AJJ Spring Workshop 2010 (May 8–9)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tenri University
The program focused on presenting current anthropological field research and pedagogical methodologies within the Japanese context. The full schedule included:
AJJ Spring Workshop 2010 Schedule
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Registration & Opening
Attendees gathered at the Tenri University Research Building (3rd Floor, Conference Room 1).
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Presentation 1
Speaker: Masanobu Yamada (Tenri University)
Title: “As Práticas Religiosas dos Migrantes Brasileiros no Japão” (Religious Practices of Brazilian Migrants in Japan).
Focus: An ethnographic look at how Brazilian migrants maintain or adapt religious traditions, specifically within the Tenrikyo framework and other denominations, while living in Japan.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Presentation 2
Speaker: Robert Croker (Nanzan University)
Title: “Teaching Fieldwork Research Methods for Japan: Lessons from the Field.”
Focus: A discussion on the pedagogical challenges and strategies for training international and domestic students in anthropological fieldwork techniques specific to Japanese society.
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM: General Discussion & AJJ Business Meeting
An open forum for members to discuss the presentations and coordinate future AJJ workshops and conferences.
6:00 PM: Reception (Informal Dinner)
A networking session held at a local venue near the university.
Saturday, May 8
Panel: “Religion and Social Life”
Presenters discussed the intersection of faith and community, focusing on the role of Tenrikyo and other religious movements in local Japanese society.
Discussion on Migration: Continuation of research into Brazilian migrants in Japan, presented by Masanobu Yamada and others.
Evening Reception: A formal banquet held near the university to facilitate networking among international and local scholars.
Sunday, May 9
Workshop: “Teaching Fieldwork”
Led by Robert Croker, this session expanded on pedagogical methods for teaching anthropology to non-native researchers in Japan.
Student Presentations: Graduate students from Tenri and other Kansai-area universities presented their ongoing field research.
Concluding Plenary: A summary of the workshop’s themes and planning for the AJJ Annual Conference 2010, which was later held in December at Temple University Japan (Tokyo).
The workshop was specifically hosted by the Oyasato Institute for the Study of Religionat Tenri University, which provided a specialized focus on the anthropology of religion during the weekend sessions.