Kicking off our Diversity and Inclusion film series this year, is “Close-Knit” (2017 2 hr. 7 min.),  a drama by writer and director Naoko Ogigami about Tomo, an 11-year old girl who discovers her mother has abandoned her. Tomo’s uncle and his transgender girlfriend, Rinko, take her in. November 13 also marks the beginning of

Keijiro Suga (b. 1958) is a poet and critic based in Tokyo. Formerly the president of ASLE (Association for the Study of Literature and Environment) Japan, his work covers ethnopoetics, ecocriticism, contemporary world literature, and translation theory. He was awarded the Yomiuri Prize for Literature in 2011 for his travel essays Transversal Journeys. With nine collections

What impact is the Trump administration having on Japan’s role in the world? How is Japan shaping international relations economically and politically as a result? Takako Hikotani (Columbia University) gave her talk “Stepping Up (Is hard to do?)” on April 19, 2018, as part of the Griffith and Patricia Way lecture series. Hikotani’s recent article

What impact is the Trump administration having on Japan’s role in the world? How is Japan shaping international relations economically and politically as a result? Join us for a talk by Takako Hikotani of Columbia University at the Griffith and Patricia Way Lecture on April 19, 2018 at 7 PM. Hikotani’s recent article “Trump’s Gift

As part of the 2015-2016 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series, esteemed architect and professor Kengo Kuma delivered a series of lectures focused on creating a more sustainable Japan. Over the course of two days, his lectures focused on the architectural aspects and actions that could be taken to help contribute to this vision. His first lecture—entitled

The Japan Studies Program was pleased to welcome Hitoshi Abe as he delivered a two-part lecture and panel discussion for the 2015-2016 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series. On January 13th, he shared his insight and work related to the rebuilding efforts of post 3.11. Abe is professor and chair of the UCLA Department of Architecture &

Kenneth B. Pyle is retiring after 51 consecutive years of teaching at the University of Washington. In his honor, the Jackson School will host a keynote speech on “U.S. and the Rise of Asia” on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m. in the Walker-Ames Room. U.S. and the Rise of Asia A program in celebration

Yoshihiko Miyauchi continued the 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series with a talk that looked at the changing Japanese corporation and entrepreneurship from WWII to the present day. As a Japanese business icon and ORIX corporation senior chairman, Miyauchi demonstrated the changes in entrepreneurship through a close examination of ORIX’s experience from the post-war high economic

As part of the 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Corporation Lecture Series, Taro Kono gave a talk about Japan’s changing energy dynamics in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Taro Kono is a member of the Japan National Diet House of Representatives. A graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Rep. Kono is currently serving his 6th term in

In May 2009, following a five-year period for planning and preparation, Japan’s new so-called jury system went into operation. The talk began with a discussion of the background and debates leading up to introduction of the new system, including the motivations for introduction and concerns surrounding the system before it went into effect. It then