J-Current, Volume 13, Issue 1
Fall 2009
J-Current reports on the achievements and activities Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan visit Hawai‘i of UHM Japanese Studies This summer marked the fiftieth Nainoa faculty and students as well anniversary of the Crown Prince as Japan related events, Thompson research, scholarships and Akihito Scholarship. To celebrate presents a overseas programs. this historic occasion, Emperor replica model Akihito and Empress Michiko of the voyag- Please send materials for visited Hawai‘i from July 14-16. ing canoe submission to: The scholarship was created as a Hokulea as Paul Christensen wedding gift in 1959 when then Their Majes- J-Current Editor ties rise to Crown Prince Akihito wed Mi- Center for Japanese Studies view it. Photo 1890 East-West Road, chiko Shoda. Since then 129 stu- courtesy of Moore 216 University of dents from Hawai‘i and Japan Shinji Uozumi Hawai‘i at Mānoa have been awarded the scholar- and the Japan- Honolulu, HI 96822 ship to pursue a wide range of America Jour- academic topics. nal. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (808) 956-2667 While in Hawai‘i the Emperor and Fax: (808) 956-2666 Empress engaged in various ac- mately 1,500 people attended the Award for her work with the Web: www.hawaii.edu/cjs banquet, including many past Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship tivities around O‘ahu, including a Copyright © 2009 visit to Kapiolani Park. The Impe- Scholarship recipients. In atten- Foundation and alumni. In addi- Center for Japanese Studies. rial Couple visited the shower tree dance were Governor Linda tion to her work on the fiftieth All rights reserved. planted by the Emperor during Lingle, former Prime Minister of anniversary celebration, Dr. Mini- An Equal Opportunity / his first visit to Hawai‘i in 1960. Japan Yasuo Fukuda, Japan’s chiello has been deeply involved Affirmative Action Institu- ambassador to the United States with the Crown Prince Akihito tion The primary purpose of the Em- Ichiro Fujisaki, and many other Foundation since receiving her peror and Empress’ visit was to luminaries from throughout the scholarship in 1974-75. attend the 50th Anniversary Ban- community. Inside this issue: quet for the Scholarship. The The Emperor and Empress left banquet was held on the evening Former CJS Director Dr. Sharon O‘ahu on July 16th to travel to the Nippon Culture Day 2 of July 15 at the Hilton Hawaiian Minichiello (pictured above, far Big Island before leaving Kona Village Coral Ballroom. Approxi- right) was honored at the banquet International Airport to return to with the Distinguished Service Tokyo on July 17. Consul General bids 2 farewell to Hawai‘i Yoshiko Sakurai visits UHM From COS, From the 3 Tea Center Yoshiko Sakurai, a former NHK as well as numerous community cal of recent US engagement of newscaster and prolific author members and UHM faculty and China. From the Library, From 4 gave a lecture in the UHM Archi- students. Ms. Sakurai stated that she advo- J-Floor tecture Building Auditorium on October 13. Ms. Sakurai, who Ms. Sakurai spoke for over an cates a strengthening of the Ja- Faculty presentations 5 holds a degree in History from hour on the political, historical, pan/US alliance with the eventual and publications UHM, spoke about the signifi- and social significance of Japan’s goal of slowly increasing Japan’s cance of Japan’s recent election recent election that saw Yukio global influence. Perhaps most Student and Alumni 6 for the United States, China, Asia, Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of controversially, Ms. Sakurai called news and presentations and Europe. Japan gain control of the govern- for Japan to become a “normal ment for the first time. She was nation,” a position that includes Seminar Series news 7 The lecture was well attended and cautiously optimistic about Ja- maintaining a military. She added guests included Chancellor Vir- pan’s new government, citing that Japan’s pacifism under Article ginia Hinshaw and the new Prime Minister Hatoyama’s call 9 of the Constitution has lead to Consul General of Japan Yoshi- for a review of Japan/US relations apathy and “deep decay” among hiko Kamo and his wife Etsuko, as a positive step, but was skepti- younger Japanese.
