Fun Link Friday: Real Haunted Homes in Japan?

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Paula

Halloween may have passed, but that’s no reason to stop bringing the chills! Teru Oshima has developed a new kind of real-estate map, one mapping Japan’s most haunted property locations, where grisly events leading to unnatural deaths have occurred. Typically real-estate agents are supposed to notify potential residents of any unpleasant past history at their locations, but for obvious reasons, this is not always the case. For those that do disclose, oftentimes owners are forced to give discounts to offset any unease about purchases or rentals. This make’s Oshima’s project all the more interesting, as the superstitious may know where to avoid selecting residences, while the non-superstitious can hunt for incredible bargains on living spaces.

map

Much like star-ratings at restaurants, each unnatural death in a house or apartment is given a fire symbol, and often the entries are connected to local information about the area and the event itself. While the project began as a private side hobby, Oshima now has a staff and has opened up contributions to the site through wikipedia-like public access. With over 8,000 listings in Tokyo alone, this is easily an interesting way to lose a few hours of your afternoon exploring the spooky side of Japan’s geography.

The original article at the Wall Street Journal can be found here.

Happy Friday!

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Job Opening: Asian History, Yonsei University

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:       Yonsei University (Underwood International College)
Location:          Korea, Republic of
Position:          Full-time tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Asian History

The Underwood International College of Yonsei University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Asian History at the Yonsei International Campus in Songdo, located within the greater Seoul metropolitan region. The starting date is March or September 2015. The position is open to historians specializing in any region of Asia (broadly defined) in any period; scholars of Central, North, or Southeast Asia are particularly encouraged to apply. Candidates should be able to demonstrate significant research contributions to their fields and a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Teaching responsibilities are 6 credit-hours (2 classes) per semester. Compensation includes a competitive salary, health insurance and other benefits, subsidized housing (for up to 6 years), and a generous relocation and start-up package. Yonsei University’s Underwood International College is a highly competitive undergraduate program at South Korea’s most prestigious private university, combining the intimate atmosphere and low student-faculty ratio of a liberal arts college with the resources of a major research university. All instruction is in English, and the student body represents over 47 countries. As part of Yonsei University’s commitment to building an international faculty, we can only accept applications from non-Korean citizens for this position.

Interested applicants should send a short letter of application detailing research and teaching interests, writing sample, c.v., and three letters of recommendation by email to uic_faculty@yonsei.ac.kr by December 15th. For additional information, please contact Prof. Jesse Sloane (sloanej@yonsei.ac.kr).

Contact: uic_faculty@yonsei.ac.kr  or sloanej@yonsei.ac.kr

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Job Opening: East Asian History, San Jose State University

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution :      San Jose State University, History
Location:          California, United States
Position:          Assistant Professor, East Asian History

East Asia.  San Jose State University seeks a tenure-track assistant professor whose research specialty is in modern Chinese or modern Japanese history.  Candidates should be able to teach the pre-modern and modern histories of both countries, undergraduate World History surveys, and topical courses in World History at the graduate level in their areas of expertise.  Ph.D. in History and teaching experience are required.  Faculty members are expected to contribute to shared governance through committee service and student advisement.  The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the advancement of the discipline through peer-reviewed scholarship and professional activities.  Candidates must address the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language, and academic preparation.  San Jose State University is California’s oldest institution of public higher learning.  The campus is located on the southern end of San Francisco Bay in downtown San Jose (pop. 1,000,000), hub of the world-famous Silicon Valley high-technology research and development center.  Part of the 23-campus CSU system, San Jose State University enrolls approximately 30,000 students, a significant percentage of whom are members of minority groups.  The University is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.  For full consideration, send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching interests/philosophy and research plans, and at least three original letters of reference with contact information by December 1, 2014 to

Dr. Libra Hilde, Search Committee Chair,
Job Opening ID 23075,
Department of History, One Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192-0117.

“SJSU is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity employer committed to the core values of inclusion, civility, and respect for each individual.”
For full position announcement:  http://www.sjsu.edu/facultyaffairs/unit3/tenuretrack/Employment/index.html

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Job Opening: Japanese Studies, Assistant Professor

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:       University of Macau, The Centre for Japanese Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Location:          Macau
Position:          Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies

The University of Macau is the leading higher education institution in Macao, with English as its working language. In recent years, the University has been making great progress towards becoming internationally recognized for its excellence in teaching, research and service. With the beautiful new campus (20 times larger than the old one) becoming fully operational recently, the launch of Asia’s largest residential college system, the establishment of new schools, and the increasing numbers of students and faculty members recruited from around the world, UM provides great potential and exciting new possibilities for growth and development.

The Centre for Japanese Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies.

