tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35493291123123230992024-03-06T13:01:33.424+10:00Psephy's ~ologiesPolitics and society in Australia and Japan
infused with Kantian-inspired thoughts for a better world.
‘All the interests of my reason, speculative as well as practical, combine in three following questions: 1. What can I know? 2. What ought I do? 3. What may I hope?’
Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (1781/87) B 832-833psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-85555744886304683232023-05-06T14:38:00.000+10:002023-05-06T14:38:08.424+10:00What will happen to Article 9?<p><b>Observations at this year's Constitutional Day demonstration.</b></p><p>I've been attending these gatherings (other than the Covid years) since I returned to Japan in 2016. Indeed, I could say, one of the reasons I returned to spend an extended time in Japan this time was to observe what was happening politically and socially as the debate over Article 9 of the Constitution grew more intense during the Abe years.</p><p>Fortunately, I was able to post a commentary on the Lowy Institute's Interpreter (<a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/japan-s-article-9-pacifism-protests-defence-budget-doubles" target="_blank">here</a>) and I thought I would add a few additional photos from the day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMDc5OTpbyh2iOORm0EksDDXStz9ATSicQfttKYXhfnDKjKFJ--FyPwv4OzzKScYX2snnpCel1CsRlmaQ9e9U8Wl4VjqAdBCPgNaFb_oS_oZxVPubNv2WLPggqh_iS7Kt6b-j4kHQux4Y_ICpwXy7MOwcx8GW_NbmjzVrHAJwd78jy52iNnzx6Hx9Tg/s4678/fullsizeoutput_b59.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3606" data-original-width="4678" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMDc5OTpbyh2iOORm0EksDDXStz9ATSicQfttKYXhfnDKjKFJ--FyPwv4OzzKScYX2snnpCel1CsRlmaQ9e9U8Wl4VjqAdBCPgNaFb_oS_oZxVPubNv2WLPggqh_iS7Kt6b-j4kHQux4Y_ICpwXy7MOwcx8GW_NbmjzVrHAJwd78jy52iNnzx6Hx9Tg/s320/fullsizeoutput_b59.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcMQ4T3eCnXijrZv5xiHSDNCHA_3j_AHR_AZNx9p6vN6fnDLLGfmjVeeBEBzpZeKET1DnZWXQVc97FSwlXyy7GTY3d5HTSwRvIJRwgNSyN0B8NpMd1-IkaGQfIwjgTTDk9BKQFiAabopz-sJpD6dzcDL6MfAUUY3kkDnzMEhjJ76UsQUvu2LAVDMytQ/s3731/fullsizeoutput_b5a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3731" data-original-width="3502" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcMQ4T3eCnXijrZv5xiHSDNCHA_3j_AHR_AZNx9p6vN6fnDLLGfmjVeeBEBzpZeKET1DnZWXQVc97FSwlXyy7GTY3d5HTSwRvIJRwgNSyN0B8NpMd1-IkaGQfIwjgTTDk9BKQFiAabopz-sJpD6dzcDL6MfAUUY3kkDnzMEhjJ76UsQUvu2LAVDMytQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_b5a.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBj0WwBUXSXZMi1JtViTmo1w_QS-wuJrWhw9PM2Tc_FZaPfTmIb-gdU-YVsD9oXYqm_KU7U2S97-9cJxzVrlEnCaB4IdAJax99FJoI7BAAXuLdz3PKw2lta_OUn6Dntzb4YsutqBqEi4VixL2V9UZRT4oTtISZ6pm3nlaQPnd7IutE3Yys52J69xGtw/s5184/P1033398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBj0WwBUXSXZMi1JtViTmo1w_QS-wuJrWhw9PM2Tc_FZaPfTmIb-gdU-YVsD9oXYqm_KU7U2S97-9cJxzVrlEnCaB4IdAJax99FJoI7BAAXuLdz3PKw2lta_OUn6Dntzb4YsutqBqEi4VixL2V9UZRT4oTtISZ6pm3nlaQPnd7IutE3Yys52J69xGtw/s320/P1033398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6k79NcJNMxvq3mOydLOSDtvY00WGT5LeXqdaPQI4X9T_NimF7MEI2gIEmP0Dfr2Jpfc1O2lZVrb9BR8z-Bobdyn8kFWS3sybbM1MGFpLFJgZYGmIoRH6298nq0BywGVadPWkhPm6F1bVLFNEP-ZkyblbBnv-u85z5_YlqjTm0rXp4Jn63-8o4USYXg/s5184/fullsizeoutput_b60.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3050" data-original-width="5184" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6k79NcJNMxvq3mOydLOSDtvY00WGT5LeXqdaPQI4X9T_NimF7MEI2gIEmP0Dfr2Jpfc1O2lZVrb9BR8z-Bobdyn8kFWS3sybbM1MGFpLFJgZYGmIoRH6298nq0BywGVadPWkhPm6F1bVLFNEP-ZkyblbBnv-u85z5_YlqjTm0rXp4Jn63-8o4USYXg/s320/fullsizeoutput_b60.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcR0BzkQi-jUG6vNWWt9MaUAZcmum-UOXSlmJwDwmOC1c5XR79xJmpm_nLgAgM4HrpfL2Fmb9Pjxo1cqKIop_kj37KW3e34bW2KdMkwHpsc1hkPwE2PSZHRJ3KhJtYP-as0T-f_GcA1E4THD-OiDvp0mJUPTjFq-OB7ULGckOoHXAYphzPgKo6qwufA/s5184/P1033401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcR0BzkQi-jUG6vNWWt9MaUAZcmum-UOXSlmJwDwmOC1c5XR79xJmpm_nLgAgM4HrpfL2Fmb9Pjxo1cqKIop_kj37KW3e34bW2KdMkwHpsc1hkPwE2PSZHRJ3KhJtYP-as0T-f_GcA1E4THD-OiDvp0mJUPTjFq-OB7ULGckOoHXAYphzPgKo6qwufA/s320/P1033401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MLOhj-_ogrB6j37CQrKBnG9zN8m-SIstlTgr9pnM53DXPaQMnACLfDSmc6g42zGs4pdGlIpVnAYgfWWUiglKU28wa87XBHdV0_t5nLVHRXWDHYHnSTiFJTdfIl951Dy2xlO144VBK2D-8P1b6R8sEeWH7aPcYlM0_vJhcKeFEVrdqg6p3sMxxGRZfQ/s5184/P1033405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MLOhj-_ogrB6j37CQrKBnG9zN8m-SIstlTgr9pnM53DXPaQMnACLfDSmc6g42zGs4pdGlIpVnAYgfWWUiglKU28wa87XBHdV0_t5nLVHRXWDHYHnSTiFJTdfIl951Dy2xlO144VBK2D-8P1b6R8sEeWH7aPcYlM0_vJhcKeFEVrdqg6p3sMxxGRZfQ/s320/P1033405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i6sIRiQhC5vbmTTHoxZwkLFXXEVNSDGn25cI9xNVV3q9G7Q8Hq_sLNPQvNGDhE73z6AELkCULT9NrDI_jRLlcYcZlbaPSrCS1Tyi4tSB1Dl6MqBGURrJRaxFILbAH7_4DAhabrp0HTS-6ihFQLAZmMqsG6eGXv5NfsDBygj1TU-AHpPy5ZU1COWinQ/s5184/P1033417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i6sIRiQhC5vbmTTHoxZwkLFXXEVNSDGn25cI9xNVV3q9G7Q8Hq_sLNPQvNGDhE73z6AELkCULT9NrDI_jRLlcYcZlbaPSrCS1Tyi4tSB1Dl6MqBGURrJRaxFILbAH7_4DAhabrp0HTS-6ihFQLAZmMqsG6eGXv5NfsDBygj1TU-AHpPy5ZU1COWinQ/s320/P1033417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqv7BuoujQ94X_7XLJPIuXz1VyoPAnmqu4JV0L-HY4wdOhqdMpZau-gtPStXR4iDDEbZww38KeBOgTjSY1RS42Td_PKjynMQHZn8ncqdSLljcjY5RWZBFhwP9GMIDWGlCCCKdaqxicF5tnyKOdH_FVA494XapbbgMBohUZ73JPSINBfyjw2GZQPs0mg/s5184/P1033408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqv7BuoujQ94X_7XLJPIuXz1VyoPAnmqu4JV0L-HY4wdOhqdMpZau-gtPStXR4iDDEbZww38KeBOgTjSY1RS42Td_PKjynMQHZn8ncqdSLljcjY5RWZBFhwP9GMIDWGlCCCKdaqxicF5tnyKOdH_FVA494XapbbgMBohUZ73JPSINBfyjw2GZQPs0mg/s320/P1033408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNhCfcV7sWFmfXMnTmaN_EktXfW1sqgCBxhDzWrtW5faNfB2U_Njq4NOwkLEi1pDL2es7z3xbyADIWyzR4X4pAGHfk8-v2jDP4eJ-dpsJRaljhT8hqm8bVkH1QY9DNVOkfs3n0xT5vk_C_9b9IPuW3wYulePRU4N3WWDjjxgtmzGZVD-M_eio85moVQ/s5184/P1033412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNhCfcV7sWFmfXMnTmaN_EktXfW1sqgCBxhDzWrtW5faNfB2U_Njq4NOwkLEi1pDL2es7z3xbyADIWyzR4X4pAGHfk8-v2jDP4eJ-dpsJRaljhT8hqm8bVkH1QY9DNVOkfs3n0xT5vk_C_9b9IPuW3wYulePRU4N3WWDjjxgtmzGZVD-M_eio85moVQ/s320/P1033412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3hlx25zW5SPJzeVPFjF_IJzXNcqHF_j96qpdJVljmHdlEJ6TrfYgrV1Jn3kXs0Nd3_JLJ2g098BokBISTkadBontI0zbMHDyeDTVJZvC28NThvlCjyy3C0uQyeKBNIzZZZbjhzma4bOS6a4-sb-SHwQF_