Speak up: Elderly Women's Voices in Japanese Literature and Culture

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K12916
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: 全 素賢 名古屋大学, 環境学研究科, 講師 (10827059)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Women Writers / Japanese elderly culture / Aging Women

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

I completed the collaborative book project with scholars in US (on-line meetings). This project went well, and we finished editing and are now in the process of finalizing publication. The book title: Handbook of Modern and Contemporary Japanese Women Writers (Chapter, “Women and Images of Aging: Enchi Fumiko, Tanabe Seiko,” expected publication late 2022). I conducted textual own research via the library at Nagoya Univ, comparing literary texts in Korea and US with those of Japanese writers. International scholars showed their interest to know more about Japanese elderly culture, how the Covid-situation has been impacted on their lives , and how they are interacting with Japanese society and culture. These questions will inform my monograph project as I move forward with it.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

As the 2nd Year (AY 2021), my primary plan was to further accumulate my fundamental sources for my research about Tanabe Seiko by visiting the library of Tanabe Seiko in Osaka and interviewing other writers, and the NPO, the Women’s Association for a Better Aging Society in Tokyo. However, because of COVID-19 and the emergency situation, the research and interview plans to Osaka and Tokyo were repeatedly postponed, and I had to reschedule AY 2022. With scholarly attention, I was able to move forward with an on-going project to organize an international collaborative symposium at Nagoya University. Since the pandemic situation has gotten better, it is now possible to conductinterviews with NPOs in Tokyo in the coming year.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Considering the current social circumstance, I will keep conducting my research to compare aging culture in Japan,Korea, and US, especially how elderly people in both Japan and Korea societies express their limited social activities and culture. Given the social changes in Korea, my study will find a way to incorporate the Korean readership for Japanese elderly narratives/fictions, while analysis with translation of Osawa works in Korean and scholarly interpretation for it. The comparison can be helpful to understand how their interaction of elderly culture is different and reactive in both societies. Also, I will analyze and try to collaborate with other scholars and the NPO to reflect on the reality in Japan and Korea.

Causes of Carryover

Because of my adjusted research schedule during this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the State of Emergency declarations, I did not spend the scheduled budget to travel to Tokyo and Osaka. Although I was vaccinated, the Omicron variant was worrisome and because of my position at Nagoya University taking care of entrance procedures for international students, I had to be especially careful about arranging my business trip. Assuming a smooth rollout of the vaccine and a more open travel environment this year, I plan to undertake the Year 1 and 2 plans in Year 3 more actively.