Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Grammlich-Oka

“Showcasing the Japan Biographical Database (JBDB)”

The JBDB website: https://jbdb.jp/#/

Note that in order to enter and edit data, you will need to obtain a user account and log in.

I am about to test this process out, so stay tuned here. /Patricia Yarrow

Bettina Grammlich-Oka (Professor, FLA, Sophia University) will take us through the Japan Biographical Database (JBDB) is a bilingual, open-access database aimed at collecting information on historical figures and their biographical data related to Japan.

Using a JavaScript web application, we have set up a PostgreSQL database based on the construction of the China Biographical Database (CBDB) to accumulate data and edit its functions. JBDB provides the basis for network analysis, spatial analysis, and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], as well as biographies. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figures have been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.

The goal is to continue to expand the data by inviting related projects to join and share their materials on this platform. Currently, thirteen projects are working independently with JBDB

Details forthcoming. I nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)

The Vimeo link to Bettina Grammlich-Oka's's presentation will be posted here on December 17.

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Informasia #11, November 18, 2024 ~Michael Watson

“The long Japanese afterlife of a famous pilgrim to India: Xuanzang akaGenjō Sanzō Hōshi 玄奘三蔵法師 (612-664)”

Vimeo link to Michael Watson's presentation

https://vimeo.com/1031356082

Michael Watson discussed how his interest in nō theatre, the visual arts, and transcultural
reception led him to explore the figure of a Chinese monk whose pilgrimage
inspired many later legends both in China and Japan.

The talk introduced his translation of a nō playabout the pilgrim’s encounter with supernatural beings on the “Flowing Sands” north of the Pamir mountains.

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Informasia #10, October 21 (not the 14th), 2024 ~John Tofflemire

“Nakasendo Road: Getting in Touch with Japanese History”

Vimeo link to John Tofflemire's beautiful presentation:

https://vimeo.com/1021878184?share=copy

Yabe Residence, Okegawa Juku

• Constructed in 1905 by Yabe Gosaburo

• Building is a mixed warehouse/residence

• Yabe Gosaburo was the 6^th generationfamily head. Family was a grain and safflower wholesaler.

Details soon. Tofflemire will be describing his long walks, especially during the Covid Tokyo lockdown, of the shitomachi areas in Tokyo and nearby. Dig out your walking shoes and stay tuned!

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Informasia #9, September 16, 2024 ~David Burleigh

"Bernard Leach, Japan and Myself
− A book and a recollection−"

Vimeo link to David Burleigh's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/1010023636

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Informasia #8, August 18, 2024 ~Patrick W. Galbraith

“Ethnographic Observationsof Otaku Sociality,
2004-2024"

Vimeo link to Patrick w. Galbraith's talk + Q&A: post meeting!

https://vimeo.com/1000360075

Galbraith has conducted ethnographic research of the easy-to-dismiss otaku/geek fictional world for twenty years. Let's dig in! Grab your favourite "moe" pillow and join Informasia on Zoom. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6338045613

Informasia #7, July 15, 2024 ~Robert Morton

“Josiah Conder (1852-1920): Father of Modern Japanese Architecture ”

Vimeo link to Robert Morton's talk + Q&A

https://vimeo.com/984717680?share=copy

Another phenomenal biography by Morton about an Englishman in the Meiji Reformation times in Japan. Conder left his mark, even if only in memory of the Asakusa Rokumeikan.

An overview of Conder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Conder_(architect)

Informasia #6, June 17, 2024 ~Alex Byrne

“The World of Japanese Crêpe Paper Books ”

Vimeo link to Alex Byrne's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/960304858

Informasia #5, May 20, 2024 ~Thomas Larkin

“The China Firm: American Elites and the Making ofBritish Colonial Society ”

Vimeo link to Alex Byrne's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/948469901?share=copy

Informasia #4, April 15, 2024 ~ Joel Littler

“Miyazaki Tōten: Beyond the Chinese Revolution”

Vimeo link to Joel Littler's talk. It is 1-hour 37-minutes long.

Please give it a like and a comment if you are so inclined.

https://vimeo.com/935138363?share=copy

Joel Littler discussed both the journal article on naniwabushiand his chapter in the edited volume ‘Re-Opening the Opening of Japan’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.

Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Grammlich-Oka

“Showcasing the Japan Biographical Database (JBDB)”

Informasia #11, November 18, 2024 ~Michael Watson

“The long Japanese afterlife of a famous pilgrim to India: Xuanzang akaGenjō Sanzō Hōshi 玄奘三蔵法師 (612-664)”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Informasia #10, October 21 (not the 14th), 2024 ~John Tofflemire

“Nakasendo Road: Getting in Touch with Japanese History”

Vimeo link to John Tofflemire's beautiful presentation:

Yabe Residence, Okegawa Juku

• Constructed in 1905 by Yabe Gosaburo

• Building is a mixed warehouse/residence

• Yabe Gosaburo was the 6th generationfamily head. Family was a grain and safflower wholesaler.

Details soon. Tofflemire will be describing his long walks, especially during the Covid Tokyo lockdown, of the shitomachi areas in Tokyo and nearby. Dig out your walking shoes and stay tuned!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Informasia #9, September 16, 2024 ~David Burleigh

"Bernard Leach, Japan and Myself− A book and a recollection−"

Vimeo link to David Burleigh's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/1010023636

Informasia #8, August 18, 2024 ~Patrick W. Galbraith

“Ethnographic Observationsof Otaku Sociality, 2004-2024"

Vimeo link to Patrick w. Galbraith's talk + Q&A: post meeting!

https://vimeo.com/1000360075

Galbraith has conducted ethnographic research of the easy-to-dismiss otaku/geek fictional world for twenty years. Let's dig in! Grab your favourite "moe" pillow and join Informasia on Zoom. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6338045613

Informasia #7, July 15, 2024 ~Robert Morton

“Josiah Conder (1852-1920): Father of Modern Japanese Architecture ”

Vimeo link to Robert Morton's talk + Q&A

https://vimeo.com/984717680?share=copy

Another phenomenal biography by Morton about an Englishman in the Meiji Reformation times in Japan. Conder left his mark, even if only in memory of the Asakusa Rokumeikan.

An overview of Conder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Conder_(architect)

Informasia #6, June 17, 2024 ~Alex Byrne

“The World of Japanese Crêpe Paper Books ”

Vimeo link to Alex Byrne's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/960304858

Informasia #5, May 20, 2024 ~Thomas Larkin

“The China Firm: American Elites and the Making ofBritish Colonial Society ”

Vimeo link to Alex Byrne's talk + Q&A:

https://vimeo.com/948469901?share=copy

Informasia #4, April 15, 2024 ~ Joel Littler

“Miyazaki Tōten: Beyond the Chinese Revolution”

Vimeo link to Joel Littler's talk. It is 1-hour 37-minutes long.

Please give it a like and a comment if you are so inclined.

https://vimeo.com/935138363?share=copy

Joel Littler discussed both the journal article on naniwabushiand his chapter in the edited volume ‘Re-Opening the Opening of Japan’ (October2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farmingcommunity in Siam in the 1890s.

• Yabe Gosaburo was the 6^th generationfamily head. Family was a grain and safflower wholesaler.

"Bernard Leach, Japan and Myself
− A book and a recollection−"

“Ethnographic Observationsof Otaku Sociality,
2004-2024"

Joel Littler discussed both the journal article on naniwabushiand his chapter in the edited volume ‘Re-Opening the Opening of Japan’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.