MORNING PARALLEL SESSIONS A (10:00 – 10:40)
Using our Differences to Create Change English / 日本語
Avril Matsui
Foreign
Language Instructor, Faculty of Humanities and Society Sciences, Nagoya City
University
Session Details:
Using research into the experiences of Women of African
descent who teach in Japan, this workshop will examine difference through the
intersectional lens of race and gender. Issues of racial discrimination in
Japan can be difficult topics to bring up in the classroom. Therefore, the goal
of this presentation is to explore ways that we can, as teachers and role
models, encourage active discussion of this topic thus using difference to
promote change in perceptions and to increase awareness.
About the Presenter:
Avril Haye
Matsui is committed to creating communities and supporting women. To that end,
she has co-founded the support and friendship group Black Women in Japan and is
the creator of the Nagoya Women’s Empowerment Circle. In addition, she is
currently conducting research on Intersectionality among women of the African diaspora in
Japan. She lives in Aichi with her partner and two children.
ROOM 3A
Teaching
Concepts and Terminology Related to Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation in
the English-language Classroom
Margalit
Faden
Department of International
Studies, Tokai University
Session Details:
According to a recent survey by Dentsu of 60,000 people
in Japan between the ages of 20 and 59, about 80% of people support same-sex
marriages (Yamashita, 2019). Although there is growing visibility of the
LGBTQIA+ community and public support for same-sex marriage in Japan, confusion
remains over concepts and terminology related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
What can be done in the English-language classroom to promote clear
communication about these topics? This presentation will focus on describing
materials that can be used with intermediate English-language learners to
facilitate discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation and to
elucidate related concepts.
ROOM 301
Intercultural Relationships
in Japan: Dating the ‘Wrong’ Way Round
Eleanor Smith
Department
of Global Liberal Arts, Faculty of International Communication, Aichi University
Session Details:
This presentation will cover three main sections,
the first looking at gender stereotypes in Japan especially with regard to
western women, and how gender and racial stereotypes can play out in
intercultural relationships. The second section will delve deeper into the
effects such stereotypes can have on the women in these relationships,
particularly in reference to self-esteem and self-awareness. The final section
will identify if accepted fundamental relationship foundations are appropriate
for intercultural relationships between western women and Japanese men,
especially those carried out within the Japanese context.
About the Presenter:
Eleanor Smith is an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Liberal Arts, Faculty of
International Communication, Aichi University. Her research interests include
developing intercultural communication competency, identifying non-native
speaker English communication strategies, and analysing stereotypes in the
media.
ROOM 302
DV in Japan
- Men’s anti-DV Support
Lu Deting
PhD candidate of Osaka Jogakuin University Graduate School
Session
Details:
Men’s anti-DV support in Japan is gradually
being carried out yet faces problems such as lack of qualified supporters.
Based on the idea that DV should be taken a mutual issue, I put forward 2 main
therapy treatments — couple counseling, which helps to find out the real causes
of DV within the couples, and mixed group therapy treatment, which provides
opportunities for both sexes to get to understand each other instead of
drifting away. Through this discussion, I hope to exchange ideas and share
information about men’s anti-DV support in Japan.
1st FLOOR CAFÉ
MORNING PARALLEL SESSIONS B (10:50 – 11:30)
Is It
Language? Is It Culture? Is It Gender? Or Is It Just Me? English / 日本語
Gerry
Yokota
Professor, Graduate School of Language
and Culture, Osaka University
Session
Details:
When seeking to
understand the causes of miscommunication or conflict, one may consider various
differences, such as language, culture, or gender. As a person of mixed
ancestry, for example, I may feel excluded from a group I seek to identify with
and speculate about the causes of my inability to fit in, but my assumptions
may be wildly off the mark. In this session, we will explore how identities and
differences affect our interactions, taking cues from a cognitive poetic
approach to music. Depending on audience interest, discussion may include
possible applications to classroom activities for exploring notions about
diversity, inclusion and equity in intercultural communication.
