In Japan, zero interest rate monetary policy and unconventional easing measures have prevailed for almost two decades. It is possible that these policies have had incisive side-effects aside from effects on inflation (expectations).

Our roundtable will focus on the implications of these measures for banks and society by way of macro-economic theory as well as empirical evidence.

The Japanese countryside has for decades seen its population shrinking and aging. But in recent years some regions have experienced an influx of new residents, urban-to-rural migrants, looking for a new life in the Japanese countryside.

This so-called I-turn trend has been increasingly covered by the popular media. Magazines and websites providing information and support for people interested in moving to rural areas suggest that life in the countryside promises a meaningful job, a good work-life-balance, a life close to nature and a small, supportive community. They evoke an image of a nostalgic picturesque ‘homeland’ (furusato), where an ‘old Japanese way of life’ has been preserved. But what story does the individual I-turner tell?

Japan’s system of corporate governance is presently undergoing profound changes. Corporate governance research has mainly focused on comparisons with the US and the UK, but there is yet another successful capitalist model, namely Germany.

Germany’s system of corporate governance also underwent great changes especially after the so-called Schroeder reforms. A comparison with Germany will provide a new perspective on the ongoing discussions about corporate governance reform in Japan.

A panel discussion undertaking an overall comparison of the two systems will conclude the symposium.

Scheduled:
November 26, 2016 | 10:00 A.M. – 6:30 P.M.

Registration deadline:
November 11, 2016

Social sciences, and even more so natural sciences and engineering, tend to neglect local conditions, i.e. how ecological, social, political or economic issues are perceived and addressed in the specific context of a country or region and how solutions are sought for and implemented.

Our conference aims at highlighting possible contributions of area studies to the sciences, innovation and public policy by discussing concrete examples in highly relevant thematic fields. We would like to invite you to the public part of our conference which will refer to the outcomes of our preceding “closed” sessions.

Scheduled:
November 15, 2016 | 1:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Registration deadline:
November 11, 2016

‘Victimhood nationalism’ is a working hypothesis to explicate competing national memories over the historical position of victims in coming to terms with the past. The hereditary memory of victimhood consolidates the national solidarity beyond generations and justifies nationalism by endowing the victimized nation with the moral sympathy and historical authenticity. Without a reflection on victimhood nationalism, the postwar Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung (‘coming to terms with the past’) cannot be properly grasped.

The talk by Professor Lim will be followed by comments by Professor Horvat before the floor will be opened to the audience for a Q&A session.

Scheduled:
November 10, 2016 | 6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Speakers:
Jie-Hyun Lim, Sogang University Seoul
Andrew Horvat, Josai International University

Das Deutsche Institut für Japanstudien erstellt in Zusammenarbeit mit der Waseda University und mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Botschaft Tokyo eine Datenbank über lokale Klimaschutzprojekte in Japan. Das Projekt und erste Ergebnisse werden auf dem Symposium vorgestellt.

Das Ministry of the Environment hat ebenfalls ein Projekt lanciert, das die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Deutschland und Japan auf kommunaler Ebene unterstützt, um den Wandel zu einer „klimaneutralen Gesellschaft“ zu erreichen.

Our speaker, Ilse Lenz, will compare the two conservative gender welfare regimes of Germany and Japan by examining convergences and differences and discuss the main characteristics and the scale of these transformations.

„In most postindustrial societies, we presently experience a transformation from a gender order based on difference to a more flexible one. In the sphere of production, we witness a highly increased women’s labor market participation, based on the support of equal opportunity and diversity schemes. However, a large part of female employees are working in irregular or precarious jobs, and this trend is extending to male wage earners.“

The presentation will be followed by a comment from Glenda S. Roberts, Professor at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies of Waseda University.

Scheduled:
October 13, 2016 | 6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

Speakers:
Ilse Lenz, Professor emeritus at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB)
Glenda Roberts, Professor at Waseda University