and the role of cultural practices in shaping contemporary Muslim identity.  The findings reveal that Islamic civilization in Southeast Asia is characterized by adaptability, cultural negotiation, and pluralistic expressions. In Indonesia, Islamic cultural expressions tend to be more institutionalized and integrated within national cultural frameworks, while in Thailand, Muslim communities maintain strong cultural identities through local traditions and religious institutions despite existing within a predominantly Buddhist society.  This study contributes to the broader discourse on Islamic civilization by demonstrating that cultural diversity and local adaptation play significant roles in shaping Muslim societies in Southeast Asia. Understanding these dynamics provides deeper insight into the relationship between religion, culture, and civilization in pluralistic societies.

This research is motivated by the diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and religions in Indonesia, which makes religious moderation a crucial key to creating harmony and tolerance, including in Naramben Village, Skanto District, Keerom Regency. The research problem formulation focuses on how religious moderation is practiced and its impact on community dynamics in the village. The aim is to determine the practice and impact of religious moderation in the Naramben Village community. The results of the study indicate that the practice of religious moderation is realized through deliberation and the rejection of violence. As a result, strong social harmony is established, characterized by mutual cooperation and mutual respect regardless of differences. The results of this study are also in line with Peter L. Berger's social construction theory and Lukman Hakim Saifuddin's views, where social reality is shaped through interaction and concrete actions. In conclusion, religious moderation has become the main foundation of social harmony in Naramben Village. As a suggestion, this research has implications for adding to the scientific body and providing input for the village government in formulating policies related to the practice of religious moderation.

By examining how visual aesthetics play a crucial role in creating a hyperreal symbolic reality, this study critically investigates the creation and consumption of simulacra in the Instagram marketing of regional Indonesian fashion firms. This study shows that local brands actively create representational worlds that negotiate identity between claims of locality and global aesthetic standards, in addition to selling products, using an interpretative qualitative approach that combines netnography, visual semiotic analysis, and in-depth interviews with brand managers and consumers. According to the research, rigorous visual curation techniques result in what are known as ethical simulacra, in which ideals like sustainability and community support are reduced to beautiful pictures divorced from tangible behaviors. In addition to examining ethical conundrums in netnographic research within ambivalent digital settings, this analysis emphasizes the critical role that Instagram's algorithms play as non-human actors that influence aesthetic canons. By highlighting distinctive dynamics including self-exoticization tactics and modernity paradoxes that influence symbolic consumption patterns, this study theoretically advances Consumer Culture Theory and critical marketing by concentrating on the Indonesian setting. The study's findings suggest a more ethical and thoughtful approach to marketing when confronting the logic of digital hyperreality.

This study aims to analyze the factors influencing the implementation of Regional Regulation of Gorontalo Regency Number 04 of 2014 concerning the Control of Livestock in Ilomata Village, Bilato District. This research employs an empirical legal method with a sociological juridical approach to examine law not only as written norms but also as a social practice within society. Data were collected through interviews with village officials, regional regulation enforcement officers, and livestock owners, as well as through documentation and literature studies. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively using Lawrence M. Friedman’s legal system theory and Soerjono Soekanto’s theory on factors influencing law enforcement. The results indicate that the implementation of the regional regulation has not been optimal. The influencing factors include legal substance, legal structure (law enforcement officers), facilities and infrastructure, community factors, and legal culture. Normatively, the regulation contains clear provisions; however, its implementation is hindered by inconsistent enforcement, limited supporting facilities, and low levels of public legal awareness. Legal culture and the lack of consistency among law enforcement officers are the most dominant factors affecting the effectiveness of the regulation’s implementation. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen consistent law enforcement, improve supporting facilities, and undertake continuous efforts to build public legal awareness in a participatory manner.

Catechesis is a process of faith formation that aims to help the faithful, especially Catholic youth, to know, internalize, and live out the Christian faith in their daily lives. In the digital era, youth participation in ecclesial life tends to decline, as indicated by low involvement in Church activities. This condition is influenced by various factors, such as academic and work commitments, as well as the dominance of digital culture, which is often more appealing to young people than spiritual activities. This study aims to analyze the role of catechesis in increasing the participation of Catholic youth in the digital era and to examine the relevance of retreats and recollections as contextual forms of catechesis. The research employs a qualitative approach using a literature study method, supported by observations of ecclesial life at the station level. The findings indicate that catechesis that is primarily informative is less effective in addressing the needs of young people, who seek a more personal and participatory faith experience. In this regard, retreats and recollections have the potential to serve as forms of catechesis that deepen faith experiences and encourage active participation in the life of the Church.

