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All Categories - Informasia
Informasia 14 April 2025 ~ details forthcoming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: There will be no March 2025 Informasia meeting.
This is due to an inadvertent scheduling conflict on my part.
Informasia #2 - 17 February 2025 ~Timon Screech
“Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun’s City of Edo”
The Vimeo link to Screech's presentation (1hr 33 min) (430 MB)
https://vimeo.com/1057475745?share=copy#t=0The audio link to the presentation (1hr 33 min) (57 MB)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XjjWH63-w7cOp8Bfm_5egtvk2e1xNr3a/view?usp=drive_link~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia 20 January 2025 ~Tim Harris, joined by Rob Barnard
‘Arts & Crafts in East Asia & the West; And the Poetics of Pottery’
The Vimeo link to Tim Harris and Rob Barnard's presentation:
https://vimeo.com/1048707762
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15eslGSr9vXKVFmRSyxc7qEiPcrI_lw0O/view?usp=drive_link
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Gramlich-Oka
“Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography”
The Vimeo link to Bettina Gramlich-Oka's's presentation:
https://vimeo.com/1039632371?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9CnHFxSEi77GVLqel6A4DKx7mvEA4Zn/view?usp=sharing
Bettina Gramlich-Oka (Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, since 2009, and originally from Germany) presents "Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography".
The open access database, Japan Biographical Database (JBDB), was conceptualized over a decade
ago. One of the primary objectives of the database is to facilitate historical research in innovative ways.The database’s tools facilitate network analysis and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], enabling the posing of new questions and the pursuit of visualizing the answers. The presentation will provide an overview
of the JBDB.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. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figureshave been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.
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 nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
The audio link to the presentation:
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
The audio link to the 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
The audio link to the presentation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 #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
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.Informasia #2 - 17 February 2025 ~Timon Screech
“Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power andMagic in the Shogun’s City of Edo”
The Vimeo link to Screech's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
***
Informasia 20 January 2025 ~Tim Harris, joined by Rob Barnard
‘Arts & Crafts in East Asia & the West; And the Poetics of Pottery’
The Vimeo link to Tim Harris's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
Tim Harris info coming soon.
Rob Barnard info coming soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Gramlich-Oka
“Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography”
The Vimeo link to Bettina Gramlich-Oka's's presentation :
https://vimeo.com/1039632371?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9CnHFxSEi77GVLqel6A4DKx7mvEA4Zn/view?usp=sharing
Bettina Gramlich-Oka (Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, since 2009, and originally from Germany) presents "Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography".
The open access database, Japan Biographical Database (JBDB), was conceptualized over a decade
ago. One of the primary objectives of the database is to facilitate historical research in innovative ways.The database’s tools facilitate network analysis and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], enabling the posing of new questions and the pursuit of visualizing the answers. The presentation will provide an overview
of the JBDB.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. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figureshave been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.
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 nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.Informasia #2 - 17 February 2025 ~Timon Screech
“Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power andMagic in the Shogun’s City of Edo”
The Vimeo link to Screech's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
***
Informasia 20 January 2025 ~Tim Harris, joined by Rob Barnard
‘Arts & Crafts in East Asia & the West; And the Poetics of Pottery’
The Vimeo link to Tim Harris's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
Tim Harris info coming soon.
Rob Barnard info coming soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Gramlich-Oka
“Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography”
The Vimeo link to Bettina Gramlich-Oka's's presentation :
https://vimeo.com/1039632371?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9CnHFxSEi77GVLqel6A4DKx7mvEA4Zn/view?usp=sharing
Bettina Gramlich-Oka (Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, since 2009, and originally from Germany) presents "Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography".
The open access database, Japan Biographical Database (JBDB), was conceptualized over a decade
ago. One of the primary objectives of the database is to facilitate historical research in innovative ways.The database’s tools facilitate network analysis and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], enabling the posing of new questions and the pursuit of visualizing the answers. The presentation will provide an overview
of the JBDB.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. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figureshave been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.
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 nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.Informasia #2 - 17 February 2025 ~Timon Screech
“Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power andMagic in the Shogun’s City of Edo”
The Vimeo link to Screech's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
***
Informasia 20 January 2025 ~Tim Harris, joined by Rob Barnard
‘Arts & Crafts in East Asia & the West; And the Poetics of Pottery’
The Vimeo link to Tim Harris's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
Tim Harris info coming soon.
Rob Barnard info coming soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Gramlich-Oka
“Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography”
The Vimeo link to Bettina Gramlich-Oka's's presentation :
https://vimeo.com/1039632371?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9CnHFxSEi77GVLqel6A4DKx7mvEA4Zn/view?usp=sharing
Bettina Gramlich-Oka (Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, since 2009, and originally from Germany) presents "Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography".
