J-Current, Volume 13, Issue 1
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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. J-Current Page 2 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.