2017 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Perpetual Pilgrims and Religious Authority with the Contemporary Shikoku Henro
| Project/Area Number |
17K02237
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| Research Institution | Kansai Gaidai University |
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Principal Investigator |
SHULTZ John・A 関西外国語大学, 外国語学部, 講師 (90722728)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
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| Keywords | pilgrimage / Shikoku henro / perpetual pilgrims / time variability |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The initial year of the research grant has seen the project develop in a number of key areas. First, a thorough literature review has been accomplished to highlight key scholarship for consideration for the project, including both English language and Japanese scholarly sources. Second, provisional arguments and proportions for this research were presented in a detailed hour-long public presentation given at Doshisha University to the Kyoto Asian Studies Group with a talk titled "Pilgrim Footpaths and Theoretical Landscapes: Propositions from the Shikoku henro." This presentation highlighted key theoretical arguments the work hopes to offer to the field of pilgrimage studies. Third, our first peer-reviewed article was published in March titled "The 'Gaijin Henro': Outliers, Discrimination, and Time Variability with Pilgrimage in Shikoku." This article highlights our unique perspective on the analysis of pilgrimage by using time as a key analytic to understand the diversity of experiences. Fourth, the main researcher and our international cooperative researcher (Prof. Ian READER) conducted an extensive field research trip over 10 days to the island of Shikoku in Feb. and March. This trip included dozens of interviews with key individuals (pilgrims, priests, and scholars) and provided us with a tremendous amount of primary data. This data both firmly established existing issues, while illuminating some unexpected and exciting new areas. Overall, the project is progressing according to schedule and looks set to meet our stated objectives.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Overall, we can state that the project is progressing according to the schedule established in the initial grant proposal. Since our first year of work accomplished our initial objectives, we expect that the second year should likewise progress fruitfully, as well. Fortunately, we have encountered no unexpected difficulties and are fully confident that there is sufficient data to support the monograph. Our international cooperative researcher, Prof. Ian READER, has been very diligent in his work, as have our research assistants. This has greatly enabled forward progress.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The research will continue to follow the plan outlined in the initial grant proposal. For FY 2018, we anticipate one more article submission to a peer-reviewed journal covering key analytical issues. Likewise, we will aim to disseminate our research findings through another oral presentation at an international venue. Finally, data collection will continue in earnest, especially the form of detailed interviews with continuing henro pilgrims.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Costs were considerably less than budgeted for for the first year of research. We anticipate greater subsequent expenses for international conferences and field work trips. Likewise, approximately 250,000円 worth of expenses were processed late in FY 2017 and were payed for in April 2018.
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Research Products
(2 results)
