Sasakawa Studentship Showcase Evening

Join us for an evening of student research presentations and discussions about contemporary Japanese Culture, hosted by the Europe-Japan Research Centre.

Tara Ferguson will present their Masters by Research topic, 'The Presentation of Ainu Identity in British Museums and Exhibitions.'

The Ainu are an Indigenous group hailing from what is now considered to be Japanese and Russian territory. This talk explores how Ainu identity is presented in British museums and exhibitions, evaluating displays and their curation. Analysing these institutions through a decolonial lens, I consider the extent to which Ainu ontologies have shaped displays; how colonial history is presented; and current levels of Ainu-museum collaboration. While Ainu involvement in their representation is ever-increasing, modes and levels of decolonisation vary widely across institutions, challenging us to consider what effective decolonisation truly entails.

Tara completed their Masters by Research in Japanese Studies after their successful viva in December 2024. They were the 2023 recipient of the Sasakawa Studentship. While their interests are wide-ranging, they are passionate about Indigenous rights and the power of self-representation for misunderstood and/or marginalised groups.

Next, Sarah Caulfield will present their ongoing research titled: '“A safe place to exist”: English for Social Communication in the Kansai Hikikomori Community.'

Synopsis: Hikikomori is the name for a deeply stigmatised condition that the DSM-5 consider a culture-bound syndrome, originating in Japan but existing symptomatically worldwide. Characterised by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by ‘a lack of social participation, including work, school attendance, and socialising outside of the home’, it is considered a form of chronic social isolation that can last for years or decades at a time. Most of the research into hikikomori has historically and rightfully concerned itself with the causes of this condition. However, this study looks at applying action research methods to working collaboratively with hikikomori communities in the Kansai area of Japan to develop a community space designed for their needs. It looks also to combine English as a Second Language skills with the development of this space.

Sarah Caulfield is a Masters by Research candidate at Oxford Brookes University and a recipient of the 2024 Sasakawa Studentship. They hold a M.A. (Cantab) in Education with English and Drama, and have taught English professionally in the UK, Japan, and Germany.

Presentations will be followed by discussion.
If you cannot attend in person, you can join via Zoom here.