At first glance, the island of Yakushima presents an appearance of peaceful stability, that of a nature preserved from human influence, embodied by millennial cedars. Yet, beneath this layer other realities emerge – different ways of inhabiting and transforming this territory by various stakeholders at different times. These complex layers raise questions about their potential interactions and the risks of disruption. In other words, how can the different stakeholders living on the island continue to coexist in a sustainable way? Referring to locals and their activities (tourism, industry, forestry, etc.), tourists, non-human animals, plants, all other forms of living entities, kami and other beings of the supernatural world, as well as symbols, this presentation aims to better understand how these relationships form a cohesive collective, which could be described as an eco-semiosphere. Details and registration here

Making human activity on Earth sustainable is currently the greatest challenge of mankind. Ever since the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the topic has gained world-wide popularity, but what sustainability means, how it can be achieved, how it is politically negotiated, and which actors are involved differs widely across the world. Focusing on economic, societal, and political perspectives, the purpose of this conference is to gain a better understanding of how issues of sustainability are understood, framed and pursued by different actors in Japan. Speakers include DIJ researchers Franz Waldenberger, Barbara Holthus, Isaac Gagné, Sebastian Polak-Rottmann, and Nicole M. Mueller. The conference is co-organised by Barbara Holthus and DIJ alumni Harald Conrad (Düsseldorf) and Axel Klein (Duisburg). It takes places at the JDZB in Berlin from November 15-17, 2024. Details and registration here

Following the American conquest of Okinawa in June 1945, the Japanese military anticipated that the Allies planned to invade the four main islands of Japan. But to everyone’s surprise, no such invasion came. Instead, the war abruptly ended on August 15, 1945, without a single Allied soldier setting foot on mainland Japan. Between August 15 and late September 1945, morale and discipline within military units across Japan underwent a wholesale collapse. This talk explores how soldiers and sailors within Japan reacted to defeat during the critical weeks after Japan’s surrender. Using data from Japanese military police (Kenpeitai) reports, the talk argues that looting by demobilized servicemen and their officers profoundly tarnished the Japanese military’s reputation in the eyes of the public and severed what few bonds remained between the Imperial Japanese military and Japan’s people. Details and registration here

After a century of Western-inspired and hackneyed multilateralism, its much criticized more than 75-year-old stronghold, the UN, needs a new narrative: interpopular omnilateralism. Instead of originating in the hardly definable construct of the “nation” and hence being “international”, the UN Charter is rather based on the people, thus it is interpopular from its inception. The proper vehicle to reach this aim of a wider community of people is omnibus – for and by all -, firstly, to widen the way for input of more ideas and good practices by non-Western people, and secondly, to include non-state actors as legitimate stakeholders in global governance. At this DIJ Forum, Wolfgang Pape will introduce the concept omnilateralism and discuss it in the context of democracy and global governance. Akio Kawato will offer his comments, followed by a Q&A session and a small reception. Details and registration here

This panel discussion explores the relationship between migration and knowledge production, emphasizing the role of migrants as transmitters and producers of new knowledge. Using historical case studies, Simone Lässig challenges the binary of assimilation and conflict by showing how immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries acted as cultural translators, shaping both their own communities and host societies. Intersecting the history of migration with the history of knowledge, the talk offers insights into the dynamics of migration and reveals the ways in which migrants contribute to global knowledge flows. Mariko Iijima will add a Japanese perspective on the approach based on her own research on the Japanese diaspora. Details and registration here

The future begins with imagination. One example are the Sci-Fi prototyping initiatives of Japanese tech giants like Sony and NTT, which intentionally utilize storytelling to foster public acceptance of emerging technologies. Focusing on the connection between narratives, culture, technological innovation, and marketing, this interdisciplinary workshop delves into both fictional and non-fictional portrayals of Japan’s technological future. Twenty international scholars and practitioners from Japan’s tech industry will join us to analyze visions of emerging technologies, of their environmental and societal impact, and of Japan as a “futuristic” nation through the lens of “narrative” and “sociotechnical imaginary” theoretical frameworks. The workshop is organised by DIJ researcher Nicole M. Mueller and supported by the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) Tokyo. It will open with a public DIJ Forum with keynotes by Fritz Breithaupt (Indiana University Bloomington) and Hirotaka Osawa (Keio University). Details and registration here

Over the past three decades, Japanese media productions, especially manga, have primarily been examined with regard to hegemonic images of ‘femininity’ and as indicators of social change. Only few studies have focused on media constructions of ‘masculinity’. In this talk, Ralf Windhab presents preliminary findings of his doctoral dissertation, which analyzes various Japanese manga that depict male characters as protagonists engaging in unpaid household chores. These portrayals contradict the prevailing image of men as the breadwinners of the family and women as the ones responsible for the household.  The research presented shows that some male characters are portrayed as weak or partially feminine in accordance with stereotypes and clichés, while others are portrayed as overly masculine. The actual household chores depicted and their frequency, as well as the different motives for the men to participate in household chores, will also be discussed. Details and registration here