Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series: Kimono and Fashion in Japan

This event has ended.

Due to the additional industrial strike action planned on Wednesday 15 March, this event has been rescheduled for a second time. Please note there is both a new date and time for this event - Wednesday 29 March between 10:00 - 11:00 (UK-time).  We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope you can still attend online.  As mentioned below, the event will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel in due course.

An online public lecture with Dr Carolin Becke (University of Sheffield) as part of the Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series which explores sociocultural aspects of Japanese language learning. The event is funded by the Japan Foundation, London. Recordings of the Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series are available to watch on our YouTube channel.

About the series
Students of Japanese as a Foreign Language have fewer opportunities to grasp relevant contemporary information or understand cultural contexts because they study outside Japan. Furthermore, recognising Japanese society in a broader sense and considering how their own Japanese language ability may be applied to their own futures are challenges for such learners. It is therefore essential not only to learn the target language but also to know the multifaceted aspects of the country. Moreover, teachers involved in Japanese language education outside Japan need support in obtaining and sharing up-to-date information reflecting many of the current trends and norms in contemporary Japanese society, in order to provide a more authentic learning experience.

The Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series aims to explore and understand sociocultural aspects of language learning for those studying Japanese language and culture at Cardiff University, as well as various learners, teachers and researchers with an interest in Japan.

Abstract
Both inside and outside of Japan, kimono is commonly framed as the national costume of Japan, bestowing the garment with notions of tradition and continuity. However, ever since the establishment of a widespread fashion system in the Edo period (1603-1868), kimono was worn in different ways to communicate individual and social characteristics such as status, occupation, gender and taste.

This talk will shed some light on the fashionable influences on the garment by examining the following questions; how was kimono marketed by members of the merchant class, who became affluent during the Edo period? In which way did the moga (モガ, ‘modern girls’) of the Taisho period (1912-1926) wear the garment? How is the retro style, which gained prominence due to magazines such as Kimono Hime (Shōdensha, 2003-2018) and Kimono Anne (TAC Shuppan, 2019-), connected to the popularity of kimono as an everyday garment in recent decades?

Biography
Dr Carolin Becke obtained a PhD in Japanese Cultural Studies from the School of East Asian Studies, University of Sheffield. Her thesis examined the diverse uses of kimono in contemporary Japan, drawing on her interdisciplinary research interests in Japanese society & culture, dress, gender, norms, and deviance. Dr Becke’s blog is available to read on Wordpress.

Event format & recording
The event will take place online as a Zoom webinar and will be recorded for publication after the event.

Simultaneous Translation
The event will be delivered in the medium of English. You are welcome to ask questions in the medium of Welsh during the Q&A session. If you intend to do this, please contact mlang-events@cardiff.ac.uk by Wednesday 8 February to request simultaneous translation. Please note that 10% or more of those planning to attend will need to request this provision in order for it to be sourced and will be subject to resource availability.

Registration
Please register to attend this event by clicking on the 'Book places' button on the left hand side of this page.

Data protection notice
Please note that when registering, your data will be held in accordance with our Data Protection Notice. We will process the personal data you provide to us in accordance with data protection regulations.