The Centre for Japanese Studies is an established and lively scholarly community with a strong international tradition for the teaching of Japanese language. In addition to its undergraduate BA programme in Japanese Studies, the Centre offers an undergraduate Minor in Japanese Studies, as well as possible PhD supervision across the range of the department’s expertise. The Centre has particular strengths in Japanese linguistics and anthropological approaches to Asian studies.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD in Japanese Studies or in a related area. Applicants should have an excellent record of internationally recognised research and publication and a demonstrated potential for outstanding research. Academic specialization is open. Applicants should have native or near-native fluency in Japanese along with experience teaching Japanese as a second/foreign language. A good command of English is also preferred. Applicants with administrative experience are especially welcome.

The selected candidate is expected to assume duty in August 2015.

Position and Remuneration

Remuneration and appointment rank offered will be competitive and commensurate with the successful applicants’ academic qualification, current position and professional experience. The current local maximum income tax rate is 12% but is effectively around 5% – 7% after various discretionary exemptions.

Application Procedure

Applicants should visit http://www.umac.mo/vacancy for more details, and apply ONLINE at Jobs@UM(https://isw.umac.mo/recruitment) (Ref. No.: FAH/APJS/08/2015). Review of applications will commence on 1st December 2014 and continue until the position is filled. Applicants may consider their applications not successful if they were not invited for an interview within 3 months of application.

The effective position and salary index are subject to the Personnel Statute of the University of Macau in force. The University of Macau reserves the right not to appoint a candidate. Applicants with less qualification and experience can be offered lower positions under special circumstances.

***Personal data provided by applicants will be kept confidential and used for recruitment purpose only***

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Job Opening: Asian Art History, University of San Francisco

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:       University of San Francisco
Location:          California, United States
Position:          Assistant Professor, Asian Art History, Tenure-Track

Job Summary:
The Department of Art + Architecture at the University of San Francisco invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor in the field of Asian art history, to begin August 2015. We seek candidates whose research examines the history of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian or South Asian art, who are conversant with the global intersections of art and who ideally possess museum experience.

Job Responsibilities:
Teaching Responsibilities include introductory Asian Art survey classes and undergraduate seminars on topics in Asian art history, as well as survey classes in the history of Western art. Pending experience, the successful candidate may also occasionally teach graduate seminars in Museum Studies. The teaching requirement is two classes per semester with a third class every fourth semester (2-2-2-3 over two years). There will also be regular, undergraduate advising responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications:
Qualifications include a Ph.D. in Art History with an emphasis in Asian Art at the time of appointment, and a strong record of excellence in research and teaching of Asian Art. Some museum experience is preferable but not required. The successful candidate will be expected to play an important role both within the Department that includes Bachelor of Arts programs in art history, architecture, design, and fine arts and a Master of Arts program in Museum Studies, and within the College of Arts and Sciences overall (which includes programs in Asian Studies and a Center for Asia Pacific Studies). The candidate must also demonstrate a willingness to work in a culturally diverse environment and an understanding of, and commitment to, support the mission of the University.

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: http://apptrkr.com/529483

EEO Policy
The University of San Francisco is an equal opportunity institution of higher education. As a matter of policy, the University does not discriminate in employment, educational services and academic programs on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except minors), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related and genetic-related) and disability, and the other bases prohibited by law. The University reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities under the law.

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Job Opening: Associate director, Center for East Asian Studies

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Institution:       University of Chicago, Center for East Asian Studies
Location:          Illinois, United States
Position:          Administrator; Associate Director, Center for East Asian Studies

Centrally located on the Hyde Park campus of the University of Chicago, the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) through its three Committees (Committee on Chinese Studies, Committee on Japanese Studies, Committee on Korean Studies) supports the broad research interests and activities of East Asia faculty at the University of Chicago. Providing financial and administrative support for faculty as well as for graduate and undergraduate programs, CEAS reflects the University’s strengths and ambitions in innovative engagement with the East Asia region across many disciplines. In addition, CEAS promotes initiatives to enhance knowledge of the cultures and societies of China, Japan, and Korea in the wider East Asian studies community beyond the University and among the general public. To this end CEAS sponsors conferences, workshops, public lectures, film series, cultural events, and other programs that make East Asia scholarship more broadly accessible and engage diverse publics.

Reporting to the Director of CEAS, the Associate Director oversees all administrative and financial functions as well as the development of a strategic operational plan to support the intellectual direction and programming determined by the Director and the three Committees. In consultation with the Director the Associate Director identifies funding opportunities, prepares grant proposals, and manages grants received, and supervises staff.

