Japanese Modernity: The Particular, the Universal

Coordinator: Scot Hislop, Assistant Professor, Japanese Studies

Project Description and Scope

In order to create and sustain dialogues which transcend disciplinary boundaries, we propose to engage in a critical study of two works by Naoki Sakai, one of the premier intellectuals in Japan and North America today. We will begin with four chapters from Translation and Subjectivity in English in order to familiarize ourselves with Sakai's basic concepts and then move on a close reading of Kibô to Kenpô (Hope and the Japanese Constitution, in Japanese). Although most confirmed participants are united by their putative object of study, close readings of Sakai's work will enable us to cross the barriers of jargon and methodology that separate us on a daily basis as well as allow us to increase our knowledge of "theory" in ways which will inform not only our research but also our teaching.

Our initial goal was to invite Sakai to NUS to give a series of seminars after we had finished our reading but the price of a plane ticket from Ithaca, NY to Singapore plus per diem and accomodation exceeds the maximum we can apply for so we propose, should our reading group prove successful, to apply for funding from JSPS (Japan Society for Promotion of Science) to bring Sakai to Singapore.

Initial Reading List

  • "The Problem of Japanese Thought" from Translation and Subjectivity
  • "Return to the West/Return to the East" from Translation and Subjectivity
  • "Subject and/or Shutai and the Inscription of Cultural Difference" from Translation and Subjectivity
  • "Modernity and its Critique" from Translation and Subjectivity

The above four readings are in English and will be open to anyone in the university

  • Kibô to Kenpô (Hope and the Japanese Constitution) (one chapter per session, six chapters)

The above book is in Japanese so the six sessions will be open to anyone who can read modern Japanese

Meeting Schedule and Events

Our venue will be the Japanese Studies seminar room (AS 4-03-28) and we will meet at 3 pm on Friday afternoons. We will meet once every three weeks, taking turns to chair the reading group. We aim to finish our reading group by June 2010 so that we can apply for funding from Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) to invite Naoki Sakai to NUS to give a seminar series in 2011.

List of Participants

  • Thang Leng Leng/Japanese Studies (Gerontology)
  • Lim Beng Choo/Japanese Studies (medieval Japanese literature)
  • Timothy Amos/Japanese Studies (early modern Japanese history)
  • Ryoko Nakano/Japanese Studies (modern international relations)
  • Takiguchi Ken/Japanese Studies (Japanese performance and cultural exchange)
  • Yuasa Daisuke/Japanese Studies (20th century Japanese history)
  • Yuen Shu Min/Japanese Studies (gender and pop culture)
  • Kam Thiam Huat/Japanese Studies (pop culture)
  • Scot Hislop Japanese Studies (early modern Japanese literature)