Dear All,


I have working with various environmental groups in Tokyo and attempting to build an environmental movement in Toyo University where I teach in the Dept. of Global Innovation Studies.


I found the discussion of Professor Jeff Broadbent interesting and provocative.
I would like to touch upon the authoritarian aspects of Japanese university education where students are schooled for obedience and alienation.


At Toyo University, for example, a student was threatened with expulsion last year for merely showing up on campus with a sign protesting the neoliberal teaching of one of the professors in my department.

Ever since the student revolts of the 1960s and 70s, students have been basically forbidden any political activity. The importance of US dominance over Japan should not be ignored. Most Japanese realize that Japanese international relations are dictated by the US, as the removal in 2009 of PM Hatoyama for having dared to resist the US militarization of Okinawa reminded us. Students are led to believe that all decisions are destined forever to be made top-down. Students are meant to take orders from teachers, who take orders from corporations and government officials, who take orders from the US.


Students consequently rarely complain however meaningless or absurd the content of a particular course. They are rather encouraged to sit quietly and demonstrate discipline. One of the metrics for measuring an effective class is the ability of the teacher to shut down 私語, or private discussions among students.


Professors often demonstrate the same timidity. Many appear terrified of discussions of taboo issues, such as the Emperor's war responsibility, the Nanking massacre, forced Korean labor or the 'comfort women'. As a consequence, universities are among the most politically sterile of all the communities in Japan. Among various activist groups dedicated to LGBT rights, feminism, indigenous rights or the environment, vigorous debates occur that would be unimaginable in universities.


Although over 7,000 universities around the world have declared ecological and climate emergencies, in Japan I have been unable to find a single example of similar commitment.


Although I have written a very negative assessment, I am actually working actively to address these issues. Rather than wring our hands or assume a position of moral superiority,

I have found some success by entering into dialog with students and trying to remove obstacles to their taking more active control of their education. I have found that I can serve as a conduit uniting them with committed Japanese activists, who normalize political, ethical behavior for them.


On November 23rd and 24,
I will be hosting a conference at Toyo University that will bring together activists, educators and students to discuss issues of equity and social justice. The first day will be held in accordance with a more traditional academic conference, though we are moving to make it bilingual this year, and I am actively working to ensure that many activist present as well as scholars. (See attached Call For Papers)


The second day, however, is student run and student centered, involving activist speaking on environmental issues, Okinawan rights and feminist issues.


I have much more information, and I hope that some of you will consider joining and bringing students with you. My feeling is that many studnents are low risk-takers, meaning that they prefer to be active within a similarly behaving group. This suggest that if we can achieve a tipping point, we can expect to go from close to zero participation to overwhelming support very quickly.


The theme of this year's event "Yonaoshi" dates fundamentally to the Edo period. The point I want to emphasize is that, under authoritarian Edo rule, villages revolted en mass. Individual revolts were easily suppressed, so it made sense to rebel collectively. If this pattern holds true today, we need to find ways to entice whole classes or cohorts to begin taking small, low-risk steps leading toward stronger action.


Apologies for this unduly long email. I hope interested parties will feel free to contact me for more information