National Graduate Institute For Policy Studies (GRIPS)

Dear SSJ-Friends,

We are pleased to invite you to the next GRIPS Forum at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies on November 12.

*Please register at gripsforum@grips.ac.jp by November 9th (Fri) without changing the title.
*If you are arriving by a private car, please let us know the car information (type, color, and number) in advance so that we can register it for campus entry permission.

Date: Monday, 12th November, 2012
Time: 16:40-18:10
Venue: GRIPS　Sokairo Hall, 1st Floor
Speaker: Dr. Tamotsu Aoki, Director General, The National Art Center, Tokyo,
Theme: “The Age of Cultural Power-Culture and International and Regional Relation in 21st Century Asia”
Language: Japanese, (English simultaneous interpretation provided)

There is continuous debate about political, economic and military power, but hardly anything is said about the power of culture. In fact, the phrase is not even used. But that is strange, because without culture, there would be no such things as values, hope and joy in life - all things that are necessary for a person to live. There needs to be much more thought, discussion and debate in regard to culture and its power.
In 21st century Asia, cultural exchanges at many levels have become popular. Each nation and region has finally started to recognize the power of culture, and begun to focus energy on the creation and promotion of culture.
While this trend is to be welcomed, there is much more work that needs to be done in order for Asia to truly achieve a full-fledged "Age of Cultural Power." That is because the power of culture is what will build a foundation for peace and development for the 21st century in Asia. In this lecture, I would like to look at the issues involved in cultural power from various angles.

Speakers’ Profile:
Dr. Aoki is a Former Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan. He was awarded a Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2000 by the Government of Japan.
A cultural anthropologist, he was President of Japanese Cultural Anthropological Society. He was educated in anthropology at the University of Tokyo (BA. And MA.) and Osaka University(Ph.D) and has taught at Osaka University, The University of Tokyo, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and Aoyama Gakuin University where he is currently a Special University Professor.
Dr. Aoki was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Visiting Professor at Ecoles des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris and Konstanz University in Germany.
Dr. Aoki has conducted extended anthropological fieldwork in Southeast Asia, China and Europe.
Among his many publications Dr. Aoki’s two books were awarded (“Changes of the Discourse on Japanese Culture since the End of War in 1945” for Yoshino Sakuzo Prize and “The Symbolism of Ritual” for Suntory Academic
Prize)

*** GRIPS Forum ***
Since its establishment in 1997, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), as the only graduate school in Japan specializing in policy research, has promoted education and research on a wide range of policy issues.
Utilizing our vast policy network, this Forum invites leaders from various fields including government, academia and business, as well as staff from our own faculty, to deliver lectures on current policy concerns.
The Forum welcomes attendance of GRIPS faculty and students as well as participants from outside the university. Simultaneous interpretation will be available (Japanese/English).

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For registration and inquiries, please contact: Ms. Iso

gripsforum[at]grips.ac.jp or 03-6439-6037
http://www.grips.ac.jp/
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