The Associate Director:

  • Oversees development and management of the budget, operations, communications, technology deployment, and personnel.
  • Serves as CEAS’s liaison to the administrative units of the University, including the offices of the Deans of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Library’s East Asia Collection, Global Initiatives, the College, Alumni Relations and Development, the Graham School, and others.
  • Oversees the affairs of the three Committees.
  • Facilitates communication and collaboration among the three Committees as well as between CEAS and relevant academic units, including departments, area study centers, library, global centers such as the Centers in Beijing and Hong Kong and the Center in Delhi, institutes such as the Paulson Institute, and others.
  • Oversees the organization and planning of CEAS’s programs (research projects, conferences, and an active schedule of events throughout the academic year).
  • Oversees CEAS graduate and undergraduate student aid programs.
  • Serves as the primary conduit of information and collaboration between CEAS East Asia faculty; the University administration; the East Asian studies units of peer institutions nationally and internationally; and the public, both in Chicago and nationally.
  • Develops a plan for public relations to best represent CEAS activities and accomplishments.
  • In consultation with the Director seeks new funding opportunities, writes grant proposals, and manages grants received from federal and private funding agencies.
  • Supervises the Assistant Director, and other staff as required.

To apply, please visit the University of Chicago’s Jobs board at jobopportunities.uchicago.edu and search for Requisition #097005. Alternatively, please use this link:

jobopportunities.uchicago.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=225949

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity / Disabled / Veterans Employer.

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Funding: 20th Century Japan Research Award 2014-2015

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Paula

money [150-2]The Nathan and Jeanette Miller Center for Historical Studies and the University of Maryland Libraries invite applications for two $1,500 grants to support research in the library’s Gordon W. Prange Collection and East Asia Collection on topics related to the period of the Allied Occupation of Japan and its aftermath, 1945-1960. Holders of a Ph.D. or an equivalent degree are eligible to apply, as are graduate students who have completed all requirements for the doctorate except the dissertation. The competition is open to scholars in all parts of the world and from any discipline, but historical topics are preferred. University of Maryland faculty, staff, and students may not apply. More information can be found on the Prange Collection website.

The application deadline is November 21, 2014.  The grant must be used by October 30, 2015. Grant funds will be disbursed in the form of reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, reproductions, and related research expenses. Such costs as computers or software are not eligible. Reimbursement will require submission of receipts for processing by the University.

All applications must be submitted electronically by attachment to millercenter@umd.edu with “Twentieth-Century Japan Research Awards” in the subject line. Applications must include a curriculum vitae and a two-to three-page description (double-spaced) of the research project. Applications from graduate students must be accompanied by a letter from the principal faculty advisor attesting to the significance of the dissertation project and to the student’s completion of all other degree requirements.

Materials in the Gordon W. Prange Collection include virtually all Japanese-language newspapers, news agency releases, magazines, pamphlets, and books dating from the period of Allied censorship, 1945-1949, in addition to over 10,000 newspaper photos.  There are also materials published by Chinese and Korean residents, most of which are written in Japanese.  Related collections in English include the personal papers of Charles Kades and Justin Williams.  Office correspondence documenting policies and decisions of the Publications, Pictorial, and Broadcast Division, Civil Censorship Detachment (Civil Intelligence Section), Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Japan, are complementary to official Occupation records housed at the National Archives, College Park.  Japanese newspapers and magazines from the Prange Collection are available for research on microform in the East Asia Collection.  Other Prange materials are made available for research in the Prange Collection reading area after consultation with the Prange Curator or Manager.  The East Asia Collection contains Japanese-language books published during the wartime period, scholarly monographs on Occupied Japan, and a wide variety of reference works.

A one-page summary of research findings is required at the conclusion of the grant period.

For further information about the collections, consult the following websites: http:/www.lib.umd.edu/prange and http://www.lib.umd.edu/EASIA/eastasia.html

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Book Announcement: Secrecy’s Power: Covert Shin Buddhists in Japan and Contraditions of Concealment

Posted on November 2, 2014 by LM

chilsonsecrecyspower

Via University of Hawai’i Press.

Secrecy’s Power: Covert Shin Buddhists in Japan and Contraditions of Concealment
Author: Chilson, Clark;
235pp. July 2014
Cloth – Price: $42.00
ISBN: 978-0-8248-3839-3

Shin has long been one of the most popular forms of Buddhism in Japan. As a devotional tradition that emphasizes gratitude and trust in Amida Buddha, it is thought to have little to do with secrecy. Yet for centuries, Shin Buddhists met on secluded mountains, in homes, and in the backrooms of stores to teach their hidden doctrines and hold clandestine rites. Among their adherents was D. T. Suzuki’s mother, who took her son to covert Shin meetings when he was a boy.