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Nippon Culture Day Nippon Culture Day was held bringing a high level of energy and ered students, faculty, and com- November 12 at the East-West excitement to the event. munity members. Center’s Imin Conference Center. Students were invited to take part In addition to the cultural events Pictured: Tomoko Iwai Autumn and the changing in origami, calligraphy, gift- that took place at Nippon Culture (instructor, Japanese) shows off of the leaves in Japan. wrapping, and weaving. All of the Day there was information on her juggling skills at Nippon Cul- activities allowed students to cre- studying abroad in Japan, the JET ture Day, November 12, 2008. ate their own works of art which Program, and Japanese language they could bring home. A variety books and maga- of traditional Japanese games were zines on display. also available including juggling, as There were also seen in the photo of EALL in- performances by structor Tomoko Iwai to the the students in Dr. right. Kyoko Hijirida’s Okinawan Lan- Undergraduates from both Japa- guage and Culture nese courses and across the UHM class. The student’s campus were invited to partici- performed an Oki- pate. Attendance was impressive, nawan song and with a constant stream of students dance to the gath-
CJS Graduate stu- CJS Student Voices - Travis Seifman, MA, Art History dents: Would you like to share your I attended the Inter-University The Center schedule can be quite years ago I found far too intimi- experiences in an Center’s intensive Japanese lan- brutal at times, leaving little time dating and difficult. I also enjoyed upcoming J- guage program in 2007-08, an for anything besides study, but living in Japan very much , and Current? We will experience which not only ad- there are also plenty of opportuni- now hope to pursue a career be running a CJS vanced my language ability in- ties for being social, exploring the working for a museum or univer- credibly, but was also extremely city, traveling further afield, and sity there. Student Voices enjoyable. I never thought I could generally experiencing life in Ja- column in subse- enjoy language learning so much, pan. I am always eager to talk about my quent issues and nor advance so much in such a experiences, and happy to answer would love to hear short time. There’s something The IUC experience has proven any questions about the program from you. Please about their method, and the at- invaluable for my academic pur- or life in Yokohama. email the editor at mosphere at the Center, that just suits, as I can now make use of Japanese sources which only a few Travis can be reached at tseif- [email protected] makes it work amazingly well. [email protected]
Japanese Consul General bids farewell to Hawai‘i Former Consul General of Ha- Fleet as well as U.S. Senator nese Studies. He attended CJS wai‘i, Toshio Kunikata, left Daniel Inoue, Governor Lingle, functions, including the Japanese Honolulu this summer to take up and several members of Hono- Gakugeki drama Tenshu Monoga- a new diplomatic posting in Brasi- lulu’s city government. At the tari, held at UHM’s Architecture lia. To honor Consul General event, the Consul General was Auditorium in March 2009. Kunikata’s contribution to Japan- presented with various Hawaiian Hawai‘i-US relations, a lunch was gifts, including a crafted wooden Before coming to Hawai‘i Mr. held at the Japanese Cultural Cen- bowl. Kunikata served as Deputy Con- ter of Hawai‘i Ballroom on August sul General in Los Angeles and 12. The Consul General arrived in Consul General in Dusseldorf, Former Consul General Honolulu in August 2007 and Germany. New Consul General, of Hawai‘i, Toshio In attendance were several Com- during that time was a strong Yoshihiko Kamo, arrived in Kunikata manders of the US Navy Pacific supporter of the Center for Japa- Honolulu in August. Volume 13, Issue 1 Page 3
