Youth For Understanding USA High School Summer Study Abroad Scholarship 2012

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Laura

Youth For Understanding USA is offering scholarships for high school students interested in studying abroad in Japan for six weeks next summer. The deadline for applications is January 3, 2012— less than a month away! If you have been considering summer study abroad opportunities, be sure not to miss this great chance at scholarship support.

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Youth For Understanding USA (YFU USA) is able to offer hundreds of scholarships for high school students to study abroad in Japan for six weeks in summer 2012.

Students on the YFU program live with carefully selected host families, learn and practice their Japanese language, and experience Japan firsthand for six weeks next summer.

Qualified applicants (in particular students who have studied Japanese) are needed for the following summer programs to Japan, some of which are sponsored in part by the Japanese government:

Japan-US Senate Youth Exchange
Japan-American Friendship Scholars
Okinawa Peace Scholarship

Please refer interested students to the YFU website at www.yfu-usa.org for more scholarship information and an on-line application. Admissions staff can be reached by telephone at 1.800.TEENAGE with questions about the scholarships or application process. The application deadline is January 3, 2012.

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Call for Abstracts: UBC-UW Graduate Student Conference on Asian Policy and Humanities

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Paula

First Annual UW-UBC Asia Pacific Graduate Student Conference The Inter-Asian Equation: Exploring Policy and Humanities

University of British Columbia-Institute for Asian Research, Vancouver, BC, Canada April 21st and 22nd, 2012

The M.A. of Asia Pacific Policy Studies (MAAPPS) Graduate Student Association at the University of British-Columbia and the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington invite graduate students conducting research in disciplines related to Asian policy and culture to submit abstracts for our 2012 conference to be held at UBC.

The MAAPPS-Jackson School Graduate Student Conference is an annual event that provides an interdisciplinary forum for graduate students to exchange ideas and discuss current research on Asia. The conference allows young scholars to present their research to both their peers and to eminent scholars in Asia Pacific Policy Studies. The conference will also allow participants to meet others in their field conducting similar research and to forge new personal and professional relationships.

We welcome submissions from graduate students from all universities.
All papers should be related to Asia (broadly defined: South, SE, Central, East, North East, etc.). Applicants should indicate their panel choice from the following:

Economics and Societal Change/Civil Society
Environmental Policy
Humanities and History
Media Representations
Private sector (Business)
Security, Foreign Policy, and Diplomacy

In an effort to facilitate interdisciplinary and inter-university collaboration, we will be encouraging attending students to read papers carefully and be prepared to give feedback to their fellow participants.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines:

1.      Applicants must be currently enrolled in a program of graduate study.
2.      Papers must be related specifically to Asia.
3.      Abstracts must be no longer than 400 words and should be submitted along with your name, institutional and departmental affiliation, and the title of your presentation to uwubcasianstudies@gmail.com
4.      Some funding will be available for students requiring accommodations in Vancouver. Please indicate in your submission whether you would like to be considered for this financial assistance.
5.      The deadline for abstract submission is January 20th, 2012.
6.      Participants will be notified of the committee’s selections by February 3rd, 2012.
7.      Final papers should be submitted by March 19th, 2012.

For all submissions and/or questions please email uwubcasianstudies@gmail.com

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Job Opening: Advisor, Study Abroad (Asia/Eastern Europe)

Posted on December 18, 2011 by LM

Via HighEdJobs.com.

Institution: The University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, AZ
Application Due: Open Until Filled
Type: Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Study Abroad Advisor is responsible for advising on all matters relating to study abroad at the University of Arizona. The advisor handles the advising of students interested in studying in Asia and Eastern Europe and is responsible for increasing the number of students studying abroad in these regions. The advisor is also responsible for advising, admissions and orientation assistance for international exchange students coming to the University of Arizona. In addition, the advisor oversees the processing, review and awarding of the Study Abroad Travel Grant, maintains scholarship resources, and publicizes scholarship opportunities to UA students .