Even among Shin experts, covert followers were relatively unknown; historians who studied them claimed they had disappeared more than a century ago. A serendipitous encounter, however, led to author Clark Chilson’s introduction to the leader of a covert Shin Buddhist group—one of several that to this day conceal the very existence of their beliefs and practices. In Secrecy’s Power Chilson explains how and why they have remained hidden.

Drawing on historical and ethnographic sources, as well as fieldwork among covert Shin Buddhists in central Japan, Secrecy’s Power introduces the histories, doctrines, and practices of different covert Shin Buddhists. It shows how, despite assumptions to the contrary, secrecy has been a significant part of Shin’s history since the thirteenth century, when Shinran disowned his eldest son for claiming secret knowledge. The work also demonstrates how secrecy in Shin has long been both a source of conflict and a response to it. Some covert Shin Buddhists were persecuted because of their secrecy, while others used it to protect themselves from persecution under rulers hostile to Shin.

Secrecy’s Power is a groundbreaking work that makes an important contribution to our knowledge on secrecy and Shin Buddhism. Organized around the various consequences concealment has had for covert Shin Buddhists, it provides new insights into the power of secrecy to produce multiple effects—even polar opposite ones. It also sheds light on ignored corners of Shin Buddhism to reveal a much richer, more diverse, and more contested tradition than commonly is understood.

Nanzan Library of Asian Religion and Culture

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Job Opening: Advanced Associate or Full Professor to Head Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Advanced Associate or Full Professor to Head Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Oregon.

The College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oregon, invites applications for a tenure-track advanced associate or full professor to head the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL). EALL offers instruction in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and courses focused on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean linguistics, literatures, and cultures.  The department offers bachelor’s degrees in Chinese and Japanese, master’s and doctoral degrees in Chinese Literature and Linguistics; master’s and doctoral degrees in Japanese Studies; an undergraduate minor in Korean Studies (a major is being developed) and accepts master’s and doctoral students in Korean Studies.

We seek a well-published scholar and accomplished teacher and administrator whose research expertise will contribute to the vibrant East Asian Studies community at the UO, which emphasizes specific area studies as well as transnational perspectives. Requirements include a Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline, a current appointment as an advanced associate professor or full professor, and previous administrative experience. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to working with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds.

The successful candidate will serve as department head for a three-year term, with the possibility of continuation; will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in her/his area of competence; and will participate in graduate advising, including serving on M.A. and Ph.D. committees for EALL and associated departments. While the area of specialization is open, we have particular interest in scholars with expertise in one of the following areas: Japanese visual culture; premodern Japanese literature; Chinese visual culture; transnational media and culture. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Located 110 miles south of Portland, the University of Oregon has an enrollment of 25,000. The Eugene metropolitan area (pop. 215,000) is in a region noted for its dynamic quality of life and a progressive cultural environment.  We are about an hour’s drive from the Pacific coast and the Cascade mountains.  The university is an AAU research institution and a member of the PAC-12 conference.

Please submit a statement detailing research and teaching interests and administrative experience, a current curriculum vitae, a writing sample, and the names and contact information for three references towww.academicjobsonline.org  Applications will be reviewed beginning November 20, 2014, until the position is filled.  For inquires about the position, please contact the search committee chair, Associate Dean for Humanities Judith R. Baskin (jbaskin @uoregon.edu).

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status.

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Job Opening: Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Paula

job opening - 5Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture, University of Florida

The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track position in Japanese literature and culture, period open, beginning August 16, 2015. The successful candidate will contribute to the Japan track of the undergraduate B.A. in East Asian Languages and Literatures and will be able to contribute to the objectives of the University in the areas of interdisciplinary studies and internationalization through such activities as course development, curriculum enhancement and a dynamic research agenda.

Activities should synergize with programs beyond the department, such as Film & Media Studies, Medieval & Early Modern Studies, Women’s Studies & Gender Research, and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, which has an extensive Asia collection. Teaching duties will include courses on literature, culture, advanced language, and/or others as appropriate to area of specialization, such as visual media.

The Ph.D. is required prior to appointment. Native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and English is expected. The candidate should demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research.

Applications must be submitted on-line at http://jobs.ufl.edu/postings/57781 and must include a letter of application, CV, statement of current and future research plans, two sample syllabi or a statement of teaching philosophy, samples of peer or student teaching evaluations (as available), selected publications or writing sample, dissertation abstract and chapter outline, and three letters of recommendation. For full consideration, application materials should be received by November 30, 2014 and the position will remain open until filled.

Final candidate will be required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD). The recruitment/selection process will be conducted in accordance with Florida’s “Government in the Sunshine” and public records laws.

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