From the Center for Okinawan Studies Beginning September 2009, the serve the languages. He followed Center for Okinawan Studies this presentation with another one offered a series of lectures about on October 2 and, this time, spoke Okinawa/Ryukyu-related topics. of the English language education On September 2, Professor Ka- policy that the governing United tsunori Yamazato, director of States Civil Administration of the the newly formed International Ryukyu Islands tried to establish Institute for Okinawan Studies during the Occupation period. (IIOS) at the University of the The U.S. military government Ryukyus, kicked off the lecture wanted people to learn English in series by talking about IIOS and order to maintain the U.S. bases in its future projects. Okinawa. This proposal met with strong opposition as many of the For October, another visiting Okinawans questioned why they University of the Ryukyus profes- should have to learn English when sor, Masahide Ishihara, gave two they were Japanese. presentations over the course of two days. On October 1, Profes- Both Professors Yamazato and sor Ishihara talked about the Ishihara’s talks were well attended changes in attitudes toward the and bodes well for Okinawan Ryukyuan languages since the studies. Future topics include: U.S. Meiji era. With wider acceptance military base issues, UH programs of the Ryukyuan languages, peo- that have exchanges with pro- ple’s attitudes have gone from grams in Okinawa. being ashamed to feeling a strong sense of pride and a need to pre-
From the Center for Okinawan Studies In other Okinawa-related news, agement Council, the Japanese the Governor of Okinawa Prefec- equivalent of the Board of Re- ture, Hirokazu Nakaima, visited gents, at the University of the the Center for Okinawan Studies Ryukyus’. The Management on November 10. Governor Na- Council decides the University’s kaima stopped in Honolulu on his direction. Dr. Huey is the first way back to Okinawa after mak- foreigner to be appointed to the ing several stops in California. Management Council of a national university in Japan. UHM and the Finally, CJS Director Robert University of the Ryukyus’ long Huey (pictured at right with Pro- standing relationship based on fessor Yamazato) was honored exchange of scholarship will be with an appointment to the Man- strengthened by this appointment.
From the Tea Center This year Talon Tengan (BS, dents and their families partici- Biology) was awarded the Midori- pated in a Japanese tea tasting kai scholarship and is studying at event at the Tea House on cam- Urasenke in Kyoto. He will be in pus. Those in attendance could Kyoto for the 2009-2010 aca- sample tea, observe a demonstra- demic year. tion of the tea ceremony, and relax in the tea house. Kendo Pictured: During this year’s demonstrations were also held at Mānoa Experience, held October Mānoa Experience. 10, 2009, local High School stu-
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Ukiyo-e at the Honolulu Academy of Art The role of literary and dramatic Kyoungwon Oh, Matthew Dietlin, Daniel Sargent, Chris- themes in ukiyo-e is the focus of an Shores, and Caroline Yama- topher Smith, and Patrick Woo, upcoming exhibition at the Hono- moto. The second rotation (April will examine the printmakers’ lulu Academy of Arts tentatively 1 - May 23, 2010), curated by perspective on the brilliant world titled "Poets and Printmakers: students Erica Abbott, RaeAnn of kabuki. Literary Themes in Japanese Prints,” guest curated by ten stu- dents in a graduate seminar on the literature of the Tokugawa period offered by the EALL Department Autumn on the slopes of under the direction of Prof. Joel Onatake-san in Nagano Prefecture. Cohn, with support from the Center for Japanese Studies.
Rotation One (January 28 - March 28, 2010), focusing on the ways that classic poems and tales were re-imagined in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century ukiyo-e, will be curated by UH students Malgor- zata Citko, Christopher Hicks,
From J-Floor With the support of the Center of with other students either studying get involved with other Japan Japanese Studies (CJS), Colleges or interested in the Japanese lan- internship/study opportunities. In of Languages, Linguistics and guage and culture. the future, J-Floor hopes to add a Literatures (LLL), School of Pa- new addition and provide service- cific and Asian Studies (SPAS) and This year J-Floor is honored to oriented activities using the Japa- UH Mānoa Student Housing Ser- have the support of Ehime Univer- nese language to help the local vices, the Japanese Language Resi- sity in starting its first ever pen pal and international communities. J- dential Learning Community (J- program between UH Mānoa J- Floor will continue to strengthen Floor) was established in Fall 2008 Floor students and Ehime Univer- the learning community by bring- providing students with opportu- sity students. Through their ex- ing students together and opening nities to use Japanese in a residen- periences on J-Floor, students new horizons with the Japanese tial setting. Residents are able to apply and participate in the UH language and culture. build community and friendships Mānoa International Exchange and Study Abroad programs and
