Associate Professor Noboru Tomonari
Department of Asian Languages & Literatures, Carleton College
1 North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057
ph. (507) 222-5955, fax (507) 7222-7538; e-mail: ntomonar@carleton.edu
Saturday, 5 April, 2014, 2:00-6:00
Mackin Room, Grasselli Library
John Carroll University
Nona Moskowitz, Department of Sociology, Wittenberg University: “Gender and
Maturity: Self-referent Term Choice at Ogasawara Middle School”
This paper, based on the exegesis of female middle schoolers’ choice of self-referent
terms, examines students’ metapragmatic commentary as a way to understand some of
the ideological underpinnings of the Japanese system of self-reference. The sannensei
girls at Ogasawara Middle School use a variety of self-reference terms including watashi,
boku, uchi and their own names. One student’s explanation regarding her self-referent
choice uchi suggests that she is not ready for the kind of gendered self the term watashi
implied. The social pressure on Japanese women to embody and enact particular kinds of
gendered selves is well-documented. Gender as an important dimension of Japanese
speech practices, the system of self-reference included, has also been thoroughly
described. However, my interviews with Ogasawara sannensei girls reveal that gender
was not the only index the self-referent terms evoked. Term choice additionally marked
a sense of maturity and a consciousness of a certain growth toward that maturity.
Meanings of maturity/immaturity intersect with gendered meanings in ways that imply
that to be mature is to be gendered. Moreover, while society dictates the gendered
identity that mature girls should appropriate, I found that the middle school social sphere
created a parallel regulation, dictating the gendered identity that boys should appropriate.
Jennifer S. Prough, Humanities and East Asian Studies, Valparaiso University:
“Bakumatsu Vacation: Historical Tourism in Contemporary Kyoto”
Kyoto is undeniably a modern metropolis with all the amenities of a contemporary city,
but it is the old world charm of the winding alleyways, gardens, and temples that are
world-renowned. These are the things Kyoto is most known for and these are the things
that the tourist industry promotes most fervently. However, peppered throughout the city
are countless plaques and memorials to the bakumatsu events surrounding the end of
Tokugawa rule and the start of modern Japan. This paper examines the ways that Japanese
historical events from the bakumatsu era are represented, packaged, and consumed in
contemporary Kyoto. Bakumatsu locations stand out from the typical Kyoto tourism sites in
part because they are not a part of the city tourism division’s promotions for domestic or
foreign tourists. Looking at Bakumatsu sites provides a view of Kyoto tourism from below as
it were. Furthermore, the history boom in popular media in the past decade has given rise to
increased interest among youth in the bakumatsu events and sites. No longer the exclusive
territory of older, male history-buffs the network of bakumatsu sites in Kyoto now cater to a
wider demographic. Thus, through a case study of bakumatsu sites in contemporary Kyoto,
this paper analyzes the ways that specific moments in history are mobilized to construct
cultural tourist sites and visitor experiences, and how those places take on new meanings
within the context of contemporary Japan.
Nearest Airport: Cleveland Hopkins Airport (about 35 minutes from campus). Sometimes
you can get significantly cheaper fares to/from Akron-Canton Airport (about 1 hour from
campus by car). Please contact Susan Long for public transportation instructions or the
possibility of a ride from the airport if arranged well ahead of the arrival date.
Special Exhibit, Cleveland Museum of Art: Cleveland Museum of Art has recently reopened its Asia galleries after 8 years of renovation of the museum
(http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303465004579325021913632700).
It also currently has a special exhibit of art on loan from the Tokyo National Museum
entitled, “Remaking Tradition: Modern Art of Japan from the Tokyo National Museum”
(http://www.clevelandart.org/events/exhibitions/remaking-tradition-modern-art-japan-tokyonational-museum) Arrangements will be made for a Saturday morning MJS tour with a
museum staff member if there is sufficient interest. Please contact Susan Long
(long@jcu.edu) directly if you are interested.
Hotel Information: A block of rooms has been reserved for $89/night regardless of
number of people at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott
3750 Orange Place, Beachwood, OH 44122 TEL: 216-450-3009
By calling Hotel's toll free Reservation Line, 1- 800-MARRIOTT, individuals should
make their own reservations. For individuals to receive the established Group Rate, they
must identify themselves as members of the (2014 Midwest Japan Seminar) group
initially when making the reservation. All reservations must be received by March 18.
Paper and Dinner: If you plan to attend and would like copies of the papers, contact
Noboru Tomonari at ntomonar@carleton.edu. As emailed, please note that the
participants will be reimbursed for this seminar ONLY IF we are to be the recipients of
the Japan Foundation IPS Grant. We really encourage therefore people who are close or
who can get money from their own institution to come! The deadline for requesting
copies is March 28th 2014. Papers will be sent electronically (PDF File). Please
indicate if you plan to join the group for dinner after the seminar.
Dinner: Anatolia Café, 2270 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, about $25/person.
Dinner will start at 6:30 pm.
Local Contact: Susan Long, Professor of Anthropology, John Carroll University.
TEL:(216) 397-1685 Cell phone:(440)773-4758 long@jcu.edu
UP-COMING MJS SESSIONS:
April 26, 2014
Wayne State University, MI (Host: Elizabeth Dorn Lublin)
Presenters: William Londo, History, Oakland University; Nobuko
Adachi, Anthropology, Illinois State University
September 13, 2014 Gustavus Adolphus College, MN (Host: David Obermiller)
Presenters: Scott Schnell, Anthropology, University of Iowa;
Valerie Barske, History, University of Wisconsin-Steven Point
October 4, 2014
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (Held in conjunction with
MCAA, Host: J. Megan Greene)
Presenters: Nancy Stalker, History, University of Texas, Austin;
William Bridges, Literature, St. Olaf College
November 8, 2014
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE (Host: Parks Coble)
Presenters: Christienne Hinz, History, Southern Illinois University;
Susan Furukawa, Literature, Beloit College
MJS Website: http://international.wmich.edu/mjs