About the Presenter:
Gerry
Yokota is Professor of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies at the
Graduate School of Language and Culture, Osaka University. Her research focuses
on the representation of gender in traditional and popular culture. She has
extensive experience in faculty and professional development, especially
harassment prevention and diversity awareness.
ROOM 3A
Not So
Happy Mr. Gay Japan
Tiger Shigetake
Human Rights Activist, Youth
Ambassador to United Nations, New York. Sophia University Student
Session Details:
I will be first speaking about my experiences growing up in
Japan as a homosexual male and the ordeals of attending Japanese schools whilst
being out, as well as the daily ordeals faced in Japan. I will then speak about
the activism at the United Nations as well as Human Rights Watch and Asahi TV
and the failure resulted due to the Japanese government. Finally, I would like
to speak about being a part of Mr. Gay World competition and compare and
contrast the injustice and rights of different countries (ex. Canada vs.
Namibia) along with what I believe is necessary in order to ensure the rights
of minorities. This will be the end of my presentation followed by a discussion
in the audience who could come up with other solutions in order to ensure these
rights.
ROOM 301
Sticking Out, Seeing Farther: The Power of Peculiarity in Contemporary
Japan
Ian M Roth, PhD
Faculty
of Foreign Studies, Meijo University
Session Details:
The nail that sticks out has a better view. Reimagined in this way, the proverb implies
something worth investigating.
Socio-cultural systems are products of the tension created by the
opposing pulls of progress and tradition, but the balance between them is a
precarious thing. Often the strengths of
those systems betray weaknesses that can be exploited. Through a combination of storytelling and
theory, this presentation explores the necessary role played by non-native
elements in maintaining the dynamic equilibrium of socio-cultural systems. It suggests that partially embedded actors
have the potential to do necessary good, and that it is their ethical
responsibility to act accordingly.
About the Presenter:
Ian M Roth holds an MS in International Education and a
PhD in Organizational Systems. He works
as a lecturer in the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Meijo University in
Nagoya. His research interests include
leadership, transformational learning, and educational systems design.
ROOM 302
Sharing Stories of Identity, Diversity and
Ideas for Community Building: An Interactive Discussion
Michi Saki
Associate
Professor, Department of English, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts
Session Details:
The purpose of this session is to provide a welcoming and
supportive space for participants to share their personal stories about
identity and diversity in their local communities. Participants are encouraged
to actively participate and join in group discussion. One aim of this session is
to offer participants various perspectives and ideas about ways to promote
diversity awareness in their local communities. This session also hopes to
provide participants with the opportunity to brainstorm ideas for
community-building and taking action from a grassroots-level.
About the Presenter:
Michi Saki, originally from Vancouver, BC Canada, teaches
in the Department of English at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in
Kyoto, Japan. She has worked in various areas of international education in Japan
for over 20 years. Saki is currently researching the education of ethnic
minority children and language learning support in Japan. Her other academic
interests are sociolinguistics with a focus on gender and language,
intercultural communication, and diversity issues in Japan.
1st FLOOR CAFÉ
MORNING PARALLEL SESSIONS C (11:40 – 12:20)
Support
for the LGBTQ+ Community in Japan English / 日本語
Andrea Carlson
Department of International
and Cultural Studies, School of Foreign Languages, Aichi Prefectural University
Session
Details:
We are not
yet a society in which diversity is widely understood, accepted, and
normalized. This, of course, has ramifications for how members of minority
groups are treated in schools, the workplace, and the community, and the ways
in which bullying, discrimination, and marginalizing behavior and practices
negatively impact the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and
adults with diverse backgrounds. In this presentation, we will consider some examples
of recent school and community-based initiatives in Japan and other countries
which aim to support the wellbeing and promote positive mental health outcomes
for children and adults in the LGBTQ+ community.
ROOM 3A
Becoming Legally Japanese: A Road to Belonging or Forever a ‘Gaijin’?
