Contact: Michiko Yusa, professor, WWU Modern and Classical Languages Dept., (360) 650-4851, Michiko.Yusa@wwu.edu
BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University's Japanese Program will host the 13th annual Japan Week from April 27 through May 1.
This year's theme, "Women in Japan," focuses on current and historical gender issues in Japan through lectures, discussion and film.
The changing role of women in the Japanese workplace is among the many gender issues that will be discussed. While an increasing number of Japanese women are pursing long-term careers, traditional business practices and institutions make it difficult for career-oriented women to get married or gain acceptance in the workplace, said Michiko Yusa, Western professor and chair of Japan Week.
"While I think the professional environment is improving slightly for Japanese women, the actual situation seems to be much more complex," Yusa said. "Unless the social and legal situation improves for young Japanese women, the birthrate will continue to remain low and the government will face mounting difficulties."
Events include lectures, a bilingual speech festival and showings of classic Japanese films. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information on Japan Week visit http://www.wwu.edu/japanweek/.
Monday, April 27
4-4:10 p.m. - Japan Week will commence with an opening ceremony in Science Lecture Hall 150.
4:10-6 p.m. - Directly following the commencement there will be a series of bi-lingual presentations in a student-faculty symposium in Science Lecture Hall 150. Speakers include Western students, exchange students from the Asia University America Program (AUAP) and Western faculty.
7-9 p.m. - Librarian Jeff Purdue will host a showing of "Gion no Kyōdai," or "Sisters of the Gion," in the Wilson Library Presentation Room. "Gion no Kyōdai," a 1935 film by famed director Mizoguchi Kenji, tells the story of two sisters struggling to survive as geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto. Purdue will lead a discussion after the film.
Tuesday, April 28
Noon - Julia Sapin of WWU's College of Fine and Performing Arts will present a lecture titled "Advertising Women: Department-Store Posters and Gender Construction in Japan, 1890-1940."
2-3:50 p.m. - Visitors may sit in to observe Japanese 403, Topics in Japanese Thought. The class is taught entirely in Japanese by Michiko Yusa in Academic Instructional Center West room 412.
7-9 p.m. - Librarian Jeff Purdue will host a showing of "Nagareru," or "Flowing," in the Wilson Library Presentation Room. "Nagareru," released in 1956, is about a woman trying to preserve her geisha house in Tokyo. The film, by feminist director Naruse Mikio, details how women struggled to survive without financial support from men. Purdue will lead a discussion after the film.
Wednesday, April 29
All day - Visitors are invited to sit in to observe any of the courses below:
Japanese 103, First-year Japanese:
- 9-9:50 a.m. in Humanities Building room 103 with Masanori Deguchi.
- 12-12:50 p.m. in Humanities Building room 103 with Hiromi Suzuki.
- 2-2:50 p.m. in Humanities Building room 110 with Hiromi Suzuki.
Japanese 203, Second-year Japanese:
- 10-10:50 a.m. in Humanities Building room 110 with Massimiliano Tomasi.
- 2-2:50 p.m. in Humanities Building room 242 with Nancy Iwakawa.
Japanese 303, Third-year Japanese:
- 12-12:50 p.m. in Academic Instructional Center West room 302 with Michiko Yusa.
East Asian Studies 368, Japanese Literature in Translation:
- 1-1:50 p.m. in Bond Hall room 417 with Massimiliano Tomasi.
4-6 p.m. - Students who have studied abroad at Asia University, Obirin University, Tsuda College, Nagoya Gaidai and KCP International will share their experiences and answer questions. Anyone interested in studying abroad in Japan will benefit from this gathering.
Thursday, April 30
4-5 p.m. - The Japanese conversation club welcomes guests to join them in Bond Hall room 106.
7-9 p.m. - Come join a special event conducted by exchange students from the Asia University America Program in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.
Friday, May 1
4-6 p.m. - Western's Center for International Studies presents "Gender Roles in Japan and the U.S." in Miller Hall room 232.
For more information on Japan Week, contact Michiko Yusa, professor, WWU Modern and Classical Languages Dept., at (360) 650-4851.
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