Formal education systems are often trapped in rigid standardization that actually shackles students' creativity and personal uniqueness. This issue raises questions about the extent to which individual freedom is accommodated in modern curricula that tend to be pragmatic. Departing from this issue, this study aims to explore the relevance of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Romanticism which prioritizes affection and the general will in the context of education. Rousseau argued that the development of science and culture often acts as a chain that restrains humans, thus he proposed the concept of natural education that allows children's instincts to develop freely without damaging cultural intervention. Using qualitative methods based on literature review, this research identified a strong common ground between Rousseau's vision and Indonesia's Freedom to Learn policy. The study reveals that both share a common philosophical foundation: restoring educational sovereignty to institutions and students, allowing them to independently develop their potential, talents, and interests. Therefore, synchronizing Rousseau's ideas with Freedom to Learn serves as a crucial foundation for creating a higher-quality and more humane national education ecosystem.

This study examines the predictive influence of religious habituation and teacher role modeling on students’ emotional intelligence in an Islamic elementary school context. A quantitative approach with an ex post facto design was employed, involving 78 students selected through total sampling. Data were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires and analyzed using multiple linear regression. The findings indicate that religious habituation has a positive and significant effect on students’ emotional intelligence, while teacher role modeling demonstrates a relatively stronger contribution. Simultaneously, both variables significantly predict emotional intelligence, explaining 74.9% of its variance. These results suggest that students’ socio-emotional development is shaped by the integration of structured religious practices and pedagogical modeling within the school environment. The study contributes to the ecological-religious perspective on character education by emphasizing the importance of consistent spiritual habituation and teachers’ personal competence in fostering emotional regulation and social skills. Practically, Islamic elementary schools are encouraged to strengthen religious culture programs and support teachers’ emotional and moral development to enhance students’ emotional intelligence.

This study aims to analyze the manifestation of Indonesian unity values within the local wisdom of Kresnayana in Blitar Regency, particularly through the “Hasta Brata” performance. As a multicultural nation, Indonesia possesses diversity that represents both potential and challenge; therefore, strengthening unity values through various media, including local wisdom, is essential. This research adopts a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design to explore the experiences and involvement of cultural actors in the Kresnayana performance. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, documentation, and literature review using snowball sampling techniques, and were analyzed inductively through data reduction, triangulation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that Kresnayana, which originates from the reliefs of Penataran Temple, functions not only as a medium for cultural preservation but also as a means of educating unity values. In the “Hasta Brata” performance, the value of unity is reflected in the complementary relationship between Arjuna and Kresna; the value of togetherness is demonstrated through the cooperation between Anoman and Arjuna; the value of patriotism is evident in efforts to maintain world peace; and the value of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is illustrated through the unity of characters from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, the festival serves as a contextual learning medium in Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKn) and supports the strengthening of the Pancasila Student Profile. Thus, Kresnayana represents a concrete manifestation of the implementation of unity values in community life through a local cultural approach.

The effectiveness of public sector organizations in delivering quality services and achieving their mandates depends critically on how they manage their human resources. This study examines the relationship between strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices and organizational performance in Indonesian public sector organizations. Employing a mixed-methods research design, data were collected from 312 public sector managers and HR professionals across 45 government agencies through surveys and 32 in-depth interviews. The research investigates five key SHRM dimensions: strategic recruitment and selection, performance management systems, employee development and training, compensation and rewards, and employee engagement. Findings reveal significant positive relationships between SHRM practices and multiple performance indicators including service quality, operational efficiency, employee productivity, and organizational innovation. Regression analysis demonstrates that SHRM practices collectively explain 47.3% of variance in organizational performance scores. Qualitative data illuminate implementation challenges including limited HR professional capacity, rigid civil service regulations, political interference, and resistance to performance-based management. The study identifies critical success factors such as top management commitment, alignment between HR strategy and organizational strategy, investment in HR analytics capabilities, and cultural transformation toward merit-based practices. Results indicate that high-performing public organizations distinguish themselves through systematic talent management, data-driven HR decision-making, continuous learning cultures, and stronger linkages between individual performance and organizational outcomes. This research contributes empirical evidence on SHRM effectiveness in public sector contexts and provides actionable recommendations for HR practitioners and policymakers seeking to leverage human capital for improved public service delivery.