Knights, Samurai and the Rules of War: A Sketch of Comparative History, Prof. Danny Orbach, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
This presentation sets out to examine the long-standing tradition of war ethics within the Japanese realm, in the moment of its encounter with Western international law in the mid-nineteenth century. On the cusp of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan already possessed a well-established Sino-Japanese tradition, detailing the legitimate targets in warfare and the conditions that justify their engagement. Conversely, the 19th-century Western concepts of wartime legalities were deeply rooted in their own historical contexts, going back to Roman and medieval times. This presentation endeavors to outline the convergence of these distinct traditions, focusing on the evolution of war ethics in both domains. Particular emphasis will be placed on the contrasting perceptions of war: as a form of punishment within the Sino-Japanese sphere and as a contest among sovereign states in Europe and the United States, and their important repercussions on the rules of armed conflict in modern Japanese history.
Rethinking gender in Japanese teaching careers, Sinai Harel.
In Japan, pervasive gender inequalities draw policymakers’ attention to the stark under-representation of women in leadership positions, such as within the relatively feminized field of education. Despite ongoing efforts to promote change, the gender gap persists. This presentation challenges the assumption that achieving equal representation alone ensures substantial gender equality. Instead, its focus is on exploring the careers of regular classroom teachers, unveiling intricate gender dynamics within Japanese education and the public service sector.
The presentation consists of three parts. Firstly, it critically examines the predominant focus on women's representation within existing academic literature, questioning its impact on notions of career and gender equality. Secondly, drawing on insights from the 'Statistical Teachers' Survey' published by the Japanese Ministry of Education, it illustrates gendered career trajectories among high school educators. Finally, in exploring narratives of authenticity and balance within the career stories of women teachers, the presentation clarifies the constraints and choices shaping individual teachers’ experiences, and consequently, the broader landscape of Japanese education