2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The integration of mass trauma in collective identity through negative heritage preservation and disaster tourism in Tohoku after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Project/Area Number |
21K13164
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Research Institution | Tohoku University |
Principal Investigator |
Gerster Julia 東北大学, 災害科学国際研究所, 助教 (90842716)
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Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2026-03-31
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Keywords | collective memory / cultural memory / collective idenity / disaster tourism / recovery / museum / exhibition / trauma |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I gained an overview on the current state of research in the field of memory studies, especially concerning collective and cultural memory of traumatic events, including natural hazard induced disasters, social violence hazards, or biological hazards. A preliminary literature review revealed that most studies on collective and cultural memory of traumatic events on European responses to WW2. Although Japanese commemoration of WW2 is a topic in Japanese studies, Hiroshima remains the main topic and there is little discussion outside of the Area Studies. Representations and memory practices related to natural hazard induced disasters were only recently picked up by researchers in Japan but the topic seems gain international interest. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic international research could not yet be carried out and domestic research was restricted but I managed to analyze several disaster museum exhibitions in Japan and participate in several online events on trauma and collective memory.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions in Japan, international research activities that require travel were not possible and domestic travel was restricted from time to time. This restrictions led to a delay in the research process. However, I was able to conduct some research online and worked on the literature review which contributes to a smoother research in the following FY.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
After carefully reviewing the current state of research on the topic, I decided to focus on the concepts of "collective and cultural memory" instead of collective identity, as this is more in line with the research topic. Depending on national and international countermeasures against the spread of Covid-19, I plan to increase domestic research activities and further conduct international case studies in Europe and the US to compare the cases to the Japanese handling of disaster memory.
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Causes of Carryover |
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic domestic and international travel was severely restricted which delayed my research activities. However, I was able to join several online conferences and joined academic association which helped me to prepare for the coming research steps.
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