The Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies at Waseda
AND
The Institute of Comparative Culture at Sophia
are co-sponsoring the
Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ)
7th Annual Meeting
November 13th (at Waseda) and 14th (at Sophia)
In addition to our usual full range of thematically open sessions we are also arranging Session Sessions on:
- Transformations in Japanese Youth Culture
- Fieldwork in Japan
Special Invited speakers include Yamashita Shinji (Todai), Mary Brinton (Harvard), Harumi Befu (Stanford), Sato Ikuya (Hitotsubashi), Osawa Mari (Todai), Ochiai Emiko (Kyoto)
AJJ is a professional organization comprised of over 150 social scientists living in and/or conducting research on Japan. It seeks to provide a forum for theoretical and/or empirical works-in-progress from scholars of all disciplines. Our meetings are designed to initiate and develop dialogue about Japan based on the sharing of original research with those who know the field best. We are open to a wide range of research and encourage all those who are interested to submit a paper proposal.
This year, through the sponsorship of the Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies at Waseda University, we are devoting a full day to the theme: Transformation of Japanese Youth Culture. While we are interested in all aspects of the issues, we have tentatively identified four sub-themes as possible panels: family, employment, gender and sex, and popular culture.
This conference is hosted by Glenda Roberts (Waseda) and David Slater (Sophia).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: For individual papers, please submit an abstract—not longer than 125 words—with a paper title and your affiliation by September 1st, 2004. For panel proposals, also include a panel abstract—not longer than 250 words. We will accommodate as many proposals as the time, space and thematic restraints allow.
Please submit papers to A…4@y…com
FORMAT: Each panel will be made up of 3 to 5 thematically related papers and will allow ample time for presentation and Q&A.
LANGUAGE: Papers should be presented in English or Japanese.
PUBLISHING: This year, we offer the chance to publish select papers through the inaugural issue of Waseda’s English-language series Working Papers in Contemporary Japanese Studies and through the Japan Fieldwork Network.
Panel Themes and Organization:
1) Transformations in Japanese Youth Culture
As the institutional contexts for youth (families, school work and friendship) are going through compelling changes, so are youths’ experiences. What was once considered a relatively stable, if tense, segment of the life course has diversified into many paths and the creation of new possibilities and new anxieties. We welcome papers from all disciplines and approaches that present original work that tries to captures these changes.
Our plan is to devote a full day to youth culture and assemble a number of panels which will be organized depending upon the range and fit of papers submitted.
2) Field Work in and of Japan: Contemporary Work and Future Agendas
Field work—the study of a field site by direct participant observation—has played an important role in anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, demography, media studies and architecture. This panel will be devoted to the exploration of ethnography, from whatever discipline, as it developed and is developing in Japan. We will get input from experienced scholars and new fieldworkers in an attempt to outline strengths and weaknesses, and to identify the most necessary areas for future study.
3) Open Sessions
As it always the case, we are open to the full range of papers that can be accommodated within the time and space constraints. These paper do not have to be related to the themes featured above, but are open to all. We encourage proposals for papers and for full panels from anyone doing original research, including work in progress.
4) Young Scholars Panels
In addition to established scholars, our meetings always include a wide range of younger scholars (undergraduate and masters course students) who might even be working on their first project. We offer a supportive and receptive environment for these scholars to present to a knowledgeable audience, and get feedback on their work.