Eline Delmarcelle
PhD
student at Waseda University
Session Details: More and more long-term residents choose
to naturalize and become citizens of Japan. Besides the advantages and
disadvantages of their decision, how does their new citizenship affect their
belonging to Japanese society? Despite various experiences as foreign citizens
from various origins and professional backgrounds, all express alienation from
the “real Japanese”. Different types of relationships towards the nation emerge
in interviews, between naturalized Japanese who see Japan as their home for
life, and those who see Japan as a step in their life of migration. Overall,
they offer their own interpretations on what “being Japanese” and “Japaneseness”
mean.
About the Presenter:
Eline
Delmarcelle is a PhD student at Waseda University, working on naturalization
decisions of foreign-born Japanese and Belgian citizens.
ROOM 301
Immigration’s Children
Marcio Saiki
Teacher of Photography (ATEC), Former Principal (NPO
São Paulo School)
Session Details:
In
Brazil, Brazilians people used to say that I am Japanese, and here in Japan,
Japanese people say I am Brazilian, so who am I? For five years, I was the
Director of a Brazilian School in Aichi. Brazilian children from different ages
go to this kind of school instead of regular schools in Japan. Why does this
happen? First, it is very important to understand about how the Brazilian
immigration to Japan since 1990 occurred. Another thing to consider is that
this immigration is singular, very rare in the history of human relations, an
immigration to the home country of one’s parents or grandparents.
ROOM 302
Family Mart Porn
Tara Cheney
Osaka
International School of Kwansei Gakuin
Session Details:
The existence and widespread tolerance of Family Mart
porn made me wonder if anyone feels the insult, like I do? Is how I think about
Family Mart porn so different from how “mainstream Japanese” think? Will I
always be an “outsider” in Japan because of my equality
expectations?
Some discussion points:
- the
insidious nature of mainstream soft porn and how it alters society
- how
mainstream soft porn sells
- my
actions in Family Mart
- stereotypes
warping reality – aging society impact
- discriminatory
double standards within mainstream soft porn
- the
necessity of the soft porn “school girl”
“family values” and why Japanese women do / don’t object
to mainstream soft porn
1st FLOOR CAFÉ
PANEL: Youth Perspectives on Difference
(13:15 – 14:45) English / 日本語
Moderator: Avril
Matsui
Panelists:
Fred Mecklem, Osaka International School, Sheizaf Ume Lee Lugasi,
Canadian Academy, Ema Sakakibara, Association of Families and Friends of LGBT
NPO, Rennan Okawa, Osaka University
Room 3A
AFTERNOON PARALLEL SESSIONS D (14:55 – 15:35)
The Joys and Challenges of Raising Adopted and Foster Children in Japan English / 日本語
Dr. Melodie Cook
University
of Niigata Prefecture
Session Details:
Adopted
and foster children in mixed-roots families are quite uncommon in Japan. Like
other foster and adopted children, they are more likely to suffer from
emotional and learning disabilities, and may face extra burdens with regards to
their identities. In this presentation, I will talk about why foster and
adopted children may have issues with learning, share experiences of my and
other mixed-roots families in dealing with schooling in Japan, and offer
suggestions to teachers in how to treat such children as well as practical
suggestions for adapting common class activities.
ROOM 3A
A Different Kind of Mind
Sandra Healy
Kyoto
Institute of Technology
Session Details: This presentation will examine one
family’s experiences of dyslexia, a neuro-biologically based learning
difference, from a parent's perspective. Starting with an interactive experiment,
the presenter will try to simulate for participants how it feels to be
dyslexic. Then the presenter's family’s journey with dyslexia in Japan, and the
joys and challenges encountered along the way will be discussed. Finally, some
practical aspects, including the strengths of people with dyslexia and how
support can be provided in order to achieve happiness and success, will be
addressed.
