Have the sakura bloomed where you are yet? Whether you’re still waiting on them or they’ve come and gone, check out this retrospective from The Wall Street Journal of cherry blossom and hanami photos from 1955 on.
A woman sitting under a cherry tree sketches blossoms as another woman in a kimono looks on in Japan in 1955. GETTY IMAGES
![call for papers [150-2]](https://shinpaideshou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/call-for-papers-150-22.jpg)
Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies
Vol. 42 No. 1 | March 2016
Call for Papers
Memories on the Move: Asian Connections
Deadline for Submissions: June 30, 2015
In the last ten years memory studies has experienced a gradual shift towards comparative, interdisciplinary, and border-crossing perspectives. Studies on cosmopolitan memory (Levy and Sznaider), multidirectional memory (Rothberg), transcultural memory (Crownshaw), travelling memory (Erll), or transnational memory (De Chesari and Rigney) highlight the circulatory, competing, overlapping, fluid and dynamic nature of the processes of remembrance and cultural memory.
This special issue attempts to further the inquiry into the dynamic nature of memory cultures by forging dialogue between mnemonic contexts in/about Asia and those in Europe, North America, Australia, etc. How do forms of memorialization and cultural memories from/about Asia inflect or how are they inflected by various forms of transnational communication and exchange, or, more generally, the structures of global interaction? How do memory discourses from or about Asia circulate, migrate, or travel, and to what end? What “connective” relations (Hirsch) and convergences between national, regional, and global contexts are articulated in cultural texts (literary, media) when remembering landmark historical events across continents? Alternatively, what forms of disjuncture, ideological, and material blockages prevent connections and the circulation of memory in the global age?
We welcome contributions that examine how the “past within us” (Morris-Suzuki) or East Asia’s “difficult pasts” (Kim and Schwartz) resurface in representations across spaces, media or archives, and the ways they produce and/or subvert official state narratives. We are interested in new forms of “perilous memories” (Fujitani et al), individual or collective remembrances of “ruptured histories” (Jager and Mitter) embodied in fiction, memoirs, graphic narratives, documentaries, films or memorializing objects at large and their convergences across time and space. We invite research that broadly engages with memories on the move as well as the analytical frames about “memory in the global age” (Assmann and Conrad) and their possible junctions with or within Asia.
Please send submissions of 6,000 -10,000 words, notes included (the bibliography is not counted), an abstract of no more than 250 words with 5-8 keywords, and a brief bio as Word attachments to <concentric.lit@deps.ntnu.edu.tw>. Please also attach a cover letter stating that the manuscript is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts should follow the latest edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Except for footnotes, which should be single-spaced, manuscripts must be double-spaced throughout and typeset in 12-point Times New Roman. For further instructions on documentation, consult our style guide http://www.concentric-literature.url.tw/submissions.php
For submissions or general inquiries, please contact us at: concentric.lit@deps.ntnu.edu.tw
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Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies, currently indexed in Arts and Humanities Citation Index, is a peer-reviewed journal published two times per year by the Department of English, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. Concentric is devoted to offering innovative perspectives on literary and cultural issues and advancing the transcultural exchange of ideas. While committed to bringing Asian-based scholarship to the world academic community, Concentric welcomes original contributions from diverse national and cultural backgrounds. Each issue of Concentric publishes groups of essays on a special topic as well as papers on more general issues. The focus can be on any historical period and any region.
Institution: Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posted 03/12/2015
Department: Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs
Education: BA preferred
Duties & Responsibilities:
The Events Coordinator reports to the Executive Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project (FDP) and plays a key role in planning and organizing multiple FDP events per week. The coordinator also designs and plans the practical implementation of large-scale conferences (300+ attendees) and event series, including the program’s weeklong issue based events – Europe Week and South Asia Week. S/he assists the Executive Director with the strategic planning and execution of the Fisher Family Fellowship program.
Main duties are events coordination, including:
Event Logistics: Drafting of invitation letters to high-level political and diplomatic figures; correspondence with their staff; hotel booking and meeting room reservations; event design, catering arrangements; assistance in design of materials for workshops and events (promotional materials and presentations); name tag and tent card preparation; attend and support events as needed, including occasional evening events; assistance with staffing co-curricular student events and dinners; handling post-event wrap-up, including thank you notes and reimbursements; tracking and analyzing event data.
Event publicity: Designing and distributing event posters; creation and coordination of online publicity of events through email and social media; use of online tools and expansion of existing database to manage invitations; event tracking and other details; work with colleagues in FDP and Belfer communications for event collateral; arrange for the media needs of each event, respectively.
Event documentation: Responsible for arranging photography and other media needs for all events; coordinate audio recordings of events to be used for FDP’s “Conversations in Diplomacy” podcast series; maintain post-event publicity through online posting of event write-ups.
Administration and support: Provide administrative support to the Executive Director as needed; maintain database systems, list-serves and calendars; general financial support for day-to-day operations and event expenses; coordinate all scheduling logistics for FDP meetings and events; assist with email and social media communications; order office supplies and participate in rotating office responsibilities with colleagues.
Basic Qualifications:
1-2 years of work experience in event planning or in an administrative role.