XOXZoBKNAuQCgXmD8_4vDCGSYBPbQldJw/s5184/P1033415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3hlx25zW5SPJzeVPFjF_IJzXNcqHF_j96qpdJVljmHdlEJ6TrfYgrV1Jn3kXs0Nd3_JLJ2g098BokBISTkadBontI0zbMHDyeDTVJZvC28NThvlCjyy3C0uQyeKBNIzZZZbjhzma4bOS6a4-sb-SHwQF_XOXZoBKNAuQCgXmD8_4vDCGSYBPbQldJw/s320/P1033415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6Z0qn7TPrQge2Ef8JxKIad4ORsplQP6CRMzabVK1nvqJEBvubDZtNKD1g34Jjkp8jtw1Sqc9b_aEjWYN29W7MdQlX-4AG-_pSi-IJrCUjrGl-s5zp4lLpfsqi3aNX4JNswU4CMSmh89mViw6zmtn09C-LBJO9bvdX6JLxFThYAUwYUHA_57Sgu-WfQ/s5184/P1033418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6Z0qn7TPrQge2Ef8JxKIad4ORsplQP6CRMzabVK1nvqJEBvubDZtNKD1g34Jjkp8jtw1Sqc9b_aEjWYN29W7MdQlX-4AG-_pSi-IJrCUjrGl-s5zp4lLpfsqi3aNX4JNswU4CMSmh89mViw6zmtn09C-LBJO9bvdX6JLxFThYAUwYUHA_57Sgu-WfQ/s320/P1033418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrcgb1ZjT5zfewoytFmIBw4dAcNT2KtXri26d9eGBBSXESGVfBdXyUQ_9-Y1UbTee3zoWussw-7df4x7CQvW5aqtdmHOxLYd0d8pbw8Wa3blR6xNbiBkUmgHyHok2n-NDfCcUnpqSnPUT014c0pFIpJGmDDCt3PvyyVo18wygzStzvFbYndXcoDE_wA/s5184/P1033419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrcgb1ZjT5zfewoytFmIBw4dAcNT2KtXri26d9eGBBSXESGVfBdXyUQ_9-Y1UbTee3zoWussw-7df4x7CQvW5aqtdmHOxLYd0d8pbw8Wa3blR6xNbiBkUmgHyHok2n-NDfCcUnpqSnPUT014c0pFIpJGmDDCt3PvyyVo18wygzStzvFbYndXcoDE_wA/s320/P1033419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Ebg8F6oPkYouYuflOMrld26Of3tdWwveJFPB1dAO_e3LktRUEExNEvByH29gJiE0IpB6KpqHeP0k9aMBs9_yJ1IHXmGlP9h-dHwFr-pCr5JSRwwFgtdSTRBBj4OD-AFarFr0vefq46Ih7vl8FYOnPtfXz-Cjj4R_VnocAvKIYTYII0R7CqfRoLiHg/s5184/P1033420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Ebg8F6oPkYouYuflOMrld26Of3tdWwveJFPB1dAO_e3LktRUEExNEvByH29gJiE0IpB6KpqHeP0k9aMBs9_yJ1IHXmGlP9h-dHwFr-pCr5JSRwwFgtdSTRBBj4OD-AFarFr0vefq46Ih7vl8FYOnPtfXz-Cjj4R_VnocAvKIYTYII0R7CqfRoLiHg/s320/P1033420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaSez8w8y4oSRe_Ijfk7W8ocsGFqzRDqOVfy-UjyACRnEBivVkIXcfJp0ErODD3m-jpb2YEybmY_7P_qLvY0cX9B-64atlJcR9HMX5PHBlzDOb9O877aM6TkG8iuMrkdFajKIxTczYPoUlnIXO4Cbr1SP5KqFLoi4Rh2cPyhkWXB9SiIGwKN6Ziq9ig/s5184/P1033422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaSez8w8y4oSRe_Ijfk7W8ocsGFqzRDqOVfy-UjyACRnEBivVkIXcfJp0ErODD3m-jpb2YEybmY_7P_qLvY0cX9B-64atlJcR9HMX5PHBlzDOb9O877aM6TkG8iuMrkdFajKIxTczYPoUlnIXO4Cbr1SP5KqFLoi4Rh2cPyhkWXB9SiIGwKN6Ziq9ig/s320/P1033422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP98e039cpf1DW72h_noda3hufnFn3B-XYjVR4o4Lo_cLQMLSmjwZaehpvJxNruIYv_gLG9nFG9MGfTY-I5H9AM0wm4OhfA5QV8ZlusHiCinuNpZIAc9Ieoht-f4mC2_qJc0DU5zzeUx8aoevg8AuMfqwXRNH4Fnsvt4i4BjBShsBvSGwgg4D7LCkCQ/s5184/P1033424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP98e039cpf1DW72h_noda3hufnFn3B-XYjVR4o4Lo_cLQMLSmjwZaehpvJxNruIYv_gLG9nFG9MGfTY-I5H9AM0wm4OhfA5QV8ZlusHiCinuNpZIAc9Ieoht-f4mC2_qJc0DU5zzeUx8aoevg8AuMfqwXRNH4Fnsvt4i4BjBShsBvSGwgg4D7LCkCQ/s320/P1033424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvkO6scdfMGMjraDFbmnV3iYGDKSeCrraFeewHQDpRqwZA_KNClVl54XrLBEGjmIPMmUGlnnWnMXf7GTbGZn-8_l-598XfrXK7aLntCLT3-zvguGew9YKlYVnSwTC9T9hYlkI2gYIMN5n3weeUzwoSd8hExozEYNTfxJmsVRi4iXKuHNzMvdNCHLiFw/s5184/P1033425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvkO6scdfMGMjraDFbmnV3iYGDKSeCrraFeewHQDpRqwZA_KNClVl54XrLBEGjmIPMmUGlnnWnMXf7GTbGZn-8_l-598XfrXK7aLntCLT3-zvguGew9YKlYVnSwTC9T9hYlkI2gYIMN5n3weeUzwoSd8hExozEYNTfxJmsVRi4iXKuHNzMvdNCHLiFw/s320/P1033425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y5PSI47W4RN1h41VKclQOKcLSM6tmNrwHnW-G-AnKnmsmxVpizAF-zdFHSiF14ysX8dgKSbD8MDN66BsM9myPoDOY5E4kDh2v_ysPGRcy-JCNh1PHnNG2pdWjbGk_BogeQF7eQ6VU7PVCFxs-NIGPv7Kxr6d7kg2UlEkkPgSFE1V_5MU72VaFSCHfQ/s5184/P1033426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Y5PSI47W4RN1h41VKclQOKcLSM6tmNrwHnW-G-AnKnmsmxVpizAF-zdFHSiF14ysX8dgKSbD8MDN66BsM9myPoDOY5E4kDh2v_ysPGRcy-JCNh1PHnNG2pdWjbGk_BogeQF7eQ6VU7PVCFxs-NIGPv7Kxr6d7kg2UlEkkPgSFE1V_5MU72VaFSCHfQ/s320/P1033426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaArTCfnc56LgtocJtjo5T7hpahsMvVrgFTetqF57NHX3cowhVQddL5QyDgyRmdAqeXQTTDql-zzKi4klduTKGdburLSSCPEllTHu2jNsZitvrm9B67S-eW8-q3cQ7qc__vJMXm4kh675cr6v_sQwuEBprLjiiZCXEOMIO2WJ6C5JOfTvSX5AcIaxBQ/s5184/P1033427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaArTCfnc56LgtocJtjo5T7hpahsMvVrgFTetqF57NHX3cowhVQddL5QyDgyRmdAqeXQTTDql-zzKi4klduTKGdburLSSCPEllTHu2jNsZitvrm9B67S-eW8-q3cQ7qc__vJMXm4kh675cr6v_sQwuEBprLjiiZCXEOMIO2WJ6C5JOfTvSX5AcIaxBQ/s320/P1033427.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7QBGSZb4PPXDfoUW7Sp63XvmH6HfOPO3jJqKkzH6Ca8hX3wsTWKSTJyPonpv7FKOXDq177hSw553w10CsuJdfEB1qc8kCdxKtTfGF_4J-XGvwDgtHFF8RU9gyCoC0A096MegxH8AdV3Rte4ejipefSYpAfYFTGQEZAlih3lAwNCgbw5RvWUz0oTaYQ/s2745/fullsizeoutput_b5f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2745" data-original-width="2724" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7QBGSZb4PPXDfoUW7Sp63XvmH6HfOPO3jJqKkzH6Ca8hX3wsTWKSTJyPonpv7FKOXDq177hSw553w10CsuJdfEB1qc8kCdxKtTfGF_4J-XGvwDgtHFF8RU9gyCoC0A096MegxH8AdV3Rte4ejipefSYpAfYFTGQEZAlih3lAwNCgbw5RvWUz0oTaYQ/s320/fullsizeoutput_b5f.jpeg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8fCnsJw399RT3HVkjoAoWZFd2j0Ix3lEF4HeD52czBVwImy-9jsQ2ZAMlmfPl9qAWdKqGDHqFpjZnqfFRYJ3F2cxbvRxxOeJ1k0Wowym9s6na2sqZ3dgJEHo5D-gMlaSeY4cCvEzGnKPs5I1UizoalVCxCmujYEdt8smIdPKQkJc68FWhw7jrzLrrA/s2647/fullsizeoutput_b5e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2647" data-original-width="2574" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8fCnsJw399RT3HVkjoAoWZFd2j0Ix3lEF4HeD52czBVwImy-9jsQ2ZAMlmfPl9qAWdKqGDHqFpjZnqfFRYJ3F2cxbvRxxOeJ1k0Wowym9s6na2sqZ3dgJEHo5D-gMlaSeY4cCvEzGnKPs5I1UizoalVCxCmujYEdt8smIdPKQkJc68FWhw7jrzLrrA/s320/fullsizeoutput_b5e.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZxpt0_yuozD38B7oOgoRGHrTXmfU2kTcKNjLb27CJm4ORlQOXpilfLQjxeKwr7ZTPajsElsHPn3ciirsR3mCX0qrPXjCkX7KTRnaSqiTPO-pZIt7M9EZHWUcihOiv3VOQRkIo3EKevxBA7urQChtnwAmQMG8lA8UJcQMh1XU1zAszL0BRwm064D2fA/s5184/P1033430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZxpt0_yuozD38B7oOgoRGHrTXmfU2kTcKNjLb27CJm4ORlQOXpilfLQjxeKwr7ZTPajsElsHPn3ciirsR3mCX0qrPXjCkX7KTRnaSqiTPO-pZIt7M9EZHWUcihOiv3VOQRkIo3EKevxBA7urQChtnwAmQMG8lA8UJcQMh1XU1zAszL0BRwm064D2fA/s320/P1033430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-87190499105398559092022-07-31T14:38:00.001+10:002022-07-31T14:38:11.857+10:00'In the Shadow of Abe'<p> The death of former Prime Minster Abe, while on the hustings for the Upper House elections, on a street corner in Nara, came as a shock to many, for many reasons. The second-last day of the campaign, I was considering a trip to Omiya to see him later that day, Friday evening, on the way home. Although this post comes in the middle of posts I have drafted on this election prior to the shooting, as pics from the hustings over on the other blog, I put here for the record, a piece I wrote within a few days, for the Lowy Institute <a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/shadow-abe" target="_blank">Interpreter</a> column. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kXHsujUhF4y4tXqUyzMlPYvaOHJsa8HYtKeAz1Dy-L-YPuCCRDb1PFNGsSl73pE1VZ6hM4UxW8bifnot_hd1AkRi0n6u22PuVDzZ3toUZQQJHrk8UcAhCb2Wqy2Df0Uw9ZreECvVvIMtMaZfW0th3E04FHPmxypH2P8piiOfFExZP7svNaueHoX5Ew/s6960/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kXHsujUhF4y4tXqUyzMlPYvaOHJsa8HYtKeAz1Dy-L-YPuCCRDb1PFNGsSl73pE1VZ6hM4UxW8bifnot_hd1AkRi0n6u22PuVDzZ3toUZQQJHrk8UcAhCb2Wqy2Df0Uw9ZreECvVvIMtMaZfW0th3E04FHPmxypH2P8piiOfFExZP7svNaueHoX5Ew/w400-h266/IMG_1819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS2cvE7hSZmgiUH9ScANk74p2XHGJmFdkKR_FaTVow8aCItw7ASgsZmTkEczzhEaL5EWl6AM_Cz0ETE1jEfIbaBcTJ2qwY7LxQmb3jWdyAUEkrVkvcWqgQ_XB0AIsoTPEYGS_ISlGmN6GBPdB_6GTVzBo_azMhtEN5A_2SbTIZ3vpk9Hj2G75qnJrUg/s6960/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS2cvE7hSZmgiUH9ScANk74p2XHGJmFdkKR_FaTVow8aCItw7ASgsZmTkEczzhEaL5EWl6AM_Cz0ETE1jEfIbaBcTJ2qwY7LxQmb3jWdyAUEkrVkvcWqgQ_XB0AIsoTPEYGS_ISlGmN6GBPdB_6GTVzBo_azMhtEN5A_2SbTIZ3vpk9Hj2G75qnJrUg/w400-h266/IMG_1818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ga3KfooJd84oi8a1jCB0TzGJpEcZZF1v_lTY72et7fDi9rZyKo9Hq0hmH7Y3oVUIkBfwptMON5-xxL-2Uu6IivqIuh48uJGwhdZaXP-fhlMa6J16m6yQlH2FjVUC7Zq0UTCeF13vXi3ZuuZH4tJi6gFzmJ10pTPMhlb4PaALCaAtkaJ0AJKV53r0uw/s6960/fullsizeoutput_4df.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ga3KfooJd84oi8a1jCB0TzGJpEcZZF1v_lTY72et7fDi9rZyKo9Hq0hmH7Y3oVUIkBfwptMON5-xxL-2Uu6IivqIuh48uJGwhdZaXP-fhlMa6J16m6yQlH2FjVUC7Zq0UTCeF13vXi3ZuuZH4tJi6gFzmJ10pTPMhlb4PaALCaAtkaJ0AJKV53r0uw/w640-h426/fullsizeoutput_4df.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the opening day of the campaign, at Tachikawa Station, western Tokyo, 22 June 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-47923014035556491902022-06-06T13:48:00.000+10:002022-06-06T13:48:10.383+10:00There is another election...<p><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ...this will keep me busy over the next few weeks</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Upper House election Japan is due in early July and parties and candidates are starting to make their moves, although the official campaigning period doesn't start for another couple of weeks. I'll be here to do some regular updates (no-one is expecting a change in government, or even much of a change in the composition of seats) as I attend the various rallies that are held around town (and perhaps beyond Tokyo if the opportunity arises...).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last week, long-term lower house rep who lost her seat in Osaka last year, Tsukimoto Kiyomi, turned up at a local town hall meeting here in my local area. I have been following Tsujimoto for several years, as one of the women in my research on women in politics here in Japan so I was keen to catch up with her. Unlike previous years where she has campaigned in her home town mostly, this time she is challenging for a national seat so is in the process of traveling all over. It is a tough call to be elected but, given her profile and record, she is someone I would like to see back in parliament. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The rest of the morning was a bit of a report on local politics, interesting to sit in and listen. (Not something a lot of people would be thrilled about I know...)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiKpWUM1i_OlCu5xwca472rI50NpiKyS2y28elFbgDjbI-6swYNvQXlP2KCwjafO5KKoEs45DaScnkGLS_HwsEiwsdDAvNkPWaZDCNy9kF6eHTdaOcHpmvSL8rpJOcctocQmUpNyyhIg47XzAo9JM5Snyv43FIZXxl-LM1qha-6uWPJ2E1dtNf9rm7w/s4032/nb4FiOABSVqFrbC3xalqEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiKpWUM1i_OlCu5xwca472rI50NpiKyS2y28elFbgDjbI-6swYNvQXlP2KCwjafO5KKoEs45DaScnkGLS_HwsEiwsdDAvNkPWaZDCNy9kF6eHTdaOcHpmvSL8rpJOcctocQmUpNyyhIg47XzAo9JM5Snyv43FIZXxl-LM1qha-6uWPJ2E1dtNf9rm7w/s320/nb4FiOABSVqFrbC3xalqEA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ-8xgs4wuakIYxKTYH6X-iKiOJwAm5LHaLlV_oGyiluFr_eiJFd72EkUMZx_M_TRx5Iacezm1dJH8WGiW0c0M8hd9afoudM9uY2Nda1IQCj2Cqvnz1cY9Earc1qdGDJYM5_bV78lu62WqdIjfbLUZPv5gw6aJEmIBeGoV-5YCth2Go1ABLCgZ3_tVA/s4032/9%25IOQEZxTUGEEoaTKrP+Tw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ-8xgs4wuakIYxKTYH6X-iKiOJwAm5LHaLlV_oGyiluFr_eiJFd72EkUMZx_M_TRx5Iacezm1dJH8WGiW0c0M8hd9afoudM9uY2Nda1IQCj2Cqvnz1cY9Earc1qdGDJYM5_bV78lu62WqdIjfbLUZPv5gw6aJEmIBeGoV-5YCth2Go1ABLCgZ3_tVA/s320/9%25IOQEZxTUGEEoaTKrP+Tw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFllEItJkvn4yyOC6BeaW_OSddKWpSEoMxg-qwKMQlgbX5cwqG25bbAtj-IcCwovIrmQgpFxvWzNwtkFGrpItSwX1MLzrdUJNYDt7UDJY3sfhn4fgo7H4VW4F3h4mf49R_pHvVwTWbwoW_MmlooVYU4o3-2COOGHd5Yhw-H6iXGSUMvlr8NYAElWhCPg/s4032/saIrgl3CTq+igWCtkvOlMQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFllEItJkvn4yyOC6BeaW_OSddKWpSEoMxg-qwKMQlgbX5cwqG25bbAtj-IcCwovIrmQgpFxvWzNwtkFGrpItSwX1MLzrdUJNYDt7UDJY3sfhn4fgo7H4VW4F3h4mf49R_pHvVwTWbwoW_MmlooVYU4o3-2COOGHd5Yhw-H6iXGSUMvlr8NYAElWhCPg/s320/saIrgl3CTq+igWCtkvOlMQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-7YDMGIVu5INXOGskIptl7-xypYaxrIDX7sH4O50E4eZgx7Lc91fKe8PLcS5qMVxR9fRDBeKlCSOLjB7bketLgtMjycQnG4zt-unnpMKmCPDQr_b4SDl2myUGs5vxoEcRaGTWjXl0szeaLqKGTrHZyT_fTiJSzTtn6ZFFd3V1Af-btl81CHU6PRRog/s4032/Tc7++rG0QCms1oCTRwZYoQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-7YDMGIVu5INXOGskIptl7-xypYaxrIDX7sH4O50E4eZgx7Lc91fKe8PLcS5qMVxR9fRDBeKlCSOLjB7bketLgtMjycQnG4zt-unnpMKmCPDQr_b4SDl2myUGs5vxoEcRaGTWjXl0szeaLqKGTrHZyT_fTiJSzTtn6ZFFd3V1Af-btl81CHU6PRRog/s320/Tc7++rG0QCms1oCTRwZYoQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On Saturday (4 June '22) it was off to Ikebukuro Station where the leader of the small (but popular among students) party, Reiwa Shinsengumi was set to introduce the party's candidates for the summer election. The leader, Yamamoto Taro is a somewhat charismatic younger generation politician who in a previous life was a popular actor. I first encountered his political ambitions at this same station back in 2013, when he was running as an independent candidate for the Upper House. His only prop then was an upturned milk