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From Black Ships to a Black President
Images and Reality in US-Japan Relations
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Series II Sponsor
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| Program Dates: November 9 - 12, 2009 |
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Locations: West Michigan (Battle Creek and Grand Rapids), Minneapolis, MN & Toronto, Canada |
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Collaboration: The Japan Society (Toronto, Canada), The Japan America Society of West Michigan, The Japan America Society of Minnesota and Astellas USA Foundation |
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Speaker: William R. Farrell, PhD, Chairman of the National Association of Japan America Societies |
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Theme: From the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and the Black Ships in 1853 to the historical election of America's first African-American president, Japan and the US have looked at each other through stereotypical lenses. This practice has led to serious problems across the spectrum of the relationship: social, political and economic. If misperceptions were commodities, each nation would have run a surplus.
Through the examination of woodblock prints, postcards (the internet of the 1890's), and contemporary political cartoons, the speaker takes the audience on a lively tour through history. Events such as Perry's arrival, the Road to Pearl Harbor, World War II, The Occupation, trade wars, and the current international situation are examined. The key premise being: historical observations that influenced domestic and international policy in the past remain with us today.
With the dawn of a new US administration and examination of US-Japan relationship, now might be a good time to travel retrospectively in order to place today's actions in perspective.
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NAJAS would like to recognize the direct support for this series from the Astellas USA Foundation. Without its support this speaker series would not have been possible. |
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