Japanese Culture Day

Schedule

2:30 pm: Osaka-ben (Osaka Dialect) Workshop

3:00 pm: Japanese Traditional Dance Performances

3:30 pm: Student Social

4:15 pm: Beyond Entertainment: Unveiling the Cultural Significance of Anime

Speakers:

Dr. Atsuko Hashimoto, Professor

Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, Brock University

Her main research interest have centred on socio-cultural, cross-cultural and human aspects of tourism development and sustainable tourism development in rural areas.

Ms. Kyoko Telfer

４th(Final) year at Huron University College, Department of Chinese, Japanese, and East Asia Studies

Research area: Japanese films 1920s to 1970s

 

Summary: 

What can you learn from watching Anime? Animated films are fun to watch, however viewers can get much more from anime in addition to enjoyment. In our presentations, Kyoko Telfer, (4th year student at Huron University College) will present a case study of Suzume no Tojimari (Director: Makoto Shinkai), integrating cultural trauma theory with textual filmic analysis to argue for the cultural value of such animated films in response to cultural concerns. Atsuko Hashimoto (Brock University) will argue the animated films reflect on a wide range of issues, such as social, political, philosophical issues; how anime fans are contributing to create a tourist destination based on the anime storylines; and how municipalities and governments in Japan are using anime films to boost local economy; and the national government is applying soft politics of anime to create a positive image and promote the nation.

Pre-event  Movie Screening 

すずめの戸締り　Suzume (2022) - English subtitles 

Date/Time: Thursday, March 21, 2024, 6:30pm

Place: EAS Lounge (Robarts Library 14th Floor)

Free Admission. T-Card required.

Seats are limited. First come first served. 

Registration for Movie Screening (Required): https://forms.office.com/r/LZjMS96Ldm.

As a lead-in to the screening of the 2022 film Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari), Professor Atsuko Hashimoto, from Brock University, will be speaking at the event hosted by the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto on the cultural significance of anime. Professor Hashimoto specializes in researching anime tourism and its effects on communities. She will be leading the course 'Anime Tourism' (TOUR 2P98) offered by Brock University's Department of Geography and Tourism Studies in the Summer 2024 session. This course explores the phenomenon of tourism driven by anime fandom, examining anime culture, the development of anime tourism destinations, and its impact, while also delving into the geography, history, culture, and mythology of Japan.