Academic Seminar: Japan in post-war Asia: Heritage Conservation and Soft Power
Friday 18th May 2012 1:00pm-2:00pm
Where: Room 321, Level 3, Asia Institute
Japan’s increasing active role in heritage conservation internationally came at a time when the Japanese economy was flourishing. At that time, Japan was in the midst of negotiations with both the United States and Europe to reduce its trade surplus and barriers to its foreign investments. In order to maintain and elevate its position as major economic power, Japan strategically developed a policy of cultural assistance abroad and increasingly became involved in international organisations such as UNESCO.
Although it has been commonly understood that Japan’s major focus was economic development, I argue that the underlying motivation has been Japan’s desire to be a significant influence in Asia and ultimately one of the leaders in the global arena. I argue that Japan’s interest in culture expressed itself in terms of cultural diplomacy and using its recognised expertise in the area of cultural conservation, represents a form of soft power. This has become the means through which it has enable to establish its international position in the global economy and international security arrangements.
Brief Bio: Natsuko Akagawa is affiliated with Deakin University, Australia. She is a co‐editor of the book entitled, Intangible Heritage (Routledge, 2009) and author of ‘Concept and practice of cultural landscape protection in Thailand’ (in Managing Cultural Landscapes, Routledge 2012). Her analysis on Cultural Landscape in Asia and the Pacific Region, published in International Journal of Heritage Studies (2008), has been used as reading material at a University in the UK. She has undertaken heritage workshops, field schools and research projects, including UNESCO projects in China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, US and elsewhere. She has worked and studied in the US, Portugal, France and in several Asian countries and also was a visiting researcher at the East‐West Centre and University of Hawaii, Manoa.
Although it has been commonly understood that Japan’s major focus was economic development, I argue that the underlying motivation has been Japan’s desire to be a significant influence in Asia and ultimately one of the leaders in the global arena. I argue that Japan’s interest in culture expressed itself in terms of cultural diplomacy and using its recognised expertise in the area of cultural conservation, represents a form of soft power. This has become the means through which it has enable to establish its international position in the global economy and international security arrangements.
Brief Bio: Natsuko Akagawa is affiliated with Deakin University, Australia. She is a co‐editor of the book entitled, Intangible Heritage (Routledge, 2009) and author of ‘Concept and practice of cultural landscape protection in Thailand’ (in Managing Cultural Landscapes, Routledge 2012). Her analysis on Cultural Landscape in Asia and the Pacific Region, published in International Journal of Heritage Studies (2008), has been used as reading material at a University in the UK. She has undertaken heritage workshops, field schools and research projects, including UNESCO projects in China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, US and elsewhere. She has worked and studied in the US, Portugal, France and in several Asian countries and also was a visiting researcher at the East‐West Centre and University of Hawaii, Manoa.
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