The IAJS Thematic Conference 2018: The West in Japanese Imagination

Date of event:   18/12/2018 − 21/12/2018

The West in Japanese Imagination/Japan in Western Imagination: 150 Years to the Meiji Restoration

Confirmed keynote speakers: Professor Michio Hayashi, Sophia University, Tokyo Professor Michael Lucken, INALCO, Paris

The Thematic Conference of the Israeli Association of Japanese Studies (IAJS) will be held at The Art History Dept., Faculty of the Arts, Tel Aviv University, 18–20 December 2018. Celebrating 150 years to the Meiji Restoration in 2018 is a good opportunity to contemplate on the major changes Japan has embarked on in 1868. Through this important moment in Japanese history, we would like to reflect on Japan’s relations with the West, on the actual and imaginary levels, from its first encounters with Jesuit missionaries, to contemporary life and images. To complement this line, we would like to expand the discussion on what is Japan’s role in Western imagination – culturally, artistically, economically, and politically. Focusing on the Meiji era as a turning point in Japan’s history, the conference aims at creating an outline for a retrospective on the artistic, cultural, historical, social, economic and political developments in Japan. We especially welcome interdisciplinary studies from those involved in the research of the arts, as well as the social, political and cultural developments.

We plan to publish an edited volume based on the conference papers. Presenters whose proposals will be accepted for publication (based on the abstract and previous publications), will be assisted in covering partial conference travel cost – including flight and accommodation.

The conference will be conducted in English. It is open to the public and participation is free of charge.

The Steering Committee

Dr. Ayelet ZOHAR Art History, Tel Aviv University, Chair of Conference
Dr. Sigal BEN-RAFAEL GALANTI Social Studies and Civics, Beit Berl College, Chair of IAJSProf. Ofra GOLDSTEIN GIDEONI Anthropology + East-Asian Studies, Tel Aviv UniversityProf. Assaf PINKUS Art History, Tel Aviv University
Dr. Alon LEVKOVITZ Social Studies and Civics, Beit Berl College
Dr. Erez GOLANI SOLOMON Architecture, Bezalel Academy + Keio University, Tokyo
Dr. Dalit BLOCH East-Asian Studies + Cultural Research, Tel Aviv University
Ms. Nurit SHAMIR Art History, Tel Aviv University

Click here to see and download the CONFERENCE PROGRAMME.

Event Location