Bernard Thomann
- 役職/
Position - Former Visiting Professor (Professor at INALCO)
- 研究分野/
Field - Japanese labor history
Q1. Tell me about your research briefly.
A1. As a visiting professor in Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, I am conducting three research programs, all on Japanese labor history. First, the history of labor in the coal mining industry. For example, during my stay in TUFS, I am conducting interview with retired miners in former coal fields of Kyushu and Hokkaido to understand their working conditions and their life courses. Secondly and thirdly, I am working on archives, mainly in Tokyo and Osaka, to study the history of Japanese minimum salary and the relations between Japan and the International Labor Organization.
Q2. In TUFS what are your lecture?
A2. I teach on the history of Japanese Social Policy before 1945. It is the occasion for me to present to TUFS students the research I conducted the last decade. I try to demonstrate how most of the Japanese welfare state architecture was constructed before American occupation. I focus a lot on transnational dynamics to explain this chronology.
Q3. Japan studies in TUFS have issued a policy to lay emphasis on the reinforcement of the Japan's ability to deliver a message to the world. What do you think is necessary for that?
A3. Japanese have to believe more in the universal dimension of their culture and history. Japanese have a lot more to say to the outside world than they usually think and they don't have to westernize (or americanize) to be in touch with global trends. And this is a real challenge for Japan in the XXI century because China seems to be a lot more confident in its ability to transform modernity according to its own values and interests. But the universal dimension of Japanese culture is evident for me when I see to which extend Japan culture is now popular among French young people.
Q4. How about TUFS and students?
A4. I was very surprized by the very important number of Foreign student in TUFS. I discovered that several of my former student of Inalco in Paris are now continuing their studies here. Therefore, the students that are following my course are from several countries.
Q5. Compared with overseas, what is good in Japan and not good in Japan?
A5. My response will certainly be not very original. Everything is very efficient, secure and clean and people are very polite, which are very appreciable things when you come from France where it is not always the case. But people in the train should stop looking at their smart phone and start again talking one to each other. I am also a little sad to see that old houses and old districts tend to disappear. I appreciate so much more old sh?tengai than brand new shopping malls...for example, lately, the Shimokitazawa district lost a lot of its charm.