From the Library - Takie Okumura’s Lantern Slides, on exhibit until Dec 31, 2009
Hamilton Library's magic lantern Specialist Librarian was slides have been well preserved by appointed in 1999. As part the Preservation Department. The of research on the history first survey was done in 1996 by a of the UHM Japan Collec- graduate student and with the help tion, records were discov- of Dr. John Stephan (Professor, ered in the UH Archives & History), the subject matters were Manuscripts in 2007, which partially identified. Unfortunately finally shed light on their the origin and background of the origin. The slides, including nearly 1,000 lantern slides re- the pictured example, came mained a mystery. The glass slides from Reverend Takie Oku- were secured in the Library's Spe- mura, founder of the Ma- cial Collection until a new Japan kiki Christian Church. Volume 13, Issue 1 Page 5
Faculty Presentations Dr. Kyoko Hijirida of EALL and paper “Leaping Kitty: Japanese Cute Dr. Tomoko Oshiro (pictured at Goods as Transborder Fetish” at the right), visiting professor of EALL American Anthropology Associa- Professors Kyoko Hijirida from Okinawa International Uni- tion annual meeting in Philadel- and Tomoko Oshiro pre- versity, presented a paper titled, phia, Pennsylvania from Decem- senting their paper at the "Current issues in Japanese Lan- ber 2-6. East-West Center, Septem- ber, 2009. guage Teaching Practica: A Case Study of University of Hawai‘i and Dr. Mark Levin (Associate Pro- Okinawa International Univer- fessor of Law) spent the summer sity," at the Japan/United States in Japan as a short-term visiting Teacher Education Consortium scholar at Hokkaido University In related news. Professor Levin's re- 2009, East-West Center Imin Faculty of Law. While busy dig- cent article with Virginia Tice Kaikan, Honolulu, September 17- ging in the law library's civil proce- (WSRSL '09) on Japan's new lay judge 20, 2009. Their paper was selected dural justice cases and commen- system will be republished in Japanese to be presented at the American tary, Prof. Levin gave a guest lec- translation in Kikan Keiji Bengoshi, Ja- Association of Colleges for ture for the Law & Society semi- pan's foremost criminal law and proce- Teacher Education to be held in nar class and shared the stage with dure journal later this year. Prof. Levin Atlanta Georgia, on Feb. 19-22, Judge Sabrina McKenna also accepted an invitation to serve as a 2010. (WSRSL '82) for a discussion of collaborator on a research grant funded judicial and legal reform in the by the Toyota Foundation studying Dr. Christine Yano (Professor, United States and Japan. popular opinion of lay participation in Anthropology) presented her the judicial system in Okinawa.
Faculty Publications Dr. Petrice Flowers (Associate transliteration, Romanization, Michigan Press. Professor, Political Science) pub- glossing, and commentary. The lished Refugees, Women, and Weap- book is published through Global Finally, Dr. Christine Yano ons: International Norm Adoption and Oriental. (Professor, Anthropology) pub- Compliance in Japan with Stanford lished her paper Wink on Pink: University Press (book cover pic- Dr. William Wayne Farris Interpreting Japanese Cute as It Grabs tured at right). (Professor and Soshitsu Sen Pro- the Global Headlines in The Journal fessor of Traditional Japanese of Asian Studies, volume 68, pub- Dr. Alexander Vovin (Professor, Culture and History) published lished through Cambridge Univer- EALL) published Man’yoshu: Book Japan’s Medieval Population: Famine, sity Press. 15. It is a new English translation Fertility, and Warfare in a Transforma- containing the original text, kana tive Age with the University of
