Research workshop hailed a success

A recent research workshop held at the School of Modern Languages has proved to be successful.

The workshop entitled ‘Symbols of Japan, Japan as Symbols’ was held on 13 and 14 July and was organised by Dr Christopher Hood of the School of Modern Languages and Dr Christopher Hayes, who was formerly a PhD student at the School of Modern Languages but is now based at Teesside University.

The aim of the two-day workshop was to explore the many and varied symbols of Japan in areas such as literature, film, cultural history and visual culture.

15 participants from the UK, Europe, North America, and Japan attended the workshop which was funded by two external organisations, namely the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the Japan Foundation London Office. The participants included postgraduate research students and early careers researchers.

During the workshop, participants were given a platform to share their research and receive feedback from the other participants who had different but overlapping interests. The workshop also allowed the participants to gain experience in presenting their research, receive advice and suggestions from more experienced scholars, and provide an opportunity to publish their work.

Dr Christopher Hood, Reader in Japanese Studies at the School of Modern Languages said: “It was a truly wonderful workshop that brought together a range of scholars with very varied interests, but whose work could be linked by symbolism and Japan. The workshop underlined why in person workshops will continue to be a vital part of the academic world, even as we continue to look for ways to embrace online and hybrid seminars and such like.”

The organisers of the event are now looking to use the workshop as a springboard for at least one publication to ensure the workshop has lasting impact.