2013 japanese studies at dartmouth: educating global citizens
On November 8 and 9, 2013 a group of Dartmouth alumni, representatives of Mitsui & Co., and Japan studies faculty members and students gathered in Hanover for a 2-day conference. The purpose of the conference was to recognize Mitsui & Co.'s support of Japan studies at the College, including the establishment of the Mitsui Chair in the Study of Japan, and to discuss the history and future of instructions on Japan and the Japanese language at the College. The conference's keynote speakers included Martin Fackler '89, Tokyo Bureau Chief for the New York Times ("A Journalist's View of the Fukushima Accident and Japan's Missed Opportunities for Change"), Carol Gluck, the George Sansom Professor of History at Columbia University ("A Grand Unified Theory of Japanese History"), and Mark Davidson '82, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo ("Japan is Back: The U.S.-Japan Partnership in America's Global Strategy"). Yusaku Horiuchi, Associate Professor and Mitsui Chair in the Study of Japan, gave a stimulating and entertaining talk on "New Frontiers in the Study of Japanese Politics", which highlighted some of his research involving novel uses of statistics and collaborations with academics outside the field of politics.
The conference also featured several informative panels covering Japan-related careers and student projects in the area of Japan studies, and a roundtable discussion that involved a great exchange of ideas on how students, faculty members, alumni and friends of Japan can work together in building a stronger Japan studies program. Conversations did not stop during breaks between sessions and continued well into "nijikai". All the alumni participants left the conference, inspired and ready to contribute more to the College, and the Club hopes to build on this momentum in the coming months.
The conference also featured several informative panels covering Japan-related careers and student projects in the area of Japan studies, and a roundtable discussion that involved a great exchange of ideas on how students, faculty members, alumni and friends of Japan can work together in building a stronger Japan studies program. Conversations did not stop during breaks between sessions and continued well into "nijikai". All the alumni participants left the conference, inspired and ready to contribute more to the College, and the Club hopes to build on this momentum in the coming months.