Look back: After Hours - Japan

JAPAN SEASON 2021

Part of the Humanities Cultural Programme, one of the founding stones for the
future   Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.

After Hours: Japan
Friday 5th November 2021

In collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford as part of Japan Season.

On Friday 5th November 2021 TORCH collaborated with the Ashmolean Museum for a special After Hours event, as part of the Humanities Cultural Programme Japan Season. For one night only TORCH took over the Ashmolean for an evening packed full of Japan-themed activities, performances and bite-sized talks. 

As visitors entered the museum, they were greeted with projections in the atrium of The Legend of Urashima Taro, one of the most well-known folk-tales of Japan brought to life through shadow puppetry, and Marewrew’s Voice - performance excerpts from a full film created by Eiko Soga (Artist and Researcher, Ruskin School of Art and St. John’s College, University of Oxford) as well as a short film from calligraphy artist Kaoru Akagawa. Also on display were a series of Japanese inspired photos, captured by Activate Intern, Nicole Lindsay.

Visitors could explore the galleries to find activities including a highly popular woodblock printing workshop, led by Graeme Hughes, to learn about the traditional technique with inspiration from the current exhibition - visitors also had the opportunity to make and take away their own work. Those wishing to see more from the Tokyo: Art and Photography exhibition were able to view additional works on display in the Eastern Art Study room with curator Clare Pollard.

Across the rest of the museum visitors could listen to bite-sized talks from Oxford researchers, or take part in interactive activities including Japanese prayer demonstrations, language translations or even taking part in J-Pop dance routines!

The Atrium was a musical focal point two beautiful performances throughout the evening. The first, a Koto and Shakuhachi duet performed by Justin Senryū Williams & Keiko Kitamura, mesmerised listeners with intricate compositions. The evening culminated with Marie-Gabrielle Rotie's powerful finale Butoh performance, with onlookers lining the stairs and the balconies to watch this fragmented collage of images transposed into the body. The performance was accompanied by dramatic music composed by Nick Parkin. 

For a full programme from the evening please go to the event listing here. 

HIGHLIGHTS REEL: 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qZqu2yp-y50

BITE-SIZED TALKS: WATCH AGAIN BELOW

IF ROBOTS STEAL OUR JOBS, WILL THEY ALSO TAKE OUT OUR TRASH?

How British and Japanese experts predict technological transformations in the domestic sphere.

Dr Ekaterina Hertog, and Dr Lulu Shi (Sociology of Japanese Society, Department of Sociology). Based on a paper co-authored by: Vili Lehdonvirta1, Lulu P. Shi1, Ekaterina Hertog1, Nobuko Nagase2, Yuji Ohta2 (1 Oxford University, 2 Ochanomizu. University)

JAPAN’S SHRINKING AND AGING POPULATION

The Japanese population is both aging and shrinking faster than any population has ever aged or shrunk outside war or plague. The population is already getting smaller by over 500,000 people a year (= Sheffield) and this will soon rise to 1 million a year (= Amsterdam). If people are living longer, why is the population shrinking? And what does it mean Japan will look like in 2065?

Professor Roger Goodman, Nissan Professor of Modern Japanese Studies

‘3.11’ TEN YEARS ON: REFLECTIONS FROM TŌHOKU

Over ten years have elapsed since ‘3.11’, the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima, and memories of the catastrophe still constitute part of the fabric of daily life in the former disaster areas. This talk considers how the disaster inspired a rethinking of regional identity in the Tōhoku region, with particular attention to post 3.11 literature. 

Dr Linda Flores, Associate Professor in Japanese, Oriental Institute, Fellow in Japanese and Welfare & Equality Fellow, Pembroke College University of Oxford

TORCH would like to thank the Ashmolean Museum and all participants who contributed to the evening, as well as the hundreds of visitors who joined us. If you attended this event, we would be grateful if you would fill in this short feedback form. Credits: Photography: Ian Wallman. Filming: Tim Hand Production AV: That Event Company

Find out more about  Japan Season 2021 – Humanities Cultural Programme.

After Hours: Dante

A second Ashmolean After Hours took place on Friday 26th November as part of Dante Season. Read more here.