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November 20th, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT
Centre for Japanese Research: 
November events!

Conciliation and Disruption in Memorial Spaces in the Philippines
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM
Asian Centre 604  (1871 West Mall)
Professor Karl Ian Cheng Chua, Ateneo de Manila University

Part of the 2018 One Asia Forum Tak Series by the Department of Asian Studies*


On December 2017, a statue to commemorate comfort women was dedicated in Manila which created a minor diplomatic tussle between Japan and the Philippines. This issue was picked up by some Philippine academics writing pieces urging Japan to respect the historical memory of Philippines. Furthermore, on 27 April, 2018, the statue was unceremoniously removed, which sparked further controversy on the issue, as being the only country to have removed their comfort woman statue. On the one hand, this can be chalked up as another issue on Japan's war memory. However, this paper seeks to suggest a solution to issue. Nakano Satoshi has written about "virtuous circle of Japanese apology and Filipino forgiveness" which poses a possible solution to this impasse. Using the space of commemorating the civilian victims of the Battle of Manila, this memorial service is represented by the three countries who were part of the battle. This paper poses a problem by comparing the two spaces vis-à-vis World War II memorials in the Philippines, and the world on how spaces of memory can be a space for disruption or conciliation.

Click here for full details



The Social and Political Lives of Japanese Cherry Blossoms
John Howes Memorial Lecture in Japanese Studies
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM
Asian Centre Auditorium, 1871 West Mall
Dr. Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney (Ohnuki Emiko) (University of Wisconsin)

Following from her recent book, Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms, and Nationalisms: The Militarization of Aesthetics in Japanese History, Dr. Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney's talk will present the many, often contradictory, meanings assigned to cherry blossoms - from life and love to death - while becoming a symbol of various social groups, and, ultimately, the Japanese as a whole. Her lecture will highlight abuses of this aesthetic during Japan's military period, and conclude by deliberating on opacity in symbolic communication and its impact on the people. Refreshments available!


Registration is required. Click here for full details


CJR Lunchtime series 
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Time: 12:30-1: 30PM
Asian Centre 604, 1871 West Mall
Dr. Melek Ortabasi Simon Fraser University


Cuore (Heart, 1886), by popular travelogue author Edmondo de Amicis (1846-1908), was the first bestseller in its home country of Italy. Almost immediately recognized as a children's "classic," it was translated and adapted into many languages. Japan was not immune to the book's charms, andthe popularity Cuore has enjoyed there reaches back to the first partial translation of the book, which appeared in 1902. This talk will trace Cuore's rich afterlife in Japanese and in so doing test a number of theories about how translation functions to produce world children's literature.

Click here for full details






School of Public Policy and Global Affairs
Holiday Reception
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Time: 3:30pm -5:30pm
C.K. Choi Building


Join the School of Public Policy and Global affairs for a year end Holiday Reception! 

RSVP by November 23rd here 


Applications Open 
for the 
Inter-University Centre for Japanese Language Studies
The Inter-University Centre for Japanese Language Studies ( http://www.stanford.edu/dept/IUC ) is the leading institution for training graduate students in Japanese and equipping them for further research related to Japanese Studies. UBC is a member of the consortium, which enables a reduced tuition and better access to funding. The deadline for the ten-month program is December 14 if you wish to be considered for a Nippon Foundation fellowship.

Those interested are encouraged to contact Dr. Christina Laffin  at  christina.laffin@ubc.ca  for help with the application process

Click here for full details

That's all for now
Have a great week!

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