The 67th GJS Seminar
Shuri Castle: The Character and Significance of its 1992 Restoration
and 2019 Destruction

Date and time: June 16, 2020 (Tue.), 4:00-5:00PM
Venue: Online (Zoom Webnar)
Speaker: Travis Seifman (Postdoctoral Project Researcher, University
of Tokyo Historiographical Institute)

Language: Japanese
This is an online event with Zoom webinar. Please register here:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IkJ9dafhSZ6yNfSaduuP8Q

Abstract:
The destruction of the central structures at Okinawa's Shuri castle in
October 2019 spurred new discussions about the meaning and
significance of the site - the former royal palace of the Ryukyu
Kingdom - restored and opened to the public in 1992 for the first time
since its destruction in 1945. Some see the restored castle as a mere
tourist attraction, and a false reproduction of an authentic structure
irrevocably lost; others see it as a symbol of the rich heritage,
vibrant culture, and glorious history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and of
the resilience and revival of its people.
Drawing upon newspapers and other materials both from around the time
of the restoration in 1989-1992, and from before and after the tragic
2019 fire, as well as conversations with Naha/Shuri residents today
and others, I explore the meaning and significance of the site for the
people of Okinawa, as well as their understanding of its authenticity
and character.
In the process, I also question how we might understand Shuri castle,
as it was operated from 1992 to 2019 and as it will presumably be
operated again, within a context of Public History or Museum Studies.
Were the buildings restored in 1992 and destroyed in 2019 a "museum"?
How can a comparison with historic house museums, castle museums, and
other institutions in mainland Japan and around the world provide
insights into the character of the site as a venue for tourism,
education, cultural activities, and how does its deeper cultural
significance figure into this?

http://gjs.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/events/post/20200616_gjs_seminar/
Organizer: The Global Japan Studies Network (GJS)
Co-organizer: Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA)
Contact: gjs[at]ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp