Japan Studies at Leiden University

27/06/2024

Het nieuwe kabinet is van plan een miljard euro te bezuinigen op Nederlandse universiteiten. Luister en kijk hier nog eens waarom dat een rampzalig voornemen is:
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/campagne/geesteswetenschappen/protest-onderwijsplannen

Het nieuwe kabinet dreigt bijna een miljard euro te bezuinigen op het hoger onderwijs. Dit brengt niet alleen het werk op de universiteit in gevaar, dit is een ramp voor Nederland zelf. De geplande langstudeerboete en andere financiële maatregelen zullen studenten zwaar treffen en de toegankelijkhe...

01/12/2023

We will continue our activities via Linkedin. Please follow us there: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100463129

06/10/2023

LECTURE ANNOUNCEMENT: Please join us in person or online next week, Tue 10 Oct. 17:15. Prof. Jennifer Coates (University of Sheffield) will give a talk on 'Memories of Cinema-Going in Postwar Japan: An Ethno-history'. Details are here https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2023/10/memories-of-cinema-going-in-postwar-japan-an-ethno-history

15/09/2023

LECTURE ANNOUNCEMENT: Dr Paulina Ivanovna (Ritsumeikan University) will join us on Wednesday, 20 September, to give a talk on 'Civil Society and International Students in Japan: Methodology and Fieldwork'. Everyone is warmly welcome (in-person or online). For more details, please see the link https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2023/09/civil-society-and-international-students-in-japan-methodology-and-fieldwork
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2023/09/civil-society-and-international-students-in-japan-methodology-and-fieldwork

This lecture will be held via Zoom: click here for the link.

08/09/2023

LECTURE: Please join us for the first lecture in the Leiden Lecture Series in Japan Studies on Sept. 18, 15.15 (in person or online). Peter Kornicki (University of Cambridge) and Alessandro Bianchi (Oxford Bodleian Libraries) will speak about manuscripts and illustrated books in early modern Japan. Follow the link for details
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2023/09/double-lecture-illustrated-books-and-manuscripts-in-early-modern-japan

08/09/2023

Academisch Jaar 2023-24 ook officieel geopend bij Japanstudies

05/09/2023

CAMERA JAPAN Festival is a multidisciplinary Japanese arts and culture festival held each year in the Netherlands, in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

04/09/2023

Komende donderdag gaan we weer ca. 100 nieuwe studenten Japanstudies verwelkomen in Leiden. Zij zullen moeten wennen aan de Japanse zomer, die altijd al een uitdaging was, maar nu blijkbaar nog meer. Succes!

From June to August, the weather agency recorded 'considerably higher' average summer temperatures in 'northern, eastern, and western Japan.'

04/07/2023

https://www.instagram.com/japanstudies_leiden/

17 Followers, 2 Following, 2 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Japanstudies at Leiden University ()

04/07/2023

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/06/29/films/animated-polish-japanese-story-wins-top-prize-asia-short-film-fest/

Izumi Yoshida takes the George Lucas Award for her short based on the so-called Siberian Children who were rescued by the Japanese Red Cross Society following the Russian Revolution.

25/05/2023

Onze allereerste External Research Project is bijna rond!

Rutger Janssen – ooit jeugdspeler bij Roda JC, nu student Japanstudies – onderzocht hoe voetbalclubs Feyenoord en Urawa Red Diamonds beter kunnen samenwerken. In één week zag hij beide ploegen grote prijzen pakken. ‘Na voetbal is Japan mijn nieuwe passie.’

11/05/2023

For those who would like to read Edo-period materials in kuzushiji, there is a monthly course おとなの寺子屋 held via Zoom using Edo textbooks with specialist Koizumi Yoshinaga (in Japanese).
Flyer and programme are in the link
https://tosho.city.miyoshi.hiroshima.jp/topics/doc/2023%E5%B9%B4%E5%BA%A6%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AA%E3%81%AE%E5%AF%BA%E5%AD%90%E5%B1%8B%E3%83%81%E3%83%A9%E3%82%B7.pdf

03/05/2023

Interview met Japanstudies-alumni Nina Steenmetz en Denise Boxem tijdens bezoek rector Universiteit Leiden aan Nederlandse ambassade te Tokyo.

Maar liefst 60 alumni kwamen naar de residentie van de Nederlandse ambassade in Japan om elkaar te ontmoeten, te netwerken, hun talen te oefenen of om vrienden te zien.

01/05/2023

Kyoto may be getting more modern, tall buildings as city relaxes development limits. https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/kyoto-may-be-getting-more-modern-tall-buildings-as-city-relaxes-development-limits?

“Beautiful” and “traditional” are words just about every visitor to Kyoto uses to describe it. The city government is well aware, and proud, of that reputation, and in order to preserve those beautiful, traditional aesthetics, much of the city is covered by restrictions regarding what kinds ...

22/04/2023

Reminder: this Tuesday a film screening event for the documentary 'Of Love and Law'. This Japanese documentary that showcases the lives of two openly gay lawyers, Fumi and Kazu, who run a law firm in Osaka, Japan that specializes in representing marginalized clients.

see the link for information how to register.

