2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
A Study of Quality of Life and Shifting Ikigai: Encounters with Cosmopolitics in Central Hokkaido
Project/Area Number |
20K12339
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Research Institution | Akita University |
Principal Investigator |
Hansen Paul 秋田大学, 国際資源学研究科, 教授 (30609722)
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Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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Keywords | affect / ba / cosmopolitics / ikiagai / One Health / posthumanism / Rural Studies / Rejuvination |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This past year was a continuation of previous ethnographic and textual research on Northern Tokachi, ikigai, One Health, and tourist industries. Again, looking at why and how people engage in work more focused on ‘lifestyle’ over financial profit or even stability. I was a visiting scholar in Canada, continued to work on a book on the subject, and focused on Post-Covid conferences.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
It was a busy year. First, a relaxed Corona environment allowed for more conference participation. I presented and co-organised an 8 person panel for the annual Japan Anthropology Workshop (JAWS) at the Autonomus University of Barcelona with Professor Blai Gaurne and presented at the Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ) at Kyoto University (details in following sections). Second, I also participated online on a round table at the World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA) meeting in Lisbon and presented a paper at the American Asian Studies (AAS) conference held in Honolulu (details following). Third and in accordance with my proposal, I was a visiting scholar at the University of Calgary’s Institute of Public Health in August 2022. Finally, I continued with fieldwork in Tokachi, largely around the Kamishihoro region. However, a shift in employment from Hokkaido University to Akita University in December made this more difficult.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Not living in Hokkaido means that in the following year I will need to plan longer research travel excursions to finish the project (for example weekend trips are no longer feasible). I will also start to make connections to enable a comparative project focused on ikigai, outdoor pursuits employment, and One Health in Akita, for example in the Tazawako region. I have one book project completed and due out with State University of New York Press (Feb 2024 release date) and another book contract with Lexington Books to produce A Cosmopolitical Countryside: One Health and Wellbeing on the Periphery with a due date of August 2024) as well as an accepted article in the journal Asian Ethnology (Nov. 2023) “Savoring Slackness in Kingston: Independent Japanese Tourists and Jamaican Dancehall”.
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Causes of Carryover |
Again, it is obviously more difficult to conduct research in central Hokkaido now based in Akita. However, the lion’s share of ethnographic research has been completed. I intend to visit some rider houses in the northern Tokachi in September and I will try to go on or two hut based excursions in the winter. But my focus is now turning towards publication, presentation (I have, for example, organized a panel on rural japan and wellness for this year’s American Anthropology Association (AAA) conference in November 2023), and future comparative research in rural Akita. There is no major change from my original proposal.
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Research Products
(4 results)