Wartime Experience, Memorial Trips to the Philippines and the  Japanese Perception of the Philippines

Speaker:   Dr. Taihei Okada /Professor, Department of Area Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo  

Abstract

The Philippines was one of the fiercest battlegrounds during the Asia-Pacific War, with approximately 1.1 million Filipino deaths. The lecture will introduce Japan’s predominant perception of the Philippines before and during the war, followed by an analysis of Japanese wartime experiences in the Philippines. Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between the experiences of Japanese military personnel and those of Japanese civilians. Subsequently, Dr. Okada will examine how shared Japanese memories of the war in the Philippines were formed through memorial trips to the Philippines. Throughout, he will consider the meanings of Filipino deaths within Japanese perceptions.

Speaker’s Profile

Dr. Okada graduated from Northern Arizona University (BA) and Hitotsubashi University (MA and PhD). His research interests include modern history in Southeast Asia and sexual violence in wartime.

Date: Monday, February 3, 2025

Time: 11:30-12:40 (JST)

Venue: SH-E302

Language: English

Registration: Please use the QR code or Link (except for the IRL241 students).