East Asia Center

Congratulations go out to former EAC students, Dan Stuart and Austin Damiani. 

Dan recently gained acceptance to the graduate programs in Buddhist Studies at Harvard, Cornell, the University of Chicago, and the University of California at Berkeley.   He has chosen to attend Berkeley.

Austin just published an article in the latest issue of Abroad View Magazine, entitled Hiroshima, which is an adapted version of an essay he wrote while a student at our center.  Please read his article. 

Also of note is the website of former EAC student, Jonas Borg, who is now living in London and working as a  photographer.

Pictured above are the original EAC bloggers, from left to right (standing) Andy Clark, John Grillo, Austin Damiani, (sitting) Abi Iverson, Jaymie Wisneski, Aaron Campbell.  Not pictured...Rachel Winckler.  What a group!  More pictures coming soon.

The highlight of our Japanese studies this semester is a course being taught by Dr. Preston Houser, entitled "Japan: Behind the Mask": Japanese Minorities.  In his syllabus, Dr. Houser writes:

The purpose of the course is to give the student an overview of the various minority groups currently living, working and negotiating with Japanese society. It is somewhat inevitable in a course such as this that mainstream Japanese society is viewed in an extremely negative light which can be unfair if presented carelessly. I, therefore, try to provide some historical, archeological, and anthropological evidence to support a conclusion that Japan has always been a multicultural nation; it is only when trying to negotiate a claim of Japanese national uniqueness or superiority that the discussion can reach negative or "bashing" terms. I try to use parts one and two of the course to present a balanced perspective on Japanese society. By the time the course reaches its conclusion, Postmodern Japan, it (I hope) has become apparent that the problems that Japan faces with its minority populations, as well as its mainstream, are similar if not identical to the problems which all first-world nations face. The short-term goal would be an enhanced understanding of contemporary Japanese society; the long-term goal would be, ideally, that students would eventually apply the skills for understanding and analyzing Japanese society learned in this course to American society.    Read more...  (Houser 2004)

We are pleased to be offering such a fascinating course on Japanese society and culture.  Please check back soon for student writings on this subject.    

The East Asia Center is pleased to announce the debut of five new bloggers, all of whom will be using their weblogs to support their learning needs this semester.  Please visit their sites and see what they are learning:

  Dana McKnight                                           Keisha Johnson

  Steven Mendoza                                        Jonathan Goldstein

   Lisa Lim

Comments on their weblogs would be greatly appreciated.

Wade, Dana, Keisha, and Eliza	Keisha, Dana, and Eliza making tacos

The first week of the semester ended with a party at Barbara's house, which happens to be part of an ancient Buddhist temple - but that's another story.  The party was vegetarian friendly and everyone feasted on tofu tacos and spinach ravioli with cheese sauce (courtesy of the local Costco, which is not all that local, being one hour away by car).  It was a welcome change to watch English videos like segments of Michael Moore's The Awful Truth and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, while sprawled on couches and stuffing our faces.   It was also a great opportunity for the students to hang out in a non academic atmosphere with the faculty and staff.   A good time was had by all.