Ms. Machiko Satonaka is
one of Japan’s most well
known manga artists. Her first story, Pia no Shozo (Portrait of PIA)
appeared in a weekly magazine at the age of 16, for which she received
the Kodansha New Manga Artist Award. She has completed more than
420 works, including Ashita Kagayaku (A Brighter Tomorrow), Asunarozaka (Asunaro Hill), and Ariesu
no Otometachi (Maidens of Aries). Ms.
Satonaka also received the Kodansha Cultural Publication Award in
1974 and the Kodansha Manga Award in 1982, among others. Among her
major work is a series of book-length manga entitled Tenjo no
niji (The Heavenly Rainbow) that she has been creating for more than 15
years. It depicts the world of the ancient Japanese poetry anthology,
the Man’yoshu. Nineteen volumes have been published so far
to critical acclaim. Ms. Satonaka’s works have always had a
large following among women due to her keen and in-depth portrayal
of female psychology. She also is involved in various activities
that promote education and culture. She is a Professor at Osaka University
of the Arts, Managing Director of the Japan Cartoonists Association,
Director of the Japan Space Forum, Head Adjudicator of the Japan
Media Arts Festival, and Commission Member of the Japanese National
Commission for UNESCO.
Dr. Hiroko Hara is Convener of Japan Women’s Watch. She is
also a Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities, Josai
International University, and Professor Emeritus of Ochanomizu
University. In addition, she is Vice Representative of Japan’s
Network for Women and Health. Previously she was a Professor
at University of the Air, and Director and Professor of the Institute
for Gender Studies, Ochanomizu University. Her various activities
have also included being a member of the Advisory Committee for
the Prime Minister’s Office on Gender Equality and a member
of the Japanese government delegation as an NGO advisor for the
ICPD+5 Preparatory Committee in New York. Dr. Hara received Ph.D.
from Bryn Mawr. She has more than 250 publications in Japanese.
Major works in English include “Environment, Resources,
Population and Human Rights: Views as a Japanese Woman” (paper
presented in 1999), and “Women’s Participation in
Various Areas of Higher Education in Japan” in Women
in a Changing Society: the Japanese Scene (National Women’s
Education Center, 1990).
Dr. Anne E. Imamura is Director of the
Area Studies Division, Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State.
She is also Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology, Georgetown
University. Previously she was on the faculty of University of Maryland,
and a Lecturer at Sophia University and the University of Malaya.
Dr. Imamura received a B.A. from Ohio Dominican College, an M.A.
from the University of Hawaii, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia
University. Among her publications are: Re-Imaging Japanese Women (ed. and introduction, 1996), Transcending
Stereotypes: Discovering Japanese Culture and Education (co-editor, 1991), and Urban
Japanese Housewives: At Home and in the Community (1987).
During the past decade, Japan has experienced dramatic changes domestically,
including the proliferation of NGOs, the revitalization of
civic life, and increasing gender equity. At the same time,
Japanese soft culture including animation, fashion, and movies
have gained popularity throughout the world, shedding light
onto evolving domestic trends. A seminar featuring manga
artist Machiko Satonaka, NGO activist Hiroko Hara, and Professor
Mariko Bando will explore how Japanese soft power has contributed
to these changes, and will examine its social and cultural
impact in Japan and throughout the world.
This event is supported in part by a grant from The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan.
