13 November 2013
How is the Japanese debate about the use of force evolving? In a fast-evolving East Asian security environment, there is an intensifying debate among Japanese politicians and legal experts about when the use of force in international relations is acceptable, and the interpretation, and possible revision, of Japan’s post-War “Peace Constitution”.
More info3 October 2013
This roundtable aimed to stimulate a discussion on Japanese Studies in the United Kingdom and the wider world in celebration of fifty years of Japanese Studies at the University of Sheffield. By reflecting on the past, present and future of Japan and Japanese Studies, the speakers Professor Glenn Hook (Chair), Professor Hugo Dobson, Graham Healey, Dr Mark Pendleton and Sir David Warren will offer their own answers to the question, ‘Why Japanese Studies?’
More info4 July 2013
This event brought together one of Japan’s most prominent contemporary poets, the multi-award winning Gozo Yoshimasu, and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and translator Forrest Gander. Recently, Gozo Yoshimasu has been working with the medium of film, combining the moving image with his poetry. For this event, he showed some of his film work and gave a poetry reading. Forrest Gander will discuss his translations of the work of Gozo Yoshimasu and other Japanese poets and his relationship with Japanese poetry.
More info2 July 2013
Japan is seeking closer economic relations with its neighbours by signing up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The UK, by contrast, is heading in the opposite direction, with increasing talk of leaving the EU. So who is right? The EU was founded largely as a way of binding former enemies together through trading links. The same motivations may be a factor in Asia, which suffers a continued legacy of friction and disputed borders. In that sense, is it job done for the EU? What does Japan stand to gain from the TPP? And can Prime Minister Abe push a deal through against the opposition of powerful forces such as the agricultural lobby?
More info18 June 2013
In this talk, Professor Shin Mizukoshi of the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies at the University of Tokyo and Dr Kiyoko Toriumi will outline the challenges of various research projects after 3/11, and will consider the role and perspective of media and communication studies. With their networks of researchers and practitioners from diverse fields such as design, engineering, arts, media and education, they have been involved in rebuilding communities in the disaster area. They will illustrate the challenge facing trans-disciplinary projects in this talk whilst elaborating on some of these projects. This talk will foster a discussion on how media studies could be approached through practical collaboration with other fields.
More info21 May 2013
The security of energy supply remains the most important objective of current energy policy in the UK, Japan and for countries across the globe. For this reason, nations often work to reduce their reliance on energy imports. Any disruption of energy supplies as a result of political turmoil and/or terrorism in oil- or gas-producing nations can have serious economic, political and security implications for many countries.
More info30 April 2013
China’s continuing enhancement of its international presence is a result both of the country’s growing economic and military strength. Since 2008, China has been increasingly assertive in its approach to territorial issues. Can China and its neighbours still build stable and cooperative ‘win-win’ strategic relationships to deal with regional security issues such as North Korean nuclear aggression, boundary questions and navigation and resource rights? This seminar examined these themes and considered them from a neutral British perspective.
More info18 April 2013
Japan has struggled with chronic deflation since its financial and real-estate bubble burst 20 years ago, triggering a severe financial crisis in 1997-1998. Against this backdrop, the LDP won the general election last December, ushering into the limelight again Shinzo Abe who has since embarked on a new economic initiative, nicknamed “Abenomics, ” which has pushed equity markets up by more than 30%. In this seminar the speakers address the question: ‘What is “Abenomics”, and can it achieve its goal of lifting Japan out of deflation?’
More info4 April 2013
This event brought together two professional pianists and writers – one British and one Japanese – to compare notes on life as a classical musician in the two countries. Japanese classical music has traditionally been an elite pastime, but the Japanese enthusiastically adopted Western classical music in the second half of the 19th Century. Since then, the piano has become Japan’s most popular musical instrument. Classical music has deeper roots in the UK, but the environment for musicians is tough in both countries.
More info14 March 2013
Two years on from the 3/11 earthquake and nuclear disaster, what lessons have been learned? Professor Kenichi Oshima of Ritsumeikan University is one of Japan’s most prominent commentators on nuclear energy. Avoiding the emotional tone that characterises much of the debate about nuclear power, Professor Oshima focuses on the industry’s economics. His cost-benefit analyses suggest that, far from being cheap, nuclear power is more expensive than Japan’s other main options. He argues that Japan’s electric power companies have understated some costs, such as the costs of reprocessing spent fuel, and have imposed others on local communities.
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