This position provides exposure to many aspects of study abroad and the field of international education as a whole. It is integral the UA Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange and requires the applicant to be organized, detail oriented, self-motivated, and perceptive to student and faculty needs regarding study abroad. The applicant must be able to multi-task in a dynamic, team-oriented and fast-paced office.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for employees and qualified family members; access to campus cultural and recreational activities; State and optional retirement plans, and more.

Please, no phone calls or e-mails.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

* Coordinate country-specific study abroad and student exchange program sites in Asia and Eastern Europe.
* Advise international exchange students from partner institutions, who will be studying at the UA.
* Advise university students regarding study abroad options by providing information and assistance related to specific program requirements, housing options, courses offered, financial aid procedures and other administrative details.
* Advise students regarding cross-cultural adaptation and health and safety issues in the designated advising regions before, during, and after study abroad.
* Assist students with the application process and process complete application materials using Studio Abroad.
* Maintain regular contact with UA faculty members and staff on existing and new programs. Communicate regularly with overseas program coordinators at international partner universities. Communicate extensively with students in person, through email and listservs and on the phone.
* Direct students to information regarding visa regulations.
* Develop and implement marketing and promotional activities and materials related to the assigned region.
* Maintain program information on website and manage student records in office and University databases.
* Oversee the processing, review and awarding of the Study Abroad Travel Grant.
* Maintain scholarship resources and publicize scholarship opportunities to UA students.
* Post tuition waivers for inbound exchange students.
* Oversee processing of UA transcripts for inbound exchange students.
* Other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

* Master’s degree.
* Proficiency in at least one language other than English.
* Experience working in an international education or higher education setting.
* Experience advising, teaching, leading or overseeing university students within an institutional or organizational setting.
* Proficiency with standard computing software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), Internet Explorer/Firefox, and working with databases.
* Experience living, working, and/or studying abroad for a minimum of 4-6 months.
* Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
* Ability to be flexible in work assignments.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* One to two years of experience working in international education.
* Proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, Russian and/or other Eastern European or Asian language.
* Experience living, working, or studying abroad in Asia and/or Eastern Europe for a minimum of 4-6 months.
* Experience working with Studio Abroad.
* Experience working with Drupal-based websites.
* Experience working with individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and under pressure.
* Excellent judgment and ability to deal with difficult situations.
* Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with a variety of local, national, and international constituencies.

For complete details and to apply on-line, please see job# 49132 at www.uacareertrack.com.

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Book Announcements: Modernism and Japanese Culture, Politics and Religion in Modern Japan, Rethinking Japanese Modernism

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Paula

Modernism and Japanese Culture

By Roy Starrs. New York and London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, 344 pages.

Paperback: $25, Hardcover: $80.
Webpages: UK: http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=360186; US:http://us.macmillan.com/modernismandjapaneseculture/RoyStarrs

Offering an in-depth and comprehensive account of the complex history of Japanese modernism, in this book Roy Starrs considers the concept of modernism as encompassing not just the aesthetic avant-garde but a wide spectrum of social, political and cultural phenomena. He looks at Japanese modernism from the mid-19th century ‘opening to the West’ until the 21st-century, globalized world of ‘postmodernism’; from the early Meiji ‘cult of modernity’ to the early Showa attempt to ‘overcome modernity’. In this way, the book presents the history of Japanese modernism not as a straightforward, linear narrative of progressive acceptance and adaptation but more as a dialectical, back-and-forth oscillation between the two poles of acceptance and rejection, modernism and anti-modernism. Furthermore, Starrs shows that Japanese modernism was not simply the outcome of the passive reception of a unidirectional modern Western influence but of a complex cross-cultural interchange between East and West, modernity and tradition. In particular, he shows that traditional Japanese culture was very much part of that cultural mix, and a prime source of inspiration for modernists in both Japan and the West. Thus the book also convincingly demonstrates that Japan served as an active agent at certain key moments in the history of world modernism.

Politics and Religion in Modern Japan

Red Sun, White Lotus. Edited by Roy Starrs. New York and London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, 344 pages.
Webpages: UK: http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?pid=385916.

