Kristin Surak
- 役職/
Position - Former Visiting Professor
- 研究分野/
Field - Politics
Tell me about your research briefly.
I've carried out research on a wide range from topics, from the tea ceremony and nationalism to low-paid temporary migration programs and citizenship policies. While at TUFS, I am expanding on my earlier work on the tea ceremony to examine iemoto systems of knowledge transmission. I'm taking a comparative approach to understand how the grand masters of different traditional arts monopolize authority and control knowledge transmission in different ways. I'm also looking at "outlaw" practices, such as non-iemoto style tea ceremonies or female noh performances.
In TUFS what is your lecture?
At TUFS I'm lecturing on Japanese Politics and Society. Initially I was concerned that the students would know everything already and that the class would just be English training, but it seems that many don't know even the basics of Japanese politics, and so the content is very education too. Given that the voting age has been lowered to 18 and that a referendum on the Constitution may be held, I think it's very important for students to have a good grasp of political structures and debates so that they can form their own opinion and participate politically.
Japan studies in TUFS have issued a policy to lay emphasis on the reinforcement of the Japan's ability to deliver a message tothe world. What do you think is necessary for that?
Communication is the most fundamental. One must both have a good grasp of foreign languages and have a good grasp of the content one wants to communicate.
How about TUFS and students?
I've immensely enjoyed my time here so far and have found the students and absolute joy in the classroom. Unlike at other Japanese universities I've visited, the TUFS students are very eager to voice their opinions, debate points, and ask questions - all in English too. I've found them very creative as well, and have learned from teaching them.
Compared with overseas, what is good in Japan and not good in Japan?
It's hard to say, but excellent traditional Japanese food - whether washoku or kaiseki - is simply impossible to find outside Japan. Not good? Maybe the bugs, which all seem to be huge.