Archive - the 2003 Conference Programme
CONFERENCE TITLE: Research Writing in Japan: Cultural, Personal, and Practical Perspectives (see here for INTRODUCTION IN JAPANESE)
DATES: Saturday 15th-Sunday 16th March, 2003.
SCHEDULE & REPORT
DAY 1:
Opening remarks and welcome: Peter Matthews (National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka)
Keynote speech: Professor Jerry Eades (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu): "On Academic Modes of Production."
SESSION ONE: A Research Bottleneck?
So much to write about, but too little time to write? For many researchers, writing is the most time-consuming part of their research life. Writing is the bottle-neck between the doing and publication of research, yet how much of the research budget is allocated to this part of the process? How can peers, supervisors, editors, and translators help? How can researchers make better use of the writing services that are available? How can students and young researchers become good research writers?
Discussants: Abhishek Goel (Cactus Communications, Tokyo) and Pat Murray (Center for Intercultural Communication, Tokyo).
First: Reiko Hara and Akiko Fukuno (Curators, International Christian University, Tokyo) "Publishing activities at the Hachiro Yuasa Memorial Museum, ICU."
Second: Professor Richard Weisburd (University of Tsukuba, College of Biological Sciences): "Research writing in Japan today and what we can do to improve it."
Third: Toshiko Takeda, with Michiel Kolman and Zeger Karssen (Elsevier Japan, Tokyo) "Editorial services at an international publisher, and interactions with Japanese researchers"
Fourth: Lynne E. Riggs (Translator and Editor, Center for Intercultural Communication, Tokyo, and Managing Editor, Monumenta Nipponica, and Representative, Society of Writers, Editors, and Translators): "The Need for Advanced Guidelines for Successful Publication."
SESSION TWO: Publish AND Perish?
The phrase "publish or perish" is overused. Are there too many papers for too few readers? Research graduates in Japan today can no longer depend so much on personal connections to find work, so there is more pressure to publish. Publishing quantity does not guarantee work or funding; nor does publishing quality. Hence the title, "Publish AND Perish?". For ethical reasons, priority should be given to writing as if readers matter, and more effort is needed to reach readers. Fewer papers and more readers might be a good aim.
Discussants: Richard Sadowsky (Society of Writers, Editors and Translators, Awaji), and Keith Wilkinson (Japan Association of Translators, Tokyo).
First: Dr John McCreery (Vice-President of The Word Works, Ltd.; Lecturer in the Graduate Program in Comparative Culture at Sophia University) "Publish and Perish: Consider the Options".
Second: Christopher Isherwood (translator and student of literature, Tokyo University): "Can standards in literature (novelistic writing) improve standards in academic writing? (Comments on literary and academic criticism)."
Third: Paul Flint (Chairman, Japan Association of Translators, Tokyo) "The work of translators and the Japan Association of Translators."
DAY 2:
SESSION THREE: Practical experiences in Japan and elsewhere.
How are editing, translation, and writing activities actually supported and carried out? What are the opportunties for training, recruitment and publication?
Discussants: Peter Matthews and Sachiko Kotani (National Museum of Ethnology), Chistopher Isherwood (Tokyo University).
First: Yoshinari Kobayashi (Engineering Consultant, Takamatsu) "Work directions and research writing styles"
Second: Richard Bradford (translator, Tokyo) "The work of a Tokyo language-service company: scope, recruitment, and prospects for development."
Third: Mathew Yakai (journalist, Beppu) "Tertiary education in Japan: student experiences (I)."
Fourth Edna Temese (translator, Beppu) ""Tertiary education in Japan: student experiences (II)."
Fifth Jun Akamine (Nagoya City University, Nagoya) "Research writing and student training in Japanese universities."
SESSION FOUR: Summaries and planning
Moderator: Peter Matthews (National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka).
Our speakers, discussants and audience all contributed here.
Summary comments After opening remarks by Christopher Isherwood, there was a general discussion of various issues raised during the prvious three sessions.
Planning for publication of the conference An initial outline was discussed and revised. There was general agreement that the conference should be published, since we had all learned a lot, and many of the issues covered were relevant to current debates about educational reform in Japan. It was also agreed that the present conference website should be maintained to provide an immediate public record of the conference, and as a focus for further communication among the participants.
Agenda for a possible future conference This was not discussed in any detail, but there was private agreement among some participants that a conference similar to the present conference would be useful in the future... within Japan or possibly as part of an international conference.
Open discussion. Website demonstrations. The discussion became fragmented as people began to leave for various parts of Kansai and Japan. After a last-minute tour of the museum galleries, a small party was convened at a nearby restaurant. We hope the discussions will continue.
Hotel Information (March 2003)
Participants are asked to make their own bookings because the museum cannot be liable for cancelled bookings. The following hotels all have vacancies, as of 3/3/03. They are all walking distance from JR Ibaraki Station, on the main Osaka-Kyoto line, and are also within taxi distance of the museum. See our map of the museum in relation to local hotels. The prices shown here are approximate indications:
(1) Ibaraki Central Hotel, tel. 0726-24-1600, fax ditto-1701 (single: 4800-5800 yen).
(2) Ibaraki Kyoto Hotel, tel. 0726-20-2121, fax ditto-2122 (single: 8700 yen).
(3) Hotel Crest, Ibaraki, tel. 0726-20-2020, fax 0726-24-9112 (single: 5800 yen).
(4) Business Hotel Kasuga, tel. 0726-25-1667, fax ditto-5821 (single: 4,500-6,500).
If you enjoy walking (about 20 minutes) and do not mind paying to enter the park, to reach our museum, you can also stay at the Sun Palace Hotel, tel. 06 878-3804, fax ditto-3456 (singles: 6,500 - 7,000 yen). This hotel is close to the Osaka Monorail Line (Banpakukoen Station).