Politics and Religion in Modern Japan addresses crucial religious, socio-political and cultural issues raised by the troubled relationship between religion and the Japanese state from the mid-nineteenth century until the present day. It analyzes political dynamics of both of the two major Japanese religious traditions: the ‘red sun’ of national Shinto as well as the ‘white lotus’ of Buddhism. From a richly diverse range of disciplinary perspectives, the authors illuminate the overall history of modern Japanese political religion, while also focusing in depth on certain key moments and issues: the Meiji Restoration, the fascist 1930s, the postwar age of new religions, the Yasukuni Shrine controversy, and two major incidents of religiopolitical violence in late twentieth century Japan. The work will appeal to students and scholars of Japanese politics, religion, history, literature, and culture, as well as to anyone interested in the currently pressing topic of the relation between politics and religion in the modern world.


Rethinking Japanese Modernism.

Edited by Roy Starrs. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2011, 549 pages. ISBN13: 9789004210035.
Webpage: http://www.brill.nl/rethinking-japanese-modernism

This collection of essays by an international group of leading Japan scholars presents new research and thinking on Japanese modernism, a topic that has been increasingly recognized in recent years to be key to an understanding of contemporary Japanese culture and society. By adopting an open, multidisciplinary, and transnational approach to this multifaceted topic, the book sheds new light both on the specific achievements and on the often-unexpected interrelationships of the writers, artists and thinkers who helped to define the Japanese version of modernism and modernity.
Specific topics addressed include the literary modernism of major writers such as Akutagawa, Kawabata, Kajii, Miyazawa, and Murakami, avant-garde modernism in painting, music, theatre, and in the performance art of Yoko Ono, and the everyday modernism of popular culture and of new urban activities such as shopping and sports.

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Job Opening: Position Non-Western Hist., Univ of Louisiana Lafayette, Instructor

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Paula

Institution: University of Louisiana – Lafayette, History
Location:   Louisiana, United States
Position:   Instructor of History, Non-Western, Non-Tenure Track Faculty

This is a non-tenure track, renewable, appointment in non-Western history.  Primary teaching responsibilities include undergraduate World Civilizations and/or U.S. History Survey courses. The ideal candidate will be able to periodically offer upper level courses in Asian or other non-Western history areas. Earned Ph. D. in History, from an accredited university with a specialization in a field of Asian or other non-Western history preferred; ABD considered. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and service. Teaching experience desirable.
The history curriculum at UL Lafayette offers an array of courses in history, representing areas of world civilization, public history, research methods, United States, European, Latin American and Asian history. UL Lafayette is located in Acadiana, the region of southwest Louisiana known for its Cajun and Creole heritage. It is one of 8 publicly supported universities in the University of Louisiana system. UL Lafayette consists of 9 degree-granting units-The College of the Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, General Studies, Nursing, Science and the Graduate School.  The University has an approximate enrollment of 16,300 students with a faculty of 618 and offers degree programs in 75 disciplines, the masters degree in 26 disciplines, and the doctorate in 9 disciplines.

Send letter of application, c.v., graduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and sample syllabi or other teaching materials, if available, to Dr. Robert Carriker, Chair, Instructor Search Committee, Department of History and Geography, Box 42531, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-2531. For initial consideration applications should be received by February 15, 2012. AA/EOE

Contact: Dr. Robert Carriker, Chair, Instructor Search Committee,
Department of History and Geography, Box 42531, University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-2531

Website: http://www.louisiana.edu

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Call for Papers: Cultural Translation and East Asia: Film, Literature and Art Conference

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Paula

Location: United Kingdom, Bangor, Wales
Date: September 7-8, 2012

The aim of this interdisciplinary conference is to focus on questions of cultural translation in all its forms and constructs. As global identity becomes increasingly defined by questions of communication across languages and cultures the role of translation becomes key in the forging of new subjectivities.

Topics could include (although are not limited to) :

1. Adaption in literature, film and media
2. Interplay between East Asian nations
3. Construction of East Asia as a theoretical/political/cultural concept
4. A focus on the interplay between East Asia and the West
5. Global Dissemination of East Asian Popular Culture.
6. Creative writing and literary translation as cross-cultural tool

We would especially welcome practice-led works from artists, translators, filmmakers and writers. Panel submissions (3-4 people) are also very welcome.