Additional Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree preferred. International exposure and experience strongly preferred.
Additional Information:
The Future of Diplomacy Project is dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of diplomacy, negotiation and statecraft in international politics today. The Project aims to build Harvard Kennedy School’s ability to teach in this area, to support research in modern diplomatic practice and to build public understanding of diplomacy’s indispensable role in an increasingly complex and globalized world.The Future of Diplomacy Project aims to redefine diplomacy in a modern context through the lens of leading practitioners who are engaging in innovative means of conflict prevention and resolution at the negotiation table and beyond. Resident fellows, who have held prominent positions in governments worldwide, share their experiences with students in a range of seminars and simulations. In addition, the Project hosts a speaker series featuring international leaders. Over the past few years the Future of Diplomacy Project has had speakers including Jim Steinberg, US Deputy Secretary of State, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Finish President Martti Ahtisaari and Pulitzer-prize winning international correspondent for the New York Times, Nicholas D. Kristof. Most recently, Dr. Javier Solana, former Secretary General of NATO and Cameron Munter, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan have spoken on behalf of the Project. Through the range of its activities, the Project aims to prepare Harvard students for international challenges in the 21st century.
This position is a fully benefits eligible term appointment ending one year from date of hire, with possibility of renewal.
Through the magic of new Twitter followers, I recently came across the Active Connector website, which may be of use to people at various levels of Japanese competency who are interested in finding internships or jobs in or related to Japan.
I will say upfront that I am not familiar with this site and have never used it, but at a glance, it seems to be quite helpful. The goal of Active Connector is to facilitate global connections in business and industry by helping people, especially students, find various kinds of employment at Japanese companies. This is especially useful in light of the harsh conditions and limited success in job hunting in Japan by college graduates, which is often even more difficult for foreigners who may not be well-versed in how to work the Japanese system of employment to their advantage.
You can visit Active Connector’s news page to see local events, many of which appear to be in English, and follow them on Twitter to find job/internship announcements. It looks like signing up for their site is free, and even if you just want to get a brief look at what they can offer, they have a jobs page with limited access to information about some of their recent job postings.
Do you have experience with Active Connector? Any thoughts to share on it? Please shoot us an email at shinpai.deshou@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
The intensive summer program in Kyoto, Traditional Theatre Training (T.T.T.) 2015, invites applications to its 31st annual program.
Orientation on 24 July (Fri) will be followed by daily, intensive training 25 July (Sat) to August 11(Tue). A professionally costumed recital will be held on the Oe Noh Stage on 12 August (Wed).
Master-teachers of the Kanze school (noh), Okura school (kyogen), and Wakayagi school (Nihon buyo classical dance) offer an immersive, authentic experience to artists and scholars. Orientation and training will be conducted in the air-conditioned studios of the Kyoto Art Center.
Please find further information at the following links:
Japanese: http://www.kac.or.jp/15334/
English: http://www.kac.or.jp/eng/news/15334/
Contact email (English and Japanese): t.t.t@kac.or.jp
There are early bird and student/artist discounts, and special rates on hotels, hopefully making this affordable to participants, Japanese and non-, from around the world.
We look forward to seeing you in Kyoto this summer!
Dr. Matthew Shores (Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge)
Program Director T.T.T. 2015
mws42@cam.ac.uk
Location: Indiana, United States
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow
ASIANetwork – Luce Foundation Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow Program
With the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation, ASIANetwork, a consortium of over 150 North American colleges, is providing financial support for the hiring of teaching fellow positions at our member colleges for the next two years. For more information about the positions for our 2015-16 program and links to the position postings, go to http://www.asianetwork.org/programs/postdoc/ and click the Teaching Fellows Job Listing link. Application deadlines and procedures vary.
What is ASIANetwork?
A consortium of over 150 North American colleges, ASIANetwork strives to strengthen the role of Asian Studies within the framework of liberal arts education to help prepare succeeding generations of undergraduates for a world in which Asian societies play prominent roles in an ever more interdependent world. For more information, see: http://asianetwork.org
Deadline: November, 30, 2015
Contact:
Teodora (Teddy) O. Amoloza
Director, ASIANetwork-Luce Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow Program
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
309-556-3405
tamoloza@iwu.edu
Website: asianetwork.org
Institution: Pierce College District
Location: Lakewood, WA
Application Due: 04/03/2015
Education: BA/BS
Reporting directly to the Executive Director of International Education, this position is responsible for international student marketing and recruitment for the Pierce College District. The Manager is responsible for the recruitment of international students, development of relationships with overseas recruiting agents and various agencies including partner colleges/universities and consulate offices as appropriate. Additionally, this position develops the annual marketing and recruiting plan, and creation and maintenance of all necessary contracts and agreements and related databases.
About the Program
The mission of International Education at Pierce College is to foster international relationships and opportunities district-wide through the recruitment and admission of international students, to provide an array of quality student services to assist international students with completion of their studies, and to assist the College in building partnerships on campus and in the community to enhance our multicultural perspective and experience.