The open access database, Japan Biographical Database (JBDB), was conceptualized over a decade
ago. One of the primary objectives of the database is to facilitate historical research in innovative ways.The database’s tools facilitate network analysis and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], enabling the posing of new questions and the pursuit of visualizing the answers. The presentation will provide an overview
of the JBDB.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. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figureshave been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.
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 nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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’ (October
2023), in which he discusses Miyazaki Tōten’s attempts to form a farming
community in Siam in the 1890s.Informasia #2 - 17 February 2025 ~Timon Screech
“Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power andMagic in the Shogun’s City of Edo”
The Vimeo link to Screech's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
***
Informasia 20 January 2025 ~Tim Harris, joined by Rob Barnard
‘Arts & Crafts in East Asia & the West; And the Poetics of Pottery’
The Vimeo link to Tim Harris's presentation :
posted here after the presentation
The audio link to the presentation:
posted here after the presentation
Tim Harris info coming soon.
Rob Barnard info coming soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia #12, December 16, 2024 ~Bettina Gramlich-Oka
“Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography”
The Vimeo link to Bettina Gramlich-Oka's's presentation :
https://vimeo.com/1039632371?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L9CnHFxSEi77GVLqel6A4DKx7mvEA4Zn/view?usp=sharing
Bettina Gramlich-Oka (Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, since 2009, and originally from Germany) presents "Creative Tools for Social Network Analysis and Prosopography".
The open access database, Japan Biographical Database (JBDB), was conceptualized over a decade
ago. One of the primary objectives of the database is to facilitate historical research in innovative ways.The database’s tools facilitate network analysis and prosopography [a study that identifies and relates a group of persons or characters within a particular historical or literary context], enabling the posing of new questions and the pursuit of visualizing the answers. The presentation will provide an overview
of the JBDB.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. As of October 2024, about 15,000 historical figureshave been added, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Meiji eras.
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 nominate Charles De Wolf to submit the connections from the Tale of Genji, and Michael Watson for the Tale of the Heiki. :-)
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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
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.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 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!
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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 #3, March 18, 2024 ~ Darren Swanson
“Scottish Sojourners inMeiji Japan: A. C. Sim and
James Murdoch”Vimeo link to Darren Swanson's talk. It is 1-hour 49-minutes long.
Please give it a like and a comment if you are so inclined.
https://vimeo.com/924597424?share=copyWe had 31 participants from around the planet.
Darren Swanson will focus on two influential Scots who made their mark on Japan.
The first, Alexander Cameron Sim (1840), a druggist andpart-time athlete was instrumental in nurturing modern sporting activities in the port of Kobe through his stewardship of the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club. Sim was also active as a humanitarian volunteer during times of natural disaster, whose efforts earned him the respect of the Japanese people, including the then Emperor.
The second, James Murdoch, was a Scottish journalistand Orientalist scholar considered to be the first to attempt to write a complete history of Japan in English.Dr. Swanson's research focuses on the foreignexperience in Japan, particularly in the treaty port of Kobe during the Meiji era (1868-1912). More recently, his attention has shifted to Scottish sojourners and long-term residents of Japan, and their impact on the development of modern Japan. In recognition of his efforts in celebrating the longstanding connection between Scotland and Japan, he received the Scottish Samurai award in 2019.
Murdoch worked for many years in Japan before becomingthe University of Sydney, and Australia’s, first Chair of Japanese Studies in 1917.
Darren Swanson's profile at Central Queensland University in Sydney, Australia:https://staff-profiles.cqu.edu.au/home/view/23056
Informasia #11, November 20, 2023 ~ Caitlin Coker (Hokkaido University)
"Privileged/Othered Bodies in Japan- what can ourbodies do?”
Vimeo video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/886427803
Audio link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MCKeG0rrnlPQJeoH9lR7jdffmFI6TXQU/view?usp=drive_link
Abstract
I have researched physical performance- mainly Ankoku Butoh and poledance- in Japan since 2006. As an anthropologist, firsthand experience of dancingand performing together with people is one way I attempt to understand different movement practices. As I researched and attended graduate school with Kyoto as my base, my research had always been encouraged by others, and my presence- an English-speaking white female foreigner- had been, for the most part, embraced warmly.
It was not until I received a tenured position at a national universityin Japan that I became the target of sexual and racial harassment. This harassment reveals my vulnerable position in this society, and most of all, suggests that my own female body’s presence in my research is taboo.
Starting with my own experience, I want to think more deeply about how the intersection of gender, race, physicality, and sensuality shape our lives in Japanese society. I also want to approach this positionality as a source of possibilities for what our bodies can do; in my case, I am experimenting with
the integration of dance as a way of thinking, a movement praxis, in the university classroom.
After my talk, I would love to hear abouteveryone’s experiences of living and working in Japan and how you all understand these experiences.February 8, 2025Informasia #11, November 20, 2023 ~ Caitlin Coker (Hokkaido University) "Privileged/Othered...
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