crate, because, he said, 'it is important be here on the ground, on the same level as the voters'. He has come a long way...now with all the trimmings included a live band as a warm-up feature today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qgtDkD3NWkdJ2cs3wALJohLQwEbEZBrh4TC36smF5sAxNVd5duwX0eTMQGRJkqWVzUrieQCEXGUOGo1ErtM6tnn7I5nJyAXf23jELpWP902iwThQl2OSkdRNH-OfolAjuSWOpOWBNfIL1tfPUWBDTtLRdEwySznTzXXPy-a6GgXAROAU1Pc69AcFFA/s6000/IMG_4216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qgtDkD3NWkdJ2cs3wALJohLQwEbEZBrh4TC36smF5sAxNVd5duwX0eTMQGRJkqWVzUrieQCEXGUOGo1ErtM6tnn7I5nJyAXf23jELpWP902iwThQl2OSkdRNH-OfolAjuSWOpOWBNfIL1tfPUWBDTtLRdEwySznTzXXPy-a6GgXAROAU1Pc69AcFFA/s320/IMG_4216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDEv2gmEi4-wtT_1A5EN1VrBpTBcfC2hXoTsE1wi2jh-cYioIn4KrCEmAjfAzDMJaNAr0i0Vyd_CiqK8wzwfl-nLJF-nG4XLiR71if_DygHhuu3MgsGpSkFQqda8DAi4tgMAx_hjXkNvE4uwM_w-dQU_DhOQDDHXQHAi6fWIyEj9YJbhBvec7uVsSiA/s6000/IMG_4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDEv2gmEi4-wtT_1A5EN1VrBpTBcfC2hXoTsE1wi2jh-cYioIn4KrCEmAjfAzDMJaNAr0i0Vyd_CiqK8wzwfl-nLJF-nG4XLiR71if_DygHhuu3MgsGpSkFQqda8DAi4tgMAx_hjXkNvE4uwM_w-dQU_DhOQDDHXQHAi6fWIyEj9YJbhBvec7uVsSiA/s320/IMG_4218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CI8aCg94XkQzEgtaqHK7myFvjo7ssRgTEAu1rgUOXvJ9lP2ai2PDAZuBHUshm80YRN_a1KF20J0OlWKpcVacKuGdzjnYi0nm-x3bVhC8ctin_jCUYdlOyoVpo5qPBmYEvV58mETpmpl0stewcxCMgVdVoIrlNxJnhW0n9s_NWt3gm5mHkv9adJ7fRw/s6000/IMG_4220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CI8aCg94XkQzEgtaqHK7myFvjo7ssRgTEAu1rgUOXvJ9lP2ai2PDAZuBHUshm80YRN_a1KF20J0OlWKpcVacKuGdzjnYi0nm-x3bVhC8ctin_jCUYdlOyoVpo5qPBmYEvV58mETpmpl0stewcxCMgVdVoIrlNxJnhW0n9s_NWt3gm5mHkv9adJ7fRw/s320/IMG_4220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZMQy7LcOaBpJxhlSgmKEp20VRJwB3nj5JF-bjtwu6UvySoRfuKorz-bi-XI7Zsim8nwZEyhp-x4EP8em1MhU1GCCkSQO-KYLvvnS9TJzVYfzHNUkUk6TlDwAjBD8jKjLDg8DY7uD4KvFUeAEayONXRLf-uOOZQy-sPFC4B7a51FgBNzSGyDMQ6Y94A/s6000/IMG_4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZMQy7LcOaBpJxhlSgmKEp20VRJwB3nj5JF-bjtwu6UvySoRfuKorz-bi-XI7Zsim8nwZEyhp-x4EP8em1MhU1GCCkSQO-KYLvvnS9TJzVYfzHNUkUk6TlDwAjBD8jKjLDg8DY7uD4KvFUeAEayONXRLf-uOOZQy-sPFC4B7a51FgBNzSGyDMQ6Y94A/s320/IMG_4222.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ysmTDHR8BIInW4Q7z-f0iYNma8ItMVuKx-43wZq_PDjomAlvKhV47V8Roa4oeXHkxpd_zzTHH-8T98hTlLQ3Q1xQCJvT8WD9n7wGFrOqsYrfvT1ZTGAjzPnN1D9Er6k-41gc_AA1dEKYOWP3gO6rUChgH1SDhXroDsqiyzu4yYnmn9bb6xpYLpvAmQ/s6000/IMG_4223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ysmTDHR8BIInW4Q7z-f0iYNma8ItMVuKx-43wZq_PDjomAlvKhV47V8Roa4oeXHkxpd_zzTHH-8T98hTlLQ3Q1xQCJvT8WD9n7wGFrOqsYrfvT1ZTGAjzPnN1D9Er6k-41gc_AA1dEKYOWP3gO6rUChgH1SDhXroDsqiyzu4yYnmn9bb6xpYLpvAmQ/s320/IMG_4223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUOkA8T6LivaPGdYXHCn7p5vlO3DSRY8X4XH-t6Xu6lwSmQ99p5FO_lFxjUZUGqqDhSQ5VuQVW54bHCkQul0FLbWg2iekyFHu1R1e23OB_0bJKEl3lkAPKVRN0NHJL4z1jLbws-BDXmNl4zghifTLTU6fYjkg_yuAPGLZ1ok8PbXsSKtx-If-bp9pA/s6000/IMG_4224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUOkA8T6LivaPGdYXHCn7p5vlO3DSRY8X4XH-t6Xu6lwSmQ99p5FO_lFxjUZUGqqDhSQ5VuQVW54bHCkQul0FLbWg2iekyFHu1R1e23OB_0bJKEl3lkAPKVRN0NHJL4z1jLbws-BDXmNl4zghifTLTU6fYjkg_yuAPGLZ1ok8PbXsSKtx-If-bp9pA/s320/IMG_4224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ryXtod3Qm388cGBlyspNv9N-H564dcabUTqaJGbFacrMAJsjXa6tdA1KJZ1mAZeEI0CwydwxDWCSaSTkhcEmnsfj5BOiNhAv56OiUpEcCul_SoUz7pxplfw1AJuAFDovx3X_e5np1EOOTXuAOY0YLnvE3-VvERdZjhhZJX5l_dRhxoiG235DLr8drA/s6000/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ryXtod3Qm388cGBlyspNv9N-H564dcabUTqaJGbFacrMAJsjXa6tdA1KJZ1mAZeEI0CwydwxDWCSaSTkhcEmnsfj5BOiNhAv56OiUpEcCul_SoUz7pxplfw1AJuAFDovx3X_e5np1EOOTXuAOY0YLnvE3-VvERdZjhhZJX5l_dRhxoiG235DLr8drA/s320/IMG_4225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eBl4QiodtL1IBbNwffwdIL61iIhgv-z1V88skN5CC88niYCV34I43xDt-voN-0vTYOlC1KbB9mipMSTteihMwRoY9Y7OIL8Yzqrk-jbnU1GpuwQOJnm3J4CJVLVF3pB3RiE6Bk350a2aBBs5QnvRMl8ESkfYRUwDReLrd8BO0E_7NpVID2ghKM-RoQ/s6000/IMG_4226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eBl4QiodtL1IBbNwffwdIL61iIhgv-z1V88skN5CC88niYCV34I43xDt-voN-0vTYOlC1KbB9mipMSTteihMwRoY9Y7OIL8Yzqrk-jbnU1GpuwQOJnm3J4CJVLVF3pB3RiE6Bk350a2aBBs5QnvRMl8ESkfYRUwDReLrd8BO0E_7NpVID2ghKM-RoQ/s320/IMG_4226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyDJvjHQh6C5ToW7qFpC1msf76P9X7Zbp0lFkQe5P4iLH2Yz6OAZJpzqyEudJ9nAJzPIesOBQ6_nNU5JJEshoCGBXeBbNr7LWKL0fPBsCNbIQHORfvpMOPRk0xYhIZta275fpktX9EzsJF7BzcqByEKoXdH8D2M78FYKyJ0lCvr5EVfViu9v7HegIpA/s6000/IMG_4227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyDJvjHQh6C5ToW7qFpC1msf76P9X7Zbp0lFkQe5P4iLH2Yz6OAZJpzqyEudJ9nAJzPIesOBQ6_nNU5JJEshoCGBXeBbNr7LWKL0fPBsCNbIQHORfvpMOPRk0xYhIZta275fpktX9EzsJF7BzcqByEKoXdH8D2M78FYKyJ0lCvr5EVfViu9v7HegIpA/s320/IMG_4227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCqB1640mOFojsIE9-K6DcaomEu9fHPGnoYhxVPEtFdvkvbGLsZi9HTWMpYvK2EThH0jewz4YSKXWd9og2azz3jr3kFFHEkM2tipZXCMOMDhZswX9p2WpdMbsQdR_0uzgDHkTIf0N6Q_VE5pmTW3RgHMbUP2J6gjd0tY6Ii56mS6BqD1AQ48-e7V7RQ/s6000/IMG_4234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCqB1640mOFojsIE9-K6DcaomEu9fHPGnoYhxVPEtFdvkvbGLsZi9HTWMpYvK2EThH0jewz4YSKXWd9og2azz3jr3kFFHEkM2tipZXCMOMDhZswX9p2WpdMbsQdR_0uzgDHkTIf0N6Q_VE5pmTW3RgHMbUP2J6gjd0tY6Ii56mS6BqD1AQ48-e7V7RQ/s320/IMG_4234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As the election campaigning progresses, I'll discuss the various party platforms, the key candidates and what we might expect come election day.*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">More to come, as they say...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">*This might turn out to be my last Japanese election too. More to come as they...oops, I see I've already said that.</span></p><p><br /></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-85901880973187241132022-05-29T12:56:00.003+10:002022-05-29T12:56:21.564+10:00A comment on the Quad<p><b> Another grouping for the region</b></p><p>This week which saw the election of a new government in Australia, was also the stage for several major diplomatic plays in the region. </p><p>US President Biden visited South Korea before landing in Tokyo for a key bilateral dialogues with PM Kishida on Monday. By Tuesday the two were joined by Indian PM Modi and new Australian PM Albanese. </p><p>I was able to submit a commentary piece to the Interpreter via the Lowy Institute.