ROOM 301
Growing Against the Norm
Chuck Kayser
Founder
of Midori Farm, Co-founder of Seeds
of Sustainability Kyoto
Session Details:
Living
more sustainably challenges the social norm. As climate change and other
environmental crises become more apparent we all face decisions on how to
ensure our future. These decisions challenge the status quo and could alienate
us from our social circles. Furthermore, how does one go about choosing a
source of information to trust? As an organic farmer dedicated to
sustainability, I struggle daily as I have adopted many lifestyle habits which
cause me to “stick out.” However, living for tomorrow is not so
difficult, and it brings so many rewards and new opportunities for health and
happiness.
ROOM 302
Navigating
Shifting Spaces: A Roundtable Discussion
Sarah Leck
Educator,
Stonewall Japan, Regional Leader in Kansai (2015)
Session Details:
What does it mean to be
queer in Japan – in personal interactions with people, in the workplace, in how
one is perceived by people here? What does it mean to be foreign, to be
desirably or undesirably foreign, visibly/ invisibly foreign, the differences
in experiences people have based on how they look? Is Japanese ability also a
liability, is there privilege in being (or pretending to be) ignorant of the
rules in the society we reside in? The boundaries of the spaces we can inhabit
are constantly shifting – how do we navigate that?
About the Presenter:
Sarah Leck
is a trilingual Singaporean who has lived and worked in Kobe City as an
educator for over 5 years. She has worked with Stonewall Japan as the Regional
Leader in Kansai (2015) to provide support for LGBTQ individuals. She has also
participated in music events organised by TELL Japan (NPO) as a bassist in her
band, to raise awareness of mental health issues and funds for the
organisation.
1st FLOOR CAFÉ
AFTERNOON PARALLEL SESSIONS E (15:45 – 16:25)
Living
with One Hand
Professor
Fiona Creaser
Department of English,
University of Kitakyushu
Session Details:
By telling people about my
experiences of living with one hand I hope to give the audience the opportunity
to see that being difference is something positive. My presentation will be
informal and relaxed, and I will explain the fun side of life as well the not
so fun side to having one hand. I will bring a couple of artificial arms and
appliances in for people to look at so that people can see how easy it is to
break down barriers and take control and embrace your own difference.
ROOM 3A
Wheelchair User or
Wheelchair-bound?: Better Representations of People with Disabilities in
Children’s
Literature
Suzanne Kamata
Associate Professor of English, Naruto
University of Education
Session Details: With the approach of the
2020 Tokyo Paralympics, people with disabilities in Japan have been given more
attention than perhaps ever before. English textbooks for Japanese children now
frequently include stories about or representations of people with
disabilities. Worldwide, initiatives such as #weneeddiversebooks and the call
for #ownvoices have led to an increase of children’s and young adult books featuring characters
with disabilities. That said, some of these representations, and the way that
they are discussed remain problematic. When do stories about disability become“inspirational porn”? What kind of language should we use when
discussing disability? Who has the right to tell these stories? In this
session, I will address these questions, using examples from recently published
Japanese textbooks and literature featuring children in Japan and other
countries, including my own work.
About the Presenter: Associate Professor of English at Naruto University of
Education, author of Squeaky Wheels: Travels with My Daughter by Train,
Plane, Metro, Tuku-tuk and Wheelchair, and several other books related to
disability.
ROOM 301
Discussing Language
Ownership and Identity in Japan
Elisabeth (Libby) Morinaga Williams
Osaka
University Graduate School of Human Sciences Doctoral Candidate, Instructor at
Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts
Session Details: This
interactive workshop aims to critically discuss events that influence the
identities of bilingual/multilingual minorities in Japan. It revolves around
the exploration of two primary questions:
1. Who is an “authentic” speaker of Japanese?
2. How do perceptions of language ownership affect
the identities of minorities in Japan?
In this workshop, we will critically discuss a
brief case study of a long-term multilingual resident of Japan and share our
personal experiences in relation to language and identity. This workshop also
hopes to be a positive space that allows us to embrace our own multilingual
identities.
