Japan-Insights
Deepen your understanding of Japan’s people, places, and culture.
Stories List
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August 10, 2023
An Interview with Dr. Verena Blechinger-Talcott
Nurturing the Next Generation of Japan Specialists: Toward Intra-Asian Contexts and Transnational Comparative Studies
As the European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS) readies to mark its fiftieth anniversary at its triennial conference to be held at Ghent University in Belgium this August, president Verena Blechinger-Talcott spoke with Japan-Insights about the globalization of Japan Studies, and how support of early-career scholars has proven to be pivotal in fostering comparative perspectives and strengthening intra-Asian and transnational connections.
Interview by Susan Rogers Chikuba
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April 27, 2023
An Interview with Dr. Tara McGowan
Behind the Scenes, Abroad: Resource Sharing for Japan Studies
Tara McGowan, a Princeton, New Jersey-based Japan scholar and executive director of the North American Coordinating Council on Japanese Library Resources (NCC), met with Japan-Insights to talk about the council’s recent work, including livestreamed events and new website features supported by a TIFO grant that have helped to boost awareness of NCC’s many information services for the Japan Studies community.
Interview by Susan Rogers Chikuba
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March 17, 2023
An Interview with Dr. Barbara Ruch
From Japan to the World: The growing appeal of Japanese heritage music
Music has the ability to unite us, transcending language, culture and time, and the work undertaken by Columbia University’s Institute for Japanese Cultural Heritage Initiatives in New York bears testimony to this power. Dr. Barbara Ruch is Director of the Institute, as well as Professor Emerita of Japanese Literature and Cultural History at Columbia University. Dr. Ruch shares her insights on the Institute’s Japanese heritage music initiative and how this music is finding new audiences around the world, supported by the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO).
Interview by Louise George Kittaka
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February 3, 2023
An Interview with Dr. Simon Kaner
Nara to Norwich Project: Layered Tales of Identity from the Silk Roads
British archaeologist and Sainsbury Institute executive director Simon Kaner speaks with Japan-Insights about a robust Silk Roads curation project supported by TIFO.
Interview by Susan Rogers Chikuba