Date & Time: 25th April, 17:00-19:00 Location: The Lorentz room (KOG, Leiden Law School) http://ofloveandlaw.com/press/ The documentary film ‘Of Love and Law' explores the lives of two openly gay lawyers, Fumi and Kazu, who run a law firm in Osaka, Japan that specializes in representing marginaliz...

31/03/2023

New novel by Kawakami Mieko hits the shelves. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/03/31/books/mieko-kawakami-sisters-in-yellow-response/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3y0UaZK39m3EtYo5UITs4mcIfRPWYJKNvZoiEX41xSMg1bwIGse9C7SdQ =1680238255

Initial reviews of “Sisters in Yellow” say the hefty book is a fast read that leaves an almost painful impression.

21/03/2023

The documentary 'Of Love and Law' follows the lives of two openly gay lawyers, Fumi and Kazu, who run a law firm in Osaka, Japan that specializes in representing marginalized clients. The film showcases their work and advocacy for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and other underserved communities.

The screening will take place on 25th April from 17:00-19:00. The location of the screening will be at the Lorentz room (KOG, Leiden Law School). After the screening, we will have a short discussion about the themes and issues raised in the film.

Registration for this event is now open, and it is only open to students and staff members of Leiden University. To register, please use this link (the capacity is limited and first come first served): https://forms.gle/VauV7rpGYdDtJyFN7

20/03/2023

This afternoon our very own Ethan Mark was interviewed on the Dutch national radio program NPO Radio 1 Villa VdB about the Tokyo subway gas attacks, 28 years ago today, including his personal experience of that day.
(In Dutch)

Op 20 maart 1995 is er een zenuwgasaanval in de metro in Tokyo. De sekte van Shoko Asahara zit erachter. Er vallen uiteindelijk 12 doden en 3000 gewonden. Ethan Mark blikt terug in de Villa.

14/03/2023

Two more days to go. Make sure to join us, in person or online!

This lecture will be held via Zoom: click here for the link.

13/03/2023

News comes out that on March 3rd Nobel Prize winning author Ōe Kenzaburō died at 88.

Oe, a leading liberal voice who defended the disenfranchised and challenged the conformity of modern society, was known for his pacifist and anti-nuclear views.

12/03/2023

REMINDER: Please join us tomorrow at 15.15 in person or on Zoom for Prof. Stephen D. Miller's lecture 'Q***r Subjects in Modern Japanese Literature: A Reminiscence'

This lecture will also be held via Zoom: click here for the link. 

09/03/2023

Last Saturday, "The Japanese Public Speaking Contest" was held. It was organized by The Embassy of Japan, with the cooperation of companies and Japan-relate organizations. Two of our students won prizes.

Mr. Otis Eversteijn (BA3 student) got the Grand Prize (最優秀賞： 1st place) and Ms.Naniek Kok (BA1 student) won the Encouragement Prize (奨励賞 ：5th place). We would like to thank everyone who organized and cooperated with the Japanese speech contest.

07/03/2023

Bij Japanstudies krijgen we elk jaar 100-140 eerstejaars. Ongeveer de helft rond de studie met success af. Dit zijn alleemaal bijzondere verhalen!

Anne (28) zit niet graag stil. Ze is student-redacteur en vrijwilliger, loopt stage, is maatschappelijk betrokken, schrijft en staat graag in de keuken. Oh ja, en ze studeert. Japanstudies om precies te zijn. Ze is al sinds haar jeugd gefascineerd door Japan. Toch duurde het een paar jaar voordat ze...

03/03/2023

Culture critic Thu-Huong Ha joins the podcast to explain Yayoi Kusama’s latest stage of evolution.

26/02/2023

Please join us on March 13, 15.00 live or on Zoom for our penultimate lecture in the Leiden Lecture Series in Japanese Studies! Prof. Stephen Miller (University of Massachusetts Amherst) will introduce his new book Q***r Subjects in Modern Japanese Literature: Male Love, Intimacy, and Erotics, 1886-2014 and reminesce on the process of compiling 'q***r' anthologies of Japanese literature. For further details, please see the link below.

This lecture will also be held via Zoom: the link will be posted here shortly.

22/02/2023

The Japanese Culture Research Society（日本文化研究会）of Japanstudies organised an online workshop with Koriyama-city in Fukushima. The purpose was to learn Koriyama’s culture, history and language. One of our senpai (Paul-san) is working at Koriyama-city as a part of the JET program. We were very happy to study through the online workshop.

NOTE: 日本文化研究会（Japanese Culture Research Society) is a new students’ association established in October 2022. The purpose of this group is (1) To experience and learn Japanese Culture (2) To think about careers and have self development.

Instagram: nihonbunka_kenkyuukai

18/02/2023

https://dezwijger.nl/programma/one-bite-feminism

Een short doc over genderongelijkheid in Japan, met nagesprek over de Nederlandse context. Want gaat het hier wel zoveel beter?

16/02/2023

Japan more than doubles its number of islands. 島国 indeed.

Digital mapping leads to around 7,000 new islands being discovered though it’s unlikely to expand Japan’s territory, media reports say

13/02/2023

There’s more to Valentine’s chocolate in Japan than the infamous “obligation” type.