ROOM 302
Stop
Pretending Not to Notice日本語 / English
Azusa Doi
Keio University Graduate School of Human
Relations
Leading Program Research Assistant
Session Details: I will report on LGBTQ activities at
graduate school and share my experiences. I worked as a midwife and learned
about the hardship of living as a woman and the pain of working with them while
keeping their sexual minority aspects hidden. My activity report includes the results
of an interview survey conducted by the Japanese Ministry of Education. I will
share two main issues: personal experience and diversity issues in Japanese
education. I do not intend to speak unilaterally and welcome the active
participation of the audience.
1st FLOOR CAFÉ
AFTERNOON PARALLEL SESSIONS F (16:35 – 17:15)
Who are the Nagoya Action Heroes?
Serena Ikai, Wakana Kitamura, Desmond (Desi) Pearlz &
Reiko Ueno
Nagoya
International School
Session Details: While we collectively identify as the 'Nagoya
Action Heroes,' the joys and challenges of our lived realities in Japan are
unique and different from each other. In this session, we will explore the
interconnectedness of power, privilege, visibility, and sometimes a sense of
dependence that comes from being who we are in our social contexts in Japan.
About the Presenters:
Nagoya Action Hero presenters Serena Ikai, Wakana
Kitamura, Desmond (Desi) Pearlz & Reiko Ueno all attend Nagoya
International School. Their newest member, Emmett Pearlz, is attending the
conference in support.
ROOM 3A
Distance and Difference as Creative Motivation: A Writer Looks at the
Challenges of Creating in Japan
Phil Norton
Kyoto
Sangyo University,
Poet
& Spoken-word Artist
Session Details: As a songwriter, poet and spoken-word
artist, language is my medium of creation. My writing style developed while
immersed in English language societies and Western culture. Upon settling in
Japan, it became necessary to reframe my version of self and revise my writing
process to suit my new situation. In this session, some performance pieces
written prior to settling in Japan will be compared with work written in Japan.
The challenges and process of writing these recent works will be discussed.
Participants will be invited to share their ideas on some of the thematic
elements of “home” and “distance.”
About the Presenter: Philip Norton is an
award-winning American/Australian poet who has published two collections of
poetry and released many recorded works. He is a recipient of the Newcastle
Poetry Prize for New Media Poetry, has performed at festivals around the world,
produced programs for ABC Radio National, and had work commissioned by the
National Gallery of Victoria. Musician website - www.preachermansays.com
ROOM 301
An Invisible Third Space: Implications of Cultural diversity on Japanese
Policy Making.
Emily Larcombe
Graduate
School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo
Session Details:
Whilst
postcolonial literature focuses heavily on Western legacies of imperialism,
little has been done to assess the Japanese postcolonial experience though such
theories. In this session we will discuss the dichotomy of visibility and
invisibility, examining the issue of cultural diversity representation in Japan
through the postcolonial lens of Homi Bhabha’s ‘Third Space’ theory. By
analysing citizenship and education policies, we determine to what extent law
and policy are effective mechanisms of ‘Third Space’ national reinscription.
This will be followed by an interactive discussion examining our own
experiences of diversity and proposing possible policies.
ROOM 302
Positive Attitude, The
Importance of Showing Love and Affection
Meira
(Homeira) Fatthi
Nagoya University of Foreign
Studies
Session Details: My session will focus on the importance of showing love
and affection to each other especially children. The young generation in
this country are facing many challenges. They are exhausted and hungry for
love. Home and school should be a safe and sacred place for children not a
place to be worried, feel nothing, use masks and not being able to be
themselves. I will explore these in details.
About the Presenter:
I am counsellor and social worker by trade from New
Zealand. I have been working with parents and families for the past 20
years in relation to parenting to all ages, relationships and family dynamics,
sexual abuse and domestic abuses. I am also human right activist and have been
involved to help and be the voice of others who needed assistance. I have
been teaching in Japan for the past 8 years. I have three children and
love to spend time with my family. I love to read, write, paint, take
pictures, travel and be with nature in my free time.
1st FLOOR CAFÉ