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Informasia 21 July 2025 ~ Daniel Gallimore
“The Japanese Shakespeare Language and Context in theTranslations of Tsubouchi Shōyō”
The Vimeo link to Daniel Gallimore's presentation:
Will be posted 22 July, 2025
The audio link to the presentation:
Will be posted 22 July, 2025
Abstract
Offering the firstbook-length study in English on Tsubouchi and Shakespeare, Gallimore offers an
overview of the theory and practice of Tsubouchi’s Shakespeare translation and argues for Tsubouchi’s place as "the Japanese Shakespeare."Shakespeare translation isone of the achievements of modern Japanese culture, and no one is more associated with that achievement than the writer and scholar Tsubouchi Shōyō (1859–1935). This book looks at how Tsubouchi received Shakespeare in the context of his native literature and his strategies for bridging the gaps between Shakespeare’s rhetoric and his developing language. Offering a significant contribution to the field of global Shakespeare and literary translation,
Gallimore explores dominant stylistic features of the early twentieth-century Shakespeare translations of Tsubouchi and analyses the translations within larger linguistic, historical, and cultural traditions in local Japanese, universal Chinese, and spiritual Western elements.This book will appeal toany student, researcher, or scholar of literary translation, particularly those
interested in the complexities of Shakespeare in translation and Japanese language, culture, and society.Order the book fromRoutledge:
https://www.routledge.com/The-Japanese-Shakespeare-Language-and-Context-in-the-Translations-of-Tsubouchi-Shoyo/Gallimore/p/book/9781032277004ISBN 9781032277004
232 Pages 3 B/W Illustrations. Published July 24, 2024 by RoutledgeShort Biography
Daniel Gallimore is a professor in the School of Humanities at Kwansei Gakuin University (Kangaku), Nishinomiya (Just east of Kobe), Hyogo, Japan. He completed his DPhil in Oriental Studiesat Oxford University, UK.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia 16 June 2025 ~ Michael Trull
"Britain’s Forgotten Diplomats: Chargés d’Affaires in Japan, 1858-1902"
The Vimeo link to Dr. Michael Trull's presentation:
https://vimeo.com/1093691248?share=copy#t=0
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Mei_ky2i1OtH1m5loymurCAASCuzsF0/view?usp=sharing
Abstract
Anglo-Japanese relations were a progressive diplomatic relationship, where ties slowly moved away from a complex colonial association to a unique and era-defining alliance.
Historical scholarship has emphasised that Britain’s part in this positive development was pushed forward thanks to its many capable chief diplomats. That because of their largely successful efforts, Britain was always Japan’s preferred diplomatic partner. This is only a half-truth however. It negates the significant contributions of many other diplomatic and consular staff who also enhanced Anglo-Japanese relations.One key group was the chargés d’affaires. They were required to take charge whist the chief diplomat was indisposed; sometimes for months, sometimes for years. Yet, despite the numerous occasions where they were required to lead British diplomacy with Japan, often at critical historical junctures, they remain almost entirely absent from wider scholarship. My research seeks to rectify this fact, explaining how these forgotten diplomats took the reins of diplomatic power in Japan, not as simple cover diplomats, pausing and smoothing over relations until their chief returned, but as leading diplomats in their own right, with their own independent agency and ideas. I will achieve this by looking at four individuals who took on this role during the second half of the nineteenth century as interlinked case studies.
Namely, Edward Neale, Dr. Charles Alexander Winchester, Robert Grant Watson, and Ralph Spencer Paget.
Short Biography
“Dr. Michael Trull recently completed his doctoral thesis at Cardiff University and is now an independent scholar. He is continuing to research Western-Japanese history from the nineteenth century onwards and is now also undertaking research on his local area of South Gloucestershire in the UK. His experience of Japan has primarily come through a love of its history, and he last visited for a few months back in 2023 when he was attached to Waseda University.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia 19 May 2025 ~ Gergely Tóth
‘Exploring the Early History of Japan-Hungary Relations (1869 – 1913)’
The Vimeo link to Gergely Tóth's presentation:
https://vimeo.com/1085831606?share=copy
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13vL0rW2ZSw7RyTqhC0Vpgnv4Lz5V6u9i?usp=sharing
Abstract
This presentation will take us through the results of a two-decade-long interdisciplinary study, offering an overview of the early history (1869-1913) of Hungarian-Japanese relations, organized into five thematic blocks:
I. History of Modernization;
II. History of Expeditions and Travel;
III. Diplomatic and Economic History;
IV. Cultural, Literary, and Art History;
V. History of Ideologies.
Together, we will explore the similarities in the modernization processes of Hungary and Japan, including their mutual awareness of each other’s progress. The presentation will also examine how Hungary, as part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, perceived its relations with Japan, as well as how Hungary was represented in Japan. Key Hungarian and Japanese figures who shaped this relationship will be highlighted, along with the reasons Japanese travelers visited Hungary and Hungarians traveled to Japan.
We will also cover the main channels of knowledge exchange between the two countries, areas of mutual interest, and the portrayal of Japan in Hungarian literature. Finally, we'll look into the manifestation of Japonism in the Hungarian Kingdom and how alternative beliefs in Hungarian-Japanese kinship influenced their relationship before World War I.BONUS
Toth's link to a short (13 minutes long) radio program that he created with the help of AI.
Here is the link
I think this could be a very interesting piece for our American audience,
as they might find it funny that Hungarians think that they are related
(lingustically and genetically) to the Japanese - a story that would
definitely raise a few American eyebrows for sure ;) Of course, the
whole notion is pseudoscientific, but at least it has some comedic value
for non-Hungarians!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BIOGRAPHY
GergelyToth is an Independent Japanese Studies Researcher. He received his MA in
Japanese Studies from Gaspar Karoli University of the Reformed Church in
Budapest, Hungary. He spent 2 years as a Monbusho Scholarship recipient at
Waseda University in Tokyo, where he studied International Relations at the
Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies.His interdisciplinary research revolves around the history of relations between Hungary in the
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Meiji+Taisho-era Japan during the 1869-1913 period. Gergely is also interested in the perceptions about Japan in Europe.
Currently, he is working on the re-evaluation, demystification, objectivation of the early European-Japanese and Hungaro-Japanese relations, by applying a critical approach.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Informasia 21 April 2025 ~Professor Hisaaki Yamanouchi
"Anthony Twaite, Encounters between Cultures"
The Vimeo link, post-presentation:
https://vimeo.com/1077366675?share=copy#t=0
The audio link to the presentation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rOvBBllBePD-wipvXGunTVkCIyuBh_AR/view?usp=sharing
Use this link and click on the “download” icon in right, top of the page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Note: There was no March 2025 Informasia meeting.
This is due to an inadvertent scheduling conflict on my part. I visited Hong Kong for four days!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 #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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