Past Events

Inventing the Way of the Samurai: Nationalism, Internationalism, and Bushido in Modern Japan

March 17th 3:30-5:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Oleg Benesch (University of York) This talk examines the development of the ‘way of the samurai,’ or bushidō, which is popularly viewed as a defining element of the Japanese national character and even the ‘soul of Japan.’ Rather than a continuation of ancient traditions, however, bushidō developed from a search […]

Study in Japan Information Session

Whether you are looking for a year abroad as an undergrad, or to further your education as a graduate, Japan is a great place to study. What’s your field? From arts to sciences, we’ve got it covered. Don’t know much Japanese? Some universities offer preparatory Japanese language and culture courses, while others offer programs in English.Attend […]

Upcoming Art Installation in the Asian Centre

From March 15 to May 31 visitors to the Asian Centre will encounter a new exhibit by Naomi Kasumi. Naomi Kasumi is an artist-scholar based in Seattle whose work extends to book art, printmaking, video, and graphics. The artist was asked to install a book-related piece as part of a research roundtable organized by Christina […]

Pop Culture, History and “Contents Tourism” in Japan

March 14th 3:00-4:30 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Philip Seaton (Hokkaido University) In recent years, the phenomenon of people travelling to further an interest in works of popular culture has gained much attention from the tourism industry and researchers alike. Lord of the Rings locations in New Zealand, Disneyland theme parks, Star […]

Interaction and Collaboration as a Source of Community Recovery and Empowerment: Insights from Minamata and Kizawa (Chuetsu) for Post-disaster Sustainable Community Development

March 11th 12:30-2:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Takayoshi Kusago (Kansai University) The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on 11 March 2011 and shocked both Japan and the world with its scale and seriousness of the adverse impacts on human communities and living environment. It has never been an easy task to […]

The 2011 March 11th Disaster and Nuclear Power Plant Accident: Five Years On….

Part 1: Lunchtime Workshop March 9th 12:00-2:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Individual lectures by, -Millie Creighton (Anthropology, UBC): “Community Recovery in Tohoku after 3.11” -Noritsugu Fujimoto (Symbiotic Systems Science, Fukushima University): “3.11 and Manga: The Oishinbo Nosebleed Issue” -Kiwa Nakano (Business Management, Daito Bunka University): “Recovery from the Disaster in Onagawa, Japan” Followed by a Q&A […]

Japan’s Post-TPP Trade Policy

March 3rd 4:00-6:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Masahiro Kawai (University of Tokyo)  The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was broadly agreed in Atlanta in October 2015 and signed by the 12 members in February 2016. Prof. Kawai will first review Japan’s trade and investment activities primarily in the Asia Pacific region, emphasizing that Asia […]

Explaining the Persistence of Supplementary Education in East Asia: The Case of Japan

March 3rd 14:30-16:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Steve Entrich (Ph.D. student, University of Potsdam) Due to progressing globalization in education and demographic change, the education systems of numerous countries have undergone rapid changes over the last two decades. In the case of Japan, two main developments affect education today: (1) steadily decreasing […]

Planning for Smart Cities in Japan

March 1st 12:30-2:00 @ UBC Institute of Asian Research Room 120 Hidefumi Imura (Yokohama City University) Many cities are undertaking initiatives to improve environmental performance, creating ‘Smart Cities’ by introducing innovative technologies and plans to promote efficient energy use, recycling and environmentally-friendly traffic management. Yokohama and Kitakyushu are examples of cities working to become smarter. […]

Experience Japanese Tea Culture

February 29th 2016 3:30-4:30 & 5:00-6:00 @ Tea Gallery, UBC Asian Centre The event is free of charge, but space is limited. Register for one or both sessions by email to culture@vc.mofa.go.jp to reserve your seat. Learn about Japanese culture through traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Instructors of the two major tea schools in Japan: Urasenke and […]