Ehime Internship Promotes Friendship Between Hawai‘i and Japan Jaime Gusman (Masters candi- thology with the students. a large crowd and the students date in Japanese Language) and from Hawai‘i set-up a lei making Joshua Turner (Japanese lan- While in Ehime the pair con- booth that was very popular. Ja- guage major), spent the summer in ducted three workshops on Ha- mie also danced hula and Joshua Japan with the Ehime Internship. wai‘i at the Information Center. told two Hawaiian stories. During the three month stay they Jaime taught local residents how worked at an Information Center to make laulau, lomi salmon, Current UHM students interested in Ehime sharing knowledge haupia, and guava butter. Joshua in applying for the Ehime Intern- about Hawai‘i to the community. gave presentations on Hawaiian ship are encouraged to visit the They also traveled within the pre- myths and told five stories. CJS website’s jobs and internships section, or come to the office. fecture visiting local schools to Before returning to Hawai‘i Jaime talk about Hawai‘i, teach hula, and Applications are due in early and Joshua participated in Ehime March, 2010. share Hawaiian stories and my- Hawai‘i Day. This festival attracted J-Current Page 6
Student news Michael Dziesinski, PhD candi- relatively new trend of all-you-can American Occupation” in Rising date (Sociology) presented his -eat natural and organic restau- from the Flames: The Rebirth of Thea- Master’s Thesis research on Take- rants in Japan, and how the repre- tre in Occupied Japan, 1945-1952. yama Gakko, a hikikomori support sentations of farms in the restau- Edited by Samuel L. Leiter (Lexington group at Temple University’s ICJS rant meshes with the actuality of Books, 2009), Acknowledgement in Wakai Project Youth Conference local contexts of organic farms. Mānoa: A Pacific Journal of Academic in Tokyo at the end of June. Mi- Writing, vol. 21, no. 1: 211 (summer chael was also awarded the Crown Hiroki Igarashi, PhD candidate 2009, “Voices from Okinawa”), and Prince Akihito Scholarship for (Sociology) published Deliberative Review of Lorie Brau’s Rakugo: 2009-2011. He will use this award Planning in a Multicultural Milieu Performing Comedy and Cultural Heri- to conduct additional dissertation with Dr. Karen Umemoto, pro- tage in Contemporary Tokyo, Asian research in Japan on hikikomori. fessor of urban and regional plan- Theatre Journal, vol. 26, no. 1: 191- See his weblog for more informa- ning at UHM, in the Journal of 194 (spring 2009). tion on his research, http:// Planning Education and Research. towakudai.blogs.com/ Matthew McNicoll, PhD candi- Reminder: The 21st Annual my_weblog/. date (EALL) received the Visiting School of Pacific and Asian Stud- ies Graduate Student Conference Naomi Furnish-Yamada, PhD Student Researcher Scholarship at is going to be held from March candidate (Anthropology) at- Kokugakuin University in Tokyo 10-12, 2010 at the Center for tended the Canadian Anthropol- for 2009-2010 Korean Studies. See http:// ogy Society/American Ethnologi- Mathew Shores, PhD candidate www.hawaii.edu/shaps/ cal Society joint conference at the (Japanese Literature) had three gradconf/2010/index.html for University of British Columbia recent publications: “Laughing more information. from May 13-16. She presented a After Wars: Rakugo Under the
Student Presentations Paul Christensen, PhD candidate paper “Between a Forest and a Hard paper “Robotic Humanity: Identity (Anthropology) presented his Place: Constructions of Socio- and Materiality in Robot-Building in paper “Without a Masculine Manual: Economical Resilience in a Japanese Contemporary Japan” at the Ameri- Alcoholism and Advertisements in State-Managed Forest Environment” at can Anthropology Association Japan” at the American Anthro- the American Anthropology Asso- annual meeting in Philadelphia, pology Association annual meet- ciation annual meeting in Philadel- Pennsylvania from December 2-6. ing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania phia, Pennsylvania from Decem- from December 2-6. ber 2-6. Mathew Shores presented “Starting Off on the Right Foot: The Maeoki of Eric Cunningham, PhD candi- Hirofumi Katsuno, PhD candi- Japanese Comic Storytelling, Rakugo.” date (Anthropology) presented his date (Anthropology) presented his at the “Talk Story: Exploring Narrative through Language, Lit- erature & Linguistics,” presented at the 13th Annual Student Con- ference of the College of Lan- guages, Linguistics, and Literature in Honolulu, April 24, 2009.
