Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ) 2023 Conference at Meiji Gakuin University Shirokane Campus, December 2-3

Subtitle: アレ！VAOJ@AJJ 2023...

Once again, the AJJ is meeting with a wide range of interesting participants, research topics and presentations. Of special note is a two panel first book launching of the forthcoming book, Teaching Japan: A Handbook (MHM Limited/Amsterdam University Press, forthcoming 2024). Many of the contributing authors will be presenting their individual chapters; one author will talk about teaching the visual anthropology of Japan. The conference will also award the inaugural Harumi Befu and Mark Bookman prizes for emerging scholars. And John McCreery will be giving the keynote address, “Is Japan Doomed? And Anthropology?” You can find details at the url below.

Conference information: https://www.ajj-online.net/2023/11/15/programme-for-2023-annual-meeting/

UPDATE: Unfortunately, our VAOJ guy was diagnosed with Corona and influenza. So he has had to pull out of the AJJ.

Late afternoon autumn lighting...

Hanshin Tigers Victory Parade in Osaka (11/23/23); photos by Gern Blanston

As I, along with my fellow faculty, staff and students, were required to work on the Labor Thanksgiving national holiday, I was fortunate that my good friend, Gern Blanston, was in town. He went to the Hanshin Tigers Victory Parade in Osaka. The photos on this post are by him (Thanks Gern!). He reported to me that because of the crowd size, it was difficult to get good photos of the parade itself. So he focused on the crowd. 350,000 fans were reported to go to the parade in Osaka. You can find many photos of the parades in Hyogo and Osaka for Hanshin (Central League Champs and winner of the the Japan Series) and the Orix Buffaloes (Pacific League Champs), both Kansai teams, online.

Information about the Victory Parades for the Hanshin Tigers (and Orix Buffaloes): https://hyogo-osaka-victoryparade2023.com/

Saw this driving to work today (on the outskirts of Hirakata-shi, Osaka)

What is this?

When my wife saw it, she called it a zombie bus. With a little checking I found out she wasn't far from the truth. A little late for Halloween, but it's a haunted bus!

Japanimedia: The world's first large bus-type haunted house "Obakebus by ZAUNTED" appears.

https://japanimedia-ex.com/blog/the-worlds-first-large-bustype-haunted-house-obakebus-by-zaunted-appears/

OBAKEBUS: High-speed self-propelled realistic abandoned bus haunted house “Obake Bus”

https://obake.red/travel/bus/

The Tigers Win!

Food Terrorism and Japanese Baseball: A Hanshin Tigers Case Study@SWCAS 11/4/23

Presenting at SouthWest Conference on Asian Studies.

Virtual Panel 4.2 Understanding East Asia:
Language Differences, Japanese Baseball, and Beyond
Saturday, November 11, 2023, 7:30 - 8:45 AM

Abstract: The term “food porn” describes cuisine related media with sensual content intended to provide unattached pleasure and gratification for viewers. Japan has a similar term, meshi tero (“food terrorism”) that differs slightly in that it implies more of a deliberate attack or form of harassment that creates yearning, jealousy or resentment, causing victims to seek and indulge in delicious refreshments. There are many examples of such media in manga, anime, books, television dramas and online social networks. This presentation explores a different and unexpected setting, Japanese professional baseball food and drink, using the popular Hanshin Tigers baseball team and their stadium gourmet menu campaigns as a case study. This examination will add to previous research that investigates pre- and post-COVID 19 intersections of eating/drinking behavior and food terrorism media representations.

For more information: https://www.swcas.net/

The timing is perfect; Hanshin is up 3 games to 2 vs. the Orix Buffaloes in the Japan Series. Eat, drink and Go Tigers!