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From July 26th to 30th, the National Taiwan University Department of History and the Waseda University School of Political Science and Economics held a joint interactive program for students. This was the second year that the program has been held. About 70 people participated, including undergraduate students from the seminars of Prof. Masahiro Wakabayashi and Prof. Naoyuki Umemori (School of Political Science and Economics) and undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members from the National Taiwan University Department of History. The program featured various events such as a field study, debate and campus tour.

Debate at the international conference center

This program is intended to deepen mutual understanding and promote friendship between Japan and Taiwan through direct interaction among students. Undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members from National Taiwan University visit Waseda University every summer. In return, Waseda students visit Taiwan in the winter. During the visit by Waseda students to National Taiwan University in December 2013, numerous events were held including a lecture on Taiwanese history given by Professor Wan-Yao Chou and Professor Cui-Lian Chen, as well as a guided tour of historical sites in Taipei and surrounding areas given by students.

Greeting at the airport

Lecture at the International Conference Center

Waseda University hosted this summer’s program. A welcome party was held on the first day, followed by a field study of Tokyo on the second day. On the third day, lectures and a debate were held at the Masaru Ibuka Auditorium in the International Conference Center.

During the morning session, Junior Researcher Chi Hsufeng of the Waseda University Organization for Asian Studies gave a lecture entitled “Modern Japanese University as a Contact Zone.” In the afternoon, a lecture and debate were conducted under the theme of “Postwar Student/Social Movements,” which is currently of the greatest interest to Taiwanese students. After an overview given by Professor Umemori and introductory remarks by Professor Wakabayashi, the two speakers took the podium. Associate Professor Takemasa Ando of Musashi University began with a general discussion regarding the appearance of new social movements in an East Asia which has entered a post-developmentalism era. He then addressed the gap between social movements and political regimes in postwar Japan; in other words, the historical trend of emphasizing the desired lifestyle rather than the realization of political demands. As an example, he analyzed the efforts and setbacks of anti-nuclear power movements in Japan during the late 1980s. Political scholar Dr. Chigaya Kinoshita discussed the rise of democratic movements in East Asia during the late 1980s, and the stagnation of social movements in Japan. Dr. Kinoshita postulated that the social movements which have occurred in Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake are one opportunity to close this gap. He also discussed how globalization of East Asia is bringing countries closer together, resulting in undermining of existing political, economic and social systems throughout the region. In view of such changes, he suggested the possibility of new social movements which shares experience across national borders. During the ensuing debate, students exchanged frank opinions on problems in the representative systems of Japan and Taiwan, as well as differences in cultural movement and engagement of intellectuals in both countries. They also discussed results and issues related to the Sunflower Student Movement.

A mixer held at Cafe125

Participants from the National Taiwan University Depertment of History

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School of Political Science and Economics