Toru Yamada, PhD candidate (Anthropology) presented his The brilliant colors of paper Hope for Revitalization or the Autumn foliage at Ko- Making of a Vulnerable Community?: myoji Temple in Nagaoka- A Critical Analysis of the World kyo, Kyoto. Photo cour- Heritage Nomination Process in Japan tesy of Eric Cunningham, see http:// at the American Anthropology www.otakimura.blogspot.c Association annual meeting in om/ for more of his pho- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from tos. December 2-6. Volume 13, Issue 1 Page 7
Seminar Series - Ryoko Matsuba
Dr. Ryoko Matsuba (Post- fessor of Art History), Dr. Ryoko Center for Japanese Studies), and Doctoral Fellow, Art Research Matsuba (post-doctoral fellow at Dr. Gay Satsuma (Associate Center, Ritsumeikan University) Ritsumeikan University), Dr. Director of the Center for Japa- presented her research on ukiyo-e Robert Huey (Director of the nese Studies). and kabuki at the first CJS seminar of fall 2009. Dr. Matsuba is cur- rently at the Honolulu Academy of Art conducting research on depictions of kabuki in ukiyo-e prints. She is interested in actor prints and locating similarities in scenes across years and perform- ances. Dr. Matsuba is also re- searching the influence of ukiyo-e prints on the standardization of acting methods and pivotal scenes in major works of kabuki.
Pictured: From left to right are Dr. John Szostak (Assistant Pro-
Seminar Series - Professor Miller’s Lecture Draws Large Crowd Dr. Laura Miller (Professor of Miller presented data from her Anthropology at Loyola Univer- forthcoming book on trends sity, Chicago) gave a lecture No- among popular girl culture in vember 9 titled “Japanese Girl Stuff: Japan. She argued that while “girl Trend and Innovation in Popular Cul- stuff” is frequently dismissed as ture.” Dr. Miller is an anthropolo- being silly or irrelevant by those in gist, author of Beauty Up: Exploring power, this is actually the area of Contemporary Japanese Body Aesthetics impressive creative energy and (2006) and co-editor of Bad Girls of growth in contemporary Japan. Japan (2005).
To accommodate the larger crowd Japanese girls posing for pictures Dr. Miller’s talk was held in Craw- at a puri-kurabu (print club) photo ford Hall and several CJS’s faculty booth in Tokyo. Photo courtesy members were in attendance. Dr. of Dr. Laura Miller
Seminar Series - Copeland’s Freaks, Misfits, and Other Maimed Souls Dr. Rebecca Copeland detective fiction in Japan, the Grotesque, the story of two sister’s (Professor of Japanese Language genre from which Kirino got her that turn to prostitution and are and Literature at Washington start, before moving to a discus- eventually murdered, explores the University in St. Louis) gave a sion of Grotesque and the recent emphasis placed on surfaces in lecture Friday, November 13, shift in Kirino’s writing. Dr. Japan, and the crisis that emerges appropriately titled Freaks, Misfits, Copeland argued that Grotesque when these are found to be unreli- and Other Maimed Souls. Dr. Cope- can be read as a reaction against able. land’s lecture examined the novel the one-dimensional portrayal of Grotesque by Kirino Natsuo, in- women in Japan. The “theories of Dr. Copeland’s work has received cluding her translation of the the grotesque” that the book ex- the Choice Award for Out- English language version. plores seek to, in Dr. Copeland’s standing Academic Title and she words, “topple the modern myths had published extensively with the Dr. Copeland gave an overview of of Japan’s success.” University of Hawai‘i Press. Center for Japanese Studies 1890 East-West Road, Moore 216 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Honolulu, HI 96822 Tel: (808) 956-2667 Fax: (808) 956-2666 Email: [email protected]
Autumn in Japan - Photo courtesy of Eric Cunningham, PhD (Anthropology) taken in the Kiso Valley, Nagano Prefecture. For more of his photos visit http://www.otakimura.blogspot.com/
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Note: This issue of J Current is available in color as an Adobe pdf. File on our website at www.hawaii.edu/cjs/ newsletter.html.
Application Deadlines Graduate Student Organization Travel Grant There is no application deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Contact GSO at 956-8776 or visit http://gso.hawaii.edu for more information.
Center for Japanese Students Graduate Student Travel Award February 1st, 2010. Contact CJS at 956-2665 or visit http://www.hawaii.edu/cjs/ for more information.