</p><p><img alt="画像" class="css-9pa8cd" draggable="true" height="342" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTb6XzeVEAAKhi3?format=jpg&name=medium" width="640" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm posting the link here, for the record. </p><div style="text-align: left;">Albanese steps cautiously through the Quad wrangle, 27 May 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/albanese-steps-cautiously-through-quad-wrangle" target="_blank">Interprete</a>r</div>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-78217253870481546032022-05-08T18:29:00.002+10:002022-05-08T18:29:54.099+10:00Feeling disenfranchised...<p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">... like our vote means less than an Olympian's medal</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A couple of weeks ago, I was talking to students, at the beginning of the new academic year, about how exciting it will be that we have <i>two</i> elections to observe as we study politics here in Japan and at home in Australia. We can follow the different aspects of campaigning, media coverage, candidates and their promises as it unfolds in real time while we study our textbooks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Japan's Upper House election will be in summer (here), due in July, while Australia's election campaign is in full swing, with election day on 21 May. Voting is a point of interest for my seminar students--we debate the pros and cons of compulsory voting in Australia and the fact that Japanese electors, even registered ones, are not so compelled. We compare the voter turnout figures--90ish percent in Australia compared with 53-55ish percent for Japan. And then conversation turns to 'the democracy sausage', the rather unassuming sausage with onions and sauce on a slice of bread which has in the last decade or so taken on a meaning likely unintended by the first local school P&C that came up with the idea. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Indeed, I introduce the concept of the democracy sausage to students as a way to get conversation going, showing them a photo of my Tokyo democracy sausage from 2019, outside the Embassy after I had cast my vote in person. The democracy sausage has received coverage here in the media via NHK the national broadcaster (<a href="https://www.nhk.or.jp/politics/articles/feature/19968.html" target="_blank">in Japanese here</a>) and on popular news programs. 'I'll be off to do it again on 21 May' I said to them in that first week of classes, not for one minute imagining this democratic function we have taken for granted for years here in Tokyo was about to taken away from us...</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF3uTc60PJVEOb19RKwGNdCShs-sZThVVEuWXr4jrtEU1nMAbJP5q2hi4KDNFjS67YMdykfqvaKTVw1cwMcFDK3LD98E8lS8IivVYcnX1IuhM80YGeWqBD3LHd48JGVvv68AnJpgM9XKBQCAufwm0oV1HacqTHDwVP4NVLatsPtBedjzOky2g9nnJRg/s2016/FQ_R8RFVkAEtGvI.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF3uTc60PJVEOb19RKwGNdCShs-sZThVVEuWXr4jrtEU1nMAbJP5q2hi4KDNFjS67YMdykfqvaKTVw1cwMcFDK3LD98E8lS8IivVYcnX1IuhM80YGeWqBD3LHd48JGVvv68AnJpgM9XKBQCAufwm0oV1HacqTHDwVP4NVLatsPtBedjzOky2g9nnJRg/w300-h400/FQ_R8RFVkAEtGvI.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo, 2019</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The sausage was a new addition to the Embassy polling booth in 2019, after a few of us had jokingly said in 2016 that 'gee, it would be nice to have a sausage sizzle to complete the atmosphere'...the Greens volunteers were handing out watermelon in 2016 which was nice but...have you really voted if you haven't been able to buy your democracy sausage (and the now vegan, vegetarian and halal options). My students like the idea and a couple of years ago they proposed a similar 'festival' atmosphere at the polling booth with yakitori and grilled squid might encourage participation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sadly, last week, I had to tell the students I wouldn't be going after all. Last weekend we learned that in-person voting in Tokyo wouldn't be happening but we could register for a postal vote (what the decisionmakers failed to realise was that the 'postal service' between Japan and Australia in a time of Covid has been pretty dodgy, to say the least). What started off as a couple of tweets of surprise by a few of us, has turned into quite the twitterstorm with the AEC getting involved as well, basically to tell us that postal votes are available just not in person and stop being so negative about it all. OK AEC, I'm sorry, but there is a lot more at stake here really. As we held our line, we learnt that several overseas posts will be open to in-person voting. Covid, we were told. But wait, we said, Tokyo continues to have rather strict Covid protocols, we wear masks, we sanitise our hands at every point...what is with the Covid excuse then? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What is a psephologist to do then but to dig a little deeper into the figures. And so I have. And my conclusions? Well, let's have a look. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Turns out, 'due to Covid restrictions', just 19 posts will have in-person voting. These include Brunei, Cambodia, China (two places), Cook Islands, France, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Nauru, New Zealand, PNG, Philippines, Taiwan, UK, US (two places), Vanuatu and Vietnam. Postal voting is also available at these places. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now a Tokyo resident, say, an Australian with a psephological bent, might look at those places and wonder about the 'Covid' reasoning. Is it Covid? Is it just that the AEC and DFAT (the Embassy) have decided that the numbers don't warrant the bother. This was the city that hosted the Olympics remember? Thousands of people--athletes, team officials, media--came into the city, in a peak Covid time, (I know, I saw a lot of them in and around my work precinct) it was all managed over a few weeks but our Embassy, in Minato-ku, can't handle a few hundred citizens expecting to exercise our voting right on the day? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are a couple of issues here. One is that 'long-term' residents lose their right to vote after five years. Now this seems a little arbitrary, especially in this era of globalization. And these are not residents who surrender their Australian citizenship either, but they lose the right to vote nonetheless. Australians living in Japan number around 10,000. Tourism numbers (visas) were estimated at around 500,000 in 2018. Now perhaps an in-person poll at the Embassy might be set up with the number of tourists in mind, rather than the fraction of the 10,000 residents who qualify under there five year rule. And of course, in 2019, tourists and visitors were still here in great numbers, pre-Covid. At the 2022 election, there will be no tourists or visitors because the Japanese government is still not issuing visas. That leaves the residents, some of whom were due to go home but fall into that group that have been 'locked out' of Australia while it closed down for Covid. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(Disclosure: I fall into this latter group, due to return home in March 2021, I had to arrange to extend work, accommodation and renew my visa given the uncertainty about when I might return. March 2021 was also the end of my five-year period of voting rights under normal circumstances. I remain affronted by the idea, like a lot of friends and colleagues here that five years is the limit.)</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKwtj8Hmmg4Q-NgWPTARLsyCacFPB60AnVXNhpkXyJeLAdov4D0pbs5KxKZ2GsT2Y_T3XXViS_ixXjedGM_XZmMztGEWc54okEF40fnBIP2srjA2bXBsFQIUiRJtmKLwA1krB7TLljb3rMwUYbPK5igPx2hYLkHYYFnGpl06jytg4Ce8LCwWZqpwOHA/s6000/IMG_4068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKwtj8Hmmg4Q-NgWPTARLsyCacFPB60AnVXNhpkXyJeLAdov4D0pbs5KxKZ2GsT2Y_T3XXViS_ixXjedGM_XZmMztGEWc54okEF40fnBIP2srjA2bXBsFQIUiRJtmKLwA1krB7TLljb3rMwUYbPK5igPx2hYLkHYYFnGpl06jytg4Ce8LCwWZqpwOHA/w400-h266/IMG_4068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recently acquired T-shirt, made by a Japanese artist, who cares about voting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But back to the post, and the voting at overseas posts...let's have a look at the figures from the AEC website...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Total of overseas votes by division</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There were approximately 61,000 postal (85) and Pre-poll votes (60710) recorded at overseas posts. There is a breakdown of the number of votes by electorate and it demonstrates, that while some numbers are low, nearly all electorates attracted overseas voters. These are votes that should be counted wherever they are lodged. For those candidates in seats with a small margin, I'm sure they would want to see 'every vote count'. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There were 13 divisions where over 1000 votes were cast, the greatest number, 2226 in Sydney. Among the divisions however, are a couple of seats with strong Independent challenges and seats where the number of overseas voters represented the difference between a win and a loss (Wentworth, for example, 1552 o/s votes in 2019, lost by Independent Dr Phelps and won 'back' by the Liberal Party, on a difference apparently of around 1200 votes.) Interesting to note that Kooyong, longtime Liberal Party 'heritage' seat, seat of PMs and PMs in waiting, a strong Independent campaign and in 2019, 1194 o/s pre-polls. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The division in which I'm registered, held by a sitting Labor MP, won on Green preferences in 2019, is similarly in a race where every vote will matter. In 2019, 754 pre-poll votes were included for that seat. Lilley, also in Queensland, which has a 0.6 (1229 votes) margin, had 365 votes from overseas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We will come back to these figures after the election, especially the 'close' ones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now perhaps in the scheme of things, 61,000 or so o/s votes, setting up booths, having staff on hand etc, might be all too '<i>mendokusai</i>' as we say here, not really worth the bother. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Votes at overseas posts</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Recall that 19 posts have been selected for in-person voting. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in 2019, London 'dispatched' (*term used by the AEC) the highest number of votes to Australia, 13,428 votes. Accra (Ghana), dispatched 64. Paris dispatched 1176. Nauru dispatched 137. One could spend a lot of time looking at and comparing the numbers of the 85 or so posts from the last election. Tokyo, our point of contention, dispatched 1078 votes, neither London large, nor Nauru small, but 1000 or so voters who no doubt appreciated the opportunity to do so, and had assumed this to be part of the mission of the Australian Mission in Tokyo, as it were. As a student here in the 1980s, going to the Embassy to vote was a huge thing, a wonderful sense of 'still counting for something' despite the distance (in a pre-internet world, Australia was a long long way away). I remember the 1988 referendum where, as a member of the Society for Australian Students in Japan, preparing material for many of us here who wanted to know the details (in a pre-internet world where getting information was not a couple of mouse clicks away).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I write I have applied for a postal vote as advised. But we have just had a week of public holidays and no mail deliveries (Golden Week) and we are getting inside the last two weeks and still no sign of the package. How much easier it would have been knowing my date on 21 May was at the Embassy gate...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many of the concerns raised by friends and colleagues currently overseas were, as it turns out, raised in an Inquiry held by the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs back in 2005 (yes, that rolls of the tongue easily, you are visiting the blog of a psephologist after all...😊), <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/expats03/report/index" target="_blank">They Still Call Australia Home</a> : inquiry into Australian expatriates (8 March 2005) </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Chapter five, in </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">particular, addresses the concerns around voting overseas. Statistically, numbers haven't moved a lot. In the 2001 election for example, 63,036 sets of ballot papers were issued. Some of the submissions cited 'the disenfranchised status of those removed from the Australian electoral role is felt acutely, especially by the politically active and informed'; 'I am well informed on Australian politics, I have enormous interest in, pride in and love for the country of my birth, and I just want to vote'... and similar comments, recorded in 2005, echoed in 2022. The report makes for interesting reading almost twenty years later. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Reading the </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">report reminded me of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters which will no doubt convene for a report on the conduct of the 2022 election...tomodachi, we need to get writing, make submissions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Another small point not to be overlooked too is the levels of 'soft diplomacy' carried out by Australians in Japan on a daily basis. We are not Ambassadors, we are not First Secretaries, but we are here doing our jobs, daily, living our lives, daily, on the ground here and there. I know in my circles that how where and when we vote actually inspires Japanese people to think about their own voting circumstances (ok, I might be talking about a niche audience, but I'm just one person doing my job.😄) We kind of expect a little more from the Embassy in return.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Australian citizens overseas for these last two years have felt they have been abandoned or discounted by the government. The Covid lockout and now this relegation to postal status for our vote...this very important election for so many people, has left us feeling, shall we say, disappointed. On the numbers, the Covid reasoning doesn't stack up and the costs will be beyond financial. Come on Australia, be better. There has been no </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">comment (at this point) from the Embassy in Minato-ku.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">More to come...as they say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-89391719975182654012022-04-10T23:39:00.002+10:002022-04-10T23:39:56.463+10:00The first of two elections...<p><b> Another Sunday in April, part 2</b></p><p>This time last week, I was planning to write a little about being a Chair of a Department in a Japanese university...but the election was finally called in Australia today and so that has taken up some of my time. The election will be held on 21 May. That's six weeks of 'official' campaigning, and quite a long time to wait and see what happens. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EFjbyG_G50pGS7Z_TaciadPcGXp56RRuroS20Ksstj8_M4M_IBAz16tYU5PaJRq3TfGg0sH9W1Zmun7jqxJQg2THfre1Omww0ppDlaLjESP-ezRTcD2Zd48QlbSLGgAJokT4xOHfeIz_0quLSrs7QM6IQJYpUl6sO3kJOqprDMHicc25p05JlH_HEw/s6960/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="6960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EFjbyG_G50pGS7Z_TaciadPcGXp56RRuroS20Ksstj8_M4M_IBAz16tYU5PaJRq3TfGg0sH9W1Zmun7jqxJQg2THfre1Omww0ppDlaLjESP-ezRTcD2Zd48QlbSLGgAJokT4xOHfeIz_0quLSrs7QM6IQJYpUl6sO3kJOqprDMHicc25p05JlH_HEw/w400-h266/IMG_1249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The Japanese Upper House election will be held sometime during summer, likely July. As someone whose day job is lecturing about politics, especially elections, it is a very newsworthy time and plenty of material to work with, digest and present to the students. </p><p>In recent years, as I have observed contemporary politics, I note I have changed my 'public voice' in the case of the Australian situation in particular. In line with my role as academic, I have been invited by the media to offer comments on various aspects of the campaigns. Obviously, my own voting intentions are personal and I don't reveal them, the so-called 'neutral observer' status. I do think that is important. But it has also tended towards a non-critical or both sides approach, by many of us in commentary positions, that has partly led to our current political malaise. I think of the Trump years, or aspects of the Abe years, and of course, the situation in Australia where it appears the system is falling apart, rorted beyond repair. I say this about the current Government, not because it is a Liberal (National Coalition) government as such, but the abuses of the system are on a scale I have not seen previously. I would be critical if the Labor Party were doing these things as well. I have tweeted along the way that as undergraduate students when we studied governments in various Asian countries, they were held up as examples of cronyism and levels of corruption 'that we would never see in Australia, but...', indeed, but we have. That is my concern. We, the academic and media commentators, really do need to bring a greater nuance to our critique. </p><p>When I taught Australian politics at uni in Australia, I used to tell the students that no matter how much you might despise the person in the office, we need to respect the office of Prime Minister, quite separate things in some ways. But I have rescinded this advice for the present. The incumbent has diminished the Office considerably, but hopefully not beyond repair. There are very few people on the current government benches who demonstrate the ideal of 'parliamentarian', as one who works for the betterment of all in society. It is ugly and partisan at present. Some say people will do 'whatever it takes' in politics; our politics is now well beyond that. It is dangerous. Others say that politics is a rough game, dirty business, but no, it doesn't have to be like this. </p><p>One of the books I have in mind to write will reflect at length on these problems in our politics. I will watch with interest the progress of the several independents, the 'teal' independents running in this election, appealing to a better state. The votes they can garner, and perhaps even some seats, will give us some indication of how the electorate views our politics. </p><p>These are the things I can think about now I am no longer Chair of a Department. </p><p>More to come.