On Friday, 24 July Dr. John Traphagan (University of Texas at Austin) provided a fascinating lecture entitled “Entrepreneurs and Return Migration in Rural Japan”.
He presented empirical data mostly from his ongoing fieldwork in Iwate Prefecture, but also gave us insights about the present demographic situation in Niigata Prefecture.
He outlined the various motivations that draw individuals back to rural life after spending years in Tokyo or other urban areas, the enterprises they set up and how they are embedded in the local community.
After the lecture a vivid discussion with students, faculty staff and professors emeriti about the cultural context of entrepreneurship, female empowerment and the long-term plans of return migrants ensued.
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■Next Lecture(Lecture 3 ～Final～)
“Comingling Histories: Ikezawa Natsuki’s Novel Representations of Colonial Hokkaido”
Guest Speaker: Prof. Michele Mason (The University of Maryland)
Date: August 7th(Fri.), 2015
Time: 4:30-6:00p.m.
Place: Office of International Affairs(OIA), Lecture Room L2(1F)
No registration required!
For more information, please contact mjsp@oia.hokudai.ac.jp
