As part of the MJSP Spring/Summer Lecture Series 2026, on June 25 Prof. Paul Hansen (Akita University) delivered a lecture entitled “A Cosmopolitical Countryside: One Health, Wellbeing and Ikigai on the Frontiers of Japan”. Focusing on Tokachi in East Hokkaido, he provided fascinating insights into regional history, ethnographic descriptions of humans and non-humans and introduced numerous concepts from social theory such as heterotopia and meshworks. The analysis of diverse case studies was followed by animated questions from students and faculty.
On June 26, in a workshop entitled “*So, You Want to Do Fieldwork Eh? *: A Workshop on Embodied Knowing and Personal Limitations” Dr. Hansen addressed issues such as perception of self and others, subjectivity and objectivity drawing on multiple seminal researchers in anthropology, self-perception of skills as well as sensory aspects in fieldwork.
Thank you, Dr. Hansen, for your thought-provoking lecture and workshop!
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

We are pleased to inform you that MJSP is holding the following Guest Lecture＆Workshop Series event:
Lecture & Workshop Title: From Lens to Life: Visual Storytelling and Migration in Japan, Singapore, and Germany
Speaker: Assistant Prof. Megha Wadhwa (Sophia University)
Date: Lecture: 4:30pm - 6:00pm, 30 July 2026 (Thursday)
Workshop: 10:30am - 12:30pm, 31 July 2026 (Friday)
Venue: Lecture: Student Communication Station (Room: 106)
Workshop: Student Communication Station (Room: 325)
Please see the flyer.
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

The MJSP Spring/Summer Lecture Series 2026 continued on June 19 with Prof. Gordon Mathews (Emeritus Professor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong) delivering a lecture entitled “My Friends/Informants Over Five Decades”. The lecture outlined the various research topics Prof. Mathews has examined including lifecourse research, ikigai, societal change, research ethics, representation and transience. The lecture was followed by an animated discussion. Thank you, Dr. Mathews, for sharing your long-term insights in this engaging lecture!
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

The MJSP Spring/Summer Lecture Series 2026 continued on June 11 with Dr. Hisako Omori (Associate Professor of Akita International University) delivering a lecture on “A Global Crossroad in Rural Japan: Our Lady of Akita’s Global Presence and Local Obscurity”. The lecture explored the boundaries of pilgrimage and tourism in a shrine that has attracted Roman Catholic pilgrims from within Japan as well as overseas in a region faced with depopulation and economic depression. The analysis of the diverse types of pilgrims/tourists was followed by animated discussion. Thank you, Dr. Omori, for your engaging lecture!
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

We are pleased to inform you that MJSP is holding the following Guest Lecture＆Workshop Series event:
Lecture Title: Island Tourism in Japan: Beyond Sun, Sand and Sea
Speaker: Prof. Carolin Funck (Hiroshima University)
Date: 2:45pm - 4:15pm, 10 July 2026 (Friday)
Venue: Student Communication Station (Room: 106)
Please see the flyer.
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

We are pleased to inform you that MJSP is holding the following Guest Lecture＆Workshop Series event:
Lecture Title: A Cosmopolitical Countryside: One Health, Wellbeing and Ikigai on the Frontiers of Japan
Workshop Title: *So, You Want to Do Fieldwork Eh?*: A Workshop on Embodied Knowing and Personal Limitations
Speaker: Prof. Paul Hansen (Akita University)
Date: Lecture: 4:30pm - 6:00pm, 25 June 2026 (Thursday)
Workshop: 4:30pm - 6:30pm, 26 June 2026 (Friday)
Venue: Lecture: Student Communication Station (Room: 106)
Workshop: Student Communication Station (Room: 325)
Please see the flyer.
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

The MJSP Spring/Summer Lecture Series 2026 started on May 14 with Dr. Simona Zollet (Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University) delivering a lecture on “Reimagining Rural Futures: in-migration and entrepreneurship in contemporary Japan and beyond”.
The lecture outlined issues such as demographic shrinkage and introduced governmental and individual activities in the areas of sustainability, social innovation and alternative lifestyles.
During the workshop on May 15 students had a chance to reflect on entrepreneurship, business creation, economic viability and community well-being in rural areas.
Thank you, Dr. Zollet, for your engaging lecture and workshop!
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries

We are pleased to inform you that MJSP is holding the following Guest Lecture＆Workshop Series event:
Lecture Title: My Friends/Informants Over Five Decades
Speaker: Prof. Gordon MATHEWS (Emeritus Professor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Date: 2:45pm - 4:15pm, 19 June 2026 (Friday)
Venue: Student Communication Station (Room: 106)
Please see the flyer.
#hokkaido #sapporo #hokkaidouni #hokkaidouniversity #MJSP #MJSPLectureSeries