</p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-14793290655887807852022-04-03T21:11:00.007+10:002022-04-10T23:40:32.063+10:00More occasional musings<p><b><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">A Sunday in April 2022, part 1</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now that the other blog is underway, having almost reached 100 posts in almost 100 days, I think I am ready to return to regular posting here, ideally weekly, perhaps more often as political events dictate, perhaps less as weekend work demands. On the latter, however, there should be less of that now that I am no longer burdened with the 'Chair of Department' role. That finished formally on 31 March although there will be a few minor things to mop up over the next few weeks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">If the purpose of restarting the #project365 blog over the way was to get myself back into writing habits, this blog will have a more specific purpose of honing my writing for all the writing I have in mind when I finally get home. That will be a combination of 'academic' writing, some commentary and maybe trying my hand at writing up life as an academic in Japan for a general audience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So the topics will be broad, the style varied as I try to strike a comfortable 'voice' but hopefully a bit interesting. Some have suggested a podcast of sorts, and although I wouldn't rule that our just yet, I'm not sure. I've tried listening to podcasts, some very good ones, but I just can't get into the habit myself. I like to listen live where possible, and somehow, as a radio person, I think I have a 'fear of missing out' on live radio if I'm listening to a podcast. As I said, that may change as life takes its course, so for now, it is writing for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think I will also being using this space to review books as I read them, books in Japanese that I buy for research and recreation purposes, just for the record. Some parts might end up in lit reviews in articles and books. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Overall, I think it is just time to start recording much more. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguOeKuZsEpPnkb3bUsVZfs7grzXAPv38ddsDsFCr0C3-sU1RPXkUSM5faMqbF5oHimPFxYYWg7q-h0rg2ZRdtjkTe5TnigeetrkdM6oRbFcDMqxrZoSTzVrzexiK7Z0NYcIeJzDD-zw8mnYe9dDlqF8EUA4IC0hBGhCdZceF-neN-bvJjtzb6I632UQ/s1237/IMG_3426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1237" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguOeKuZsEpPnkb3bUsVZfs7grzXAPv38ddsDsFCr0C3-sU1RPXkUSM5faMqbF5oHimPFxYYWg7q-h0rg2ZRdtjkTe5TnigeetrkdM6oRbFcDMqxrZoSTzVrzexiK7Z0NYcIeJzDD-zw8mnYe9dDlqF8EUA4IC0hBGhCdZceF-neN-bvJjtzb6I632UQ/w320-h205/IMG_3426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This month, 1 April, the new academic and financial year begins in Japan. All the students who graduated last month took their first steps in their companies and new places of employment (often with rather formalised, organised pomp and ceremony). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">For me, tomorrow, the new first year students are welcomed to the university, with all the promise and excitement that brings them. Within a couple of weeks I'll be back in the classroom, something I expected would end in February 2021 until Covid put a stop to that. One day, there will be a post about the sense of being prevented to return to your own country...that was quite something. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This year, there will be two elections, one in Australia and one here in Japan due around July. One of the key works I plan to publish in the next year will be some ongoing observations of the political cultures of both countries, a comparison of sorts and perhaps with more in common than people might think. The political is of course my main interest and is what much of my life has revolved around for the last few decades. There will be a few notes made about those events.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ujf5qz_g0UeAGdnbr7foqfHCnfHjKetmq4fLqrN9SxAXpfkfREQDUi-EGPH3QZhZ8W5yaLwtPCl1s2F_ESDvyAEY9NVqFVhBUEFYOKBUYaH2w2E6nZOoP3D-ODo1jp6IOtJlmT6M5QCzs4eeTKQUHTvBRZQ680b8w2vvs_xO98dlnzBC0SamcSCtA/s1254/IMG_3474.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1254" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ujf5qz_g0UeAGdnbr7foqfHCnfHjKetmq4fLqrN9SxAXpfkfREQDUi-EGPH3QZhZ8W5yaLwtPCl1s2F_ESDvyAEY9NVqFVhBUEFYOKBUYaH2w2E6nZOoP3D-ODo1jp6IOtJlmT6M5QCzs4eeTKQUHTvBRZQ680b8w2vvs_xO98dlnzBC0SamcSCtA/w320-h200/IMG_3474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the next few weeks, I suppose I would like to record a bit about holding the position of Chair in a Japanese university, but I guess too, I have to be 'thoughtful' shall we say, about what I might write, what I could write, what I should write... I still have some time to go here. Suffice to say, it has given me some interesting insights into the inner workings of a department that I didn't anticipate when I first arrived for the new academic year in 2016. I still hold a senior exec position at the University, so I have to consider that as well. What I can say, is that the positions couldn't be more contrasting. ...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I will probably be making further reflections on Japan-Australia relations--things I proposed in my PhD dissertation almost 20 years ago--seem to becoming all the rage in current commentary...it is a kind of 'told you so' moment after being essentially ignored for much of those twenty years. Anyway, that's the way to goes sometimes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">There will be a few random pics too along the way, ones that have stayed with me over the week, or month. This post's pics from a walk I did around the neighbourhood last week...places you find the seasonal sakura blossoming where you least expect them. I like to think there is a bit of a metaphor in there somewhere, that hopefully I can tease out over the next few years of writing, and thinking. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">That you for following along this far. I will be back, soon.</span></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-23963261939565413752022-02-18T22:04:00.006+10:002022-02-18T22:06:53.737+10:00A short essay on women and politics in Japan <p> </p><p>Just recently, I was asked to contribute to the online journal, 'Disruptive Asia', a piece on women in politics in Japan. It is not very long and so, kind of difficult to cover all that needed to be covered but if you are interested (and mainly for my own records), here is the link.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv4HVhBoZKRHnAmslTDml4SGnNqB_VZMmb-4TpNOQ9WuVgUIYX4SntpwