No.107 - The 41st NIHU Symposium “Life and Death in the Context of War”

The 41st NIHU Symposium
“Life and Death in the Context of War”

Once a year, the National Institutes for the Humanities, in collaboration with universities and various research organizations, holds a symposium on recent research findings in the humanities. The 41st symposium, which was held both in person and online on January 28, 2024, addressed the theme “Life and Death in the Context of War.” The symposium can be viewed on the NIHU YouTube channel.

Regretfully, the symposium organizer, Professor MATSUGI Takehiko, of the National Museum of Japanese History, was unable to attend. Professor SEKIZAWA Mayumi, the museum’s assistant director, read the opening remarks on Professor MATSUGI’s behalf.

Professor SEKIZAWA Mayumi (Assistant Director, National Museum of Japanese History)

Purpose
The human impulse to assign meaning and value to life and death beyond the biological phenomena, and to link the discourse, symbolism, and practices we associate with them to both the perpetuation and evolution of society, is universal. At the same time, that impulse most vividly reflects the cultural and social diversity of peoples, nations, and communities.
　In this symposium, we will highlight the social context of war, where the meanings, values, discourse, and practices, particularly surrounding death, are amplified. We will look closely at how life and death in their various forms are articulated, symbolized, and expressed as social and cultural practices across time and in different societies. We thus hope to shed light on the true nature of war in society and culture and reveal the cultural significance of human life and death in its context.

Professor MATSUGI Takehiko
(National Museum of Japanese History)

Following the opening remarks, the first half of the symposium consisted of lectures by four scholars. First, ethnologist Professor NOBAYASHI Atsushi spoke about conflicts during the period of Japanese rule in Taiwan both in a historical context and with consideration of their effects on modern society.

Professor NOBAYASHI Atsushi (National Museum of Ethnology)

Next, Professor YAMADA Shin’ya focused on funeral practices from the Edo period (1603–1868) onward, chronicling how memorialization of the dead during the First Sino-Japanese War in the late nineteenth century, the Russo-Japanese War in the early twentieth century, and the Asia-Pacific War led to changes in the nature of funeral rites and people’s attitudes toward death.

Professor YAMADA Shin’ya (Assistant Director, National Museum of Japanese History)

The next speaker, Dr. AWAZU Kenta, spoke on the theme of silent prayer. He explained how the ritual of observing a “moment of silence,” which began in South Africa during British colonial rule, was introduced to Japan, and he recounted episodes of its practice that took place in Japan.

Dr. AWAZU Kenta (Visiting Researcher, Institute for Grief Care Studies, Sophia University/Lecturer, Human Resource Development Course)

The fourth speaker, Dr. Joachim Alt, analyzed how war, death, and life are portrayed in Japanese anime that depict conflicts ranging from the Second Sino-Japanese War to the Pacific War.

Dr. Joachim Alt (Project Assistant Professor, National Museum of Japanese History)

The final lecturer, Professor MATSUMOTO Naoko of Okayama University, spoke about the perception of death among monkeys, elephants, and other animals, as well as the behaviors these animals exhibit toward death. She also delved into the uniquely human responses to life, death, and violence.

Professor MATSUMOTO Naoko (Okayama University)
*participation via video recording

The latter part of the symposium took the form of a panel discussion. Professor SEKIZAWA joined the panel in place of Professor MATSUGI. The discussion highlighted a theme common to each lecture: the flowers, colors, and other symbols, as well as things associated with death around the world, such as monuments and funeral wreaths.

Panel discussion at the symposium

NIHU President KIBE Nobuko (third from left) with the speakers

The affiliation and position of each speaker are based on the information in January 2024. 

Text: OHBA Go, Research Fellow, the Center for Innovative Research, the National Institutes for the Humanities