This conference is broadly considering Mainland China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to be the geographical area of focus however comparative studies are very welcome. There are plans for a special edition journal as a direct result of this conference.

Any questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact the organisers: Dr Kate Taylor-Jones (k.taylor@bangor.ac.uk) and Dr Yan Ying (y.ying@bangor.ac.uk)

https://sites.google.com/site/culturaltranslationbangorwales

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Fun Link Friday: Kanazawa in the Showa 30s (1955-65)

Posted on December 16, 2011 by LM

Image from the Hokkoku Shinbun Kohrinbo Rennaissance Project.

The Hokkoku Shinbun (北國新聞), one of Ishikawa’s local newspapers, is sponsoring the Kohrinbo Rennaissance Project (香林坊ルネッサンスプロジェクト), an attempt to revisit, archive, and preserve the history of at the shopping district of Kohrinbo from “good old days” of the Showa 30s (1955-65). One part of this project, and today’s fun link, is the Retro Photograph Hall–residents send their photos of Kohrinbo in the Showa period (mostly 30s and 40s) to the newspaper. They are collected online here.

The Showa 30s saw a nationwide economic boom–the postwar “Economic Miracle”–and this decade is looked upon fondly by many a retro aficionado. Recently in Kanazawa, many comparisons have been drawn to this period because of the development happening as part of the preparations to open the first shinkansen line to service the Hokuriku region, which will connect Tokyo to Kanazawa in 2014.

-Leah

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Job opening: Assistant Professor of Visual studies (contemporary Asian visual culture)

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Paula

Institution:   California College of the Arts, Oakland and San Francisco campuses
Location:   California, United States
Position:   Assistant Professor, full-time, tenure-track

ORGANIZATION:
Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is an independent art college with undergraduate programs in architecture, design, fine arts, visual studies, and writing.  The college also has graduate programs in architecture, curatorial practice, design, design strategy, fine arts, visual and critical studies and writing.  Through these programs, the college has created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment.  Diverse cultural perspectives enrich the CCA community and the college believes that continuing to expand the horizons of the students and faculty is essential to achieving its educational objectives.  With campuses in Oakland and San Francisco, CCA currently enrolls 1,930 full-time students.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
The Visual Studies Program, housed in the Division of Humanities & Sciences, prepares the colleges undergraduate students to engage critically with global visual culture of the past and present. Through its major/minor curriculum, as well as through general education requirements, the program trains students to contextualize, analyze, evaluate, and interpret imagery and objects of all kinds. Coursework covers the traditional fine arts of painting, sculpture, architecture, design, photography, and the graphic arts as well as television, film, commercial and journalistic imagery, zines, video, the web, and other artifacts of popular culture. The Masters program in Visual and Critical Studies examines the role of images, artifacts, and visual experiences in contemporary society, emphasizing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural study, historical grounding, social and political analysis, and the artistic aspects of written communication.

POSITION SUMMARY:
CCA is seeking candidates for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professorship in the field of contemporary Asian visual culture, to begin August 2012. The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in art history or visual culture. Candidates publication record and teaching interests should primarily focus on East and/or Southeast Asia, but engagement with and knowledge of the contemporary visual culture of Western Asia is desirable. Research/teaching can be address any area of the fine arts, popular visual culture, or media arts, and demonstrated interest in issues of race, gender, ethnicity, or other categories of difference will be privileged in the selection process.

In keeping with the colleges commitment to diversity, community engagement, and social justice, we seek candidates who cultivate an equitable, diverse scholarly environment and curriculum. We value collaboration, intellectual flexibility and creative approaches to scholarship and to teaching. Teaching load is five courses per academic year (typically 2/3); active participation in program assessment/development and committee service is required. Visual Studies faculty teach the programs general education requirements, including introductory historical surveys, sophomore-level electives, and capstone seminars. Candidates may also have occasional opportunities to teach at the graduate level in the Visual and Critical Studies program and elsewhere.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Successful applicants for this full-time academic position will be expected to have completed a PhD in a relevant field at the time of their appointment and to show evidence of effective teaching or equivalent experience in a cultural organization. Must demonstrate achievement and potential to make significant contributions in the applicants specific field of research. Leadership ability and, especially, commitment to collaboration are required.

