Join the Japan Society for this free professional development course for educators.
This session will provide a deep and insightful exploration of the evolving U.S.-Japan relationship, delving into the countries’ intertwined histories from postwar to the present. An expert from Japan will be joining from Japan to talk about how the recent change of the Japanese prime minister affects the US-Japan relationship, how Japan sees current changing U.S. policies, and how Japan responds to changes in global politics and economy. Participants will engage in a forward-looking analysis of how changing U.S. foreign policy may shape or impact Japan and the future of this vital partnership.
In the later session, Prof. Jennifer Robertson will explore the fusion of religion and technology which has deep historical roots across the world’s cultures, including Japan. Following a brief review of several ancient religious technologies, she will highlight innovative uses today in temples and shrines (and churches) of hi-tech devices, including robots, websites, YouTube channels and other forms of social media.
This program’s content is designed for K-12 educators, but college students, instructors, and the general public are also welcome to join this topical lecture
Speaker Bios
Dr. Jennifer Robertson, Professor Emerita, Departments of Anthropology and the History of Art, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, and Robotics Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Robertson is also Affiliate Professor, Tokyo College, University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo. Dr. Robertson is a historical and visual anthropologist/anthropological historian and art historian. Her seven books and over ninety articles and chapters address a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary subjects ranging from the 17th century to the present, with her primary area of specialty in Japan where she has lived for over two decades. Dr. Robertson earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell University.