Center for Japanese Studies Seminar Series

Dr. Keith Brown (Professor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh) will give a talk titled "Weddings, Imperial Succession, and Culture Change in Japan." Dr. Brown compares the two different weddings in today and in 1962, both of which he observed in the same village, and provides the basis for this examination of cultural change in post-war Japan, especially in terms of gender, family and social networks. The comparison of these two village weddings highlights an emergence of women from the back side of society to the forefront, as capable, feeling, important human beings.

However, the extended debate about imperial succession and whether Aiko-sama, or any female, is an appropriate successor to her father, the Crown Prince, suggests that the politicians in the central government are not in step with the culture changes that are occurring in this village in Northeastern Japan, supposedly the backwater of Japan. Nevertheless, a close examination of the events of these two weddings shows a persistence of basic aspects of Japanese culture, e.g., the importance of the ie (the inter-generational stem family), the ancestors, the dozoku and other kin, and the neighbors and community.

Ticket Information
Free and Open to the Public

Event Sponsor
Center for Japanese Studies

More Information
Center for Japanese Studies, 956-2665, cjs@hawaii.edu, http://www.hawaii.edu/cjs/seminarseries.html#kbrown

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