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CJS Lecture Series | Differences between Japan and China: Perspectives from Japanese Journalism, 1980 - Present

Seiichiro Aso, Journalist, Japan
Thursday, September 30, 2021
7:00-8:30 PM
Off Campus Location
Note that this event begins at 7pm, Ann Arbor time. This talk will be delivered in Japanese with English translation.

This lecture covers differences between Japan and China, including relationships between the press and government, questions of Western and non-western tradition, etc. This talk is informed by Aso’s work in journalism and the NPO AsiaCommons.

This speech mainly discusses the differences in the mentalities of the Chinese and Japanese public through reviewing and revisiting the anti-Japanese protests in China in 2004 and 2012. Such demonstrations seem to have more impact on the Japanese people than on the Chinese people. It is said that after these protests, the Japanese society basically feels dismayed at the Chinese people. My talk is to explore the reasons for such differences. I will address some interviews I had with the artists living in Beijing Artist Village in the 1990s and civil society in the 2000s in order to illustrate the unique relationship between the Chinese government and its citizens as well as the ideas of Japanese people about this issue. In addition, with the above analysis and conclusions, I will talk about the future non-governmental exchanges between China and Japan and Japan’s considerations on Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Chinese ethnic relationship, and its democratization progress. If there is enough time, I will introduce the NPO activities we have sponsored and organized.

Seiichiro Aso was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1966 and graduated from the Department of Literature, Tokyo University. He has written many articles about Chinese civil society, Chinese modern art, and interpersonal relationships between Japan and China. Aso established NPO AsiaCommons, which promotes interpersonal relationships in East Asia.

His publications include "The Beijing Art Village”, “The Passion of Chinese”, “Modern China which Japanese news media does not report”, among others. He recently delivered two lectures, “Interpersonal Relationships between Japan and China” and “Modern Chinese Culture” at Kanagawa University and Saitama University.

Please register for the Zoom event here: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eeCr4BsDRIub4cUAz9Qefw

This colloquium series is made possible by the generous support of the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
Building: Off Campus Location
Location: Virtual
Event Type: Livestream / Virtual
Tags: China, Japanese Studies, Journalism
Source: Happening @ Michigan from Center for Japanese Studies, International Institute, Asian Languages and Cultures

International Institute Programming

The International Institute’s centers sponsor numerous conferences, lectures, exhibits, and cultural performances throughout the year. These events are designed to educate the university community and the public about global issues and inspire discussion and dialogue. 

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