At this time, we have almost 300 international students, one third of them in the Intensive English Program (IEP) and two thirds in college programs. The department has a staff of eight full-time faculty and staff and numerous part-time faculty and staff providing direct support to the program. Most of our students are from East Asia and enter through the IEP and transition to college level courses to complete the Associate degree and transfer to a university. In addition we offer short-term programs with international partnerships and send a small number of students abroad to study.
Essential Functions:
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Conditions of Employment: Must have the ability to obtain a passport to travel internationally.
Terms of Employment:
This is a full time administrative exempt position. Scheduled hours may vary with frequent travel overseas. This position may travel occasionally and travel between Pierce College campuses/sites is required as necessary.
Leaving for the Rising Sun: Chinese Zen Master Yinyuan and the Authenticity Crisis in Early Modern East Asia
by Jiang Wu, Associate Profess, Department of East Asian Studies, The University of Arizona
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN-10: 0199393133
ISBN-13: 978-0199393138
Description:
In 1654 Zen Master Yinyuan traveled from China to Japan. Seven years later his monastery, Manpukuji, was built and he had founded a new tradition, called Obaku. In this sequel to his 2008 book, Enlightenment in Dispute, Jiang Wu tells the story of the tremendous obstacles faced by Yinyuan, drawing parallels between his experiences and the broader political and cultural context in which he lived.
Yinyuan claimed to have inherited the “Authentic Transmission of the Linji Sect.” After arriving in Japan, he was able to persuade the Shogun to build a new Ming-style monastery for the establishment of his Obaku school. His arrival in Japan coincided with a series of historical developments, including the Ming-Qing transition, the consolidation of early Tokugawa power, the growth of Nagasaki trade, and rising Japanese interests in Chinese learning and artistic pursuits. While Yinyuan’s travel is known in scholarly circles, the significance of his journey within East Asian history has not been fully explored. Leaving for the Rising Sun provides a unique opportunity to reexamine the crisis in the continent and responses from other parts of East Asia. Using Yinyuan’s story as a bridge between China and Japan, Wu demonstrates that the monk’s significance is far greater than the temporary success of a religious sect. Rather, Yinyuan imported to Japan a new discourse of authenticity that gave rise to indigenous movements that challenged, and led to the eventual breakup of, a China-centered world order.
Institution: Tel Aviv University, East Asian Studies
Location: Israel
Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow
The Department of East Asian Studies
Asia on Its Own Terms: Towards New Terminology and Narratives for Research in Asian Studies
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
The program Asia on Its Own Terms Program (funded by Yad Hanadiv) of the Department of East Asian Studies at Tel Aviv University will award a post-doctoral fellowship in the field of Asian Studies.
Program Objective:
In recent years there is a growing scholarly interest in transitional processes in East and South Asian countries. Nonetheless, so far there have been relatively few attempts of an integrated and comparative study of these regions by venturing across geographical, political, and linguistic boundaries. The Asia on Its Own Terms program aims to readdress this shortcoming by facilitating interdisciplinary and cross-regional dialogues between scholars and students specializing in China, India and Japan. It is “border-crossing” both in cutting across parochial regionalism and artificial borders, and in cutting across disciplines.
Fellowships:
The one-year fellowship of up to $30,000 will be awarded for the 2015-2016 academic year. The recipient fellow will work with senior faculty members from the Department of East Asian Studies. Fellows will engage in their own research, while contributing to the department’s joint undertaking for creating a new set of scholarly tools and terminology as defined by the program.
Eligibility:
Candidates are limited to those who by October 1, 2015 are in possession of a PhD, or those who were awarded a PhD within the last five years (Tel Aviv University PhD holders are not eligible to apply). Candidates are requested to submit the following documents:
Candidates must submit their applications by March 31, 2015 to the Academic Committee Yad Hanadiv Fund, Department of East Asian Studies, Tel Aviv University, Israel. The letters of reference should be sent directly by email to galiakal@tauex.tau.ac.il
Institution: Smith College
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Position: Curator
Jane Chace Carroll Curator of Asian Art
Smith College Museum of Art
Smith College is accepting applications for the Jane Chace Carroll Curator of Asian Art position. Reporting to the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs, this positon develops the program for the Asian Art Gallery. Oversee all aspects of the Museum’s research, interpretation, and presentation of its growing Asian art collection.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience: Masters’ degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Asian art history and culture or related discipline, with at least 4 years of museum experience, or the equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of the exhibition process, and a record of publication and public speaking. Broad knowledge of Asian art and culture, particularly the arts of East Asia, but knowledge of South Asian, Central Asian, and Western Asian art are also acceptable. Familiarity with major art historical periods and styles, and proficiency in at least one Asian language (fluency preferred). Excellent communication, both written and verbal, and effective leadership and interpersonal skills. Outstanding collaborator with highly developed administrative and organizational capabilities and a deep commitment to a cross-disciplinary approach to original works of art within a liberal arts college. Prior experience teaching or working with undergraduate students would be an additional strength.
Review of application will begin immediately. To be considered for this position and to review job description, visit https://smithcollege.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobID=19629&job=ad0840-jane-chace-carroll-curator-of-asian-art
Smith College is an EO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer
What can I do with a B.A. in Japanese Studies? 