Imai Seminar/今井ゼミ (2022) 都市と文化：そして日常
Description/概要: This seminar aims to raise students’ concern over their mundane everyday lives in the modern city. It encourages students to explore the sociological implications of urban cultural experiences. This subject also strengthens students’ skills of planning, developing and carrying out social science research(es). Emphasis is given to current cultural issues, changes and developments going on in Tokyo and other Asian cities (Seoul, Hongkong, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore) while taking global and regional factors into account. We will take up the challenge of demonstrating what, how and why we can learn from cities as Tokyo. To do so, we will study the hidden aspects of the city, discovering, remembering and re-telling the tales and everyday stories from the past to the present day.
Project 1 千代田区 Chiyodagaku Project 2022-2024
With the start of a new research project, which is part of the Chiyoda Studies Project(千代田学) students, staff and teachers aim to obtain diverse opinions and suggestions from a wide range of community members to analyse how the everyday life in Chiyoda-ku, especially in the Kudanshita, Jimbocho and Ogawamachi neighbourhoods has changed. In accurately reflecting on the diverse opinions of the residents, we can consider and develop better approaches for the revitalization of local communities and re-integrate various policies, including different machizukuri, tourist and local branding plans.
Phases
Understanding the local community setup, Interviewing different members of the community, Reflecting on the different social problems (as result of in depth data analysis), Formulating and Suggesting specific approaches for each community
https://www.instagram.com/chiyoda_diaries/
Progress 1st Semester
After a general introduction and weekly theory lectures covering topics as urban nenewal and gentrification students were able to learn a toolset of fieldwork methods including town walks, visual mapping, observation and interviewing (10 week workshop).
Students interviewing local shop keeper in Kanda Jinbocho
To get to know the community, students undertook then 10 walks around Jinbocho to get to know and map the area. In October first interviews were conducted (also documented by the Nikkei Shinbun in December 2022), and a list of more potential interviews established. As second step students started to formulate their own research questions discussing aspects the use of local parts, foodscape of Chiyoda-ku, highway revitalization and rooftop use of highrise buildings among others. To unite these topics a mock model of Kanda Jinbocho was constructed as final assignment for 2022.
Creating a model of the local neighbourhood
2nd and 3rd Semester
In 2023, students will complete their first research findings. In the second semester they will re-formulate their research question, collect and analyse more data and summarize their findings in their final graduation thesis. As more outside events meetings with professionals, guestlectures, walks around Tokyo and a seminar trip are planned.