SALARY:  Commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Postmark deadline for applications is January 2, 2012.
NOTE:  If you wish to be notified of the status of your application for this position, please provide a current email address on your resume or cover letter.

application instructions:
Only candidates seeking an assistant professor-level position should apply.

Interested candidates should submit the following (preferably via email):
1) PDF #1:
Cover letter (please indicate if you plan to attend CAA);
CV;
One-page statement of research interests;
One-page statement of teaching philosophy.

2) PDF #2:
Writing sample.

3) Letters from three professional references under separate cover(s) or as a third PDF.
Email materials to employment@cca.edu or mail to:

California College of the Arts
Human Resources (Job # 2065)
5212 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94618-1487
Fax (510) 594-3681
employment@cca.edu

If there are multiple attachments, we recommend compressing/zipping your files into a zip format file.  Documents larger than 10MB, should be submitted on CD and forwarded to CCA as indicated above.

CCA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.

Contact: employment@cca.edu
Website: www.cca.edu

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Call for Papers: The Asian Conference on Literature and Librarianship, LIBRASIA

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Paula

Osaka, Japan, April 5-8, 2012
The Asian Conference on Literature and Librarianship 2012

Location: Osaka, Japan
5-8 April 2012

**Deadline for submission of abstracts extended: February 1 2011**

As the country that gave the world the novel one thousand years ago, and subsequently haiku and manga, Japan’s long and rich literary history make it an ideal place to bring together academics, writers, and librarians to celebrate, debate, and explore their common passion.

The aim of this International Conference is to encourage academics, scholars and practitioners representing an exciting diversity of countries, cultures, and religion to meet and exchange ideas and views in a forum encouraging respectful dialogue. By bringing together a number of university scholars working throughout Japan, Asia, and beyond to share ideas, LibrAsia 2012 will afford the opportunity for renewing old acquaintances, making new contacts, and networking across higher education and beyond.

LibrAsia 2012 is not only an academic conference, but will again this year offer a number of talks, workshops, and readings of original works, in an exciting long weekend of interdisciplinary and intercultural discussion. The Land of the Rising Sun offers an amazing juxtaposition of cultures, of east and west, of religious and secular, and of course of the Exchanges and Encounters of the conference theme.

FEATURED SPEAKER: TBA

**Deadline for submission of abstracts extended: February 1 2011**

Results of abstract reviews returned to authors: Usually within two weeks of submission

Deadline for submission of full papers: May 1 2012
Deadline for full conference registration payment for all presenters: March 15 2012
Conference Programme Published Online: March 25 2012

Librasia Conference: April 5-8 2012
Osaka, Japan

Enquiries: librasia@iafor.org
Web address: http://librasia.iafor.org/
Sponsored by: The International Academic Forum (IAFOR)

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Winter updates

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Paula

Ahhh the semester is over! That means it’s time to update our site content, answer emails, and get cracking on new articles, reviews, and sources for you all.

Here’s our winter-cleaning updates:

  • The FLF (Fun Link Friday) page is now fully updated.
  • The Articles page is now fully updated.
  • We updated the Funding (Grad/Professional) to include a science fellowship.
  • We added a section “Library Travel Grants” to the Funding section. (If you work for an institution that offers annual library travel grants related to Japanese studies, let us know and we’ll add it to the list!)
  • We’ve also updated our Link Exchange page to include the following blogs that were kind enough to add us (sorry for the delay in adding you back!):

Teaching Japan: Pedagological Possibilities in U.S. Higher Education
http://www.teachingjapan.org/

外国人と能 Gaikokujin to nō (My journey into Noh theatre)
http://nohtheatre.wordpress.com/

Naruhodo なるほど
http://naruhodo.weebly.com

Don’t forget that we’re also looking for writers! If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to email us at shinpai.deshou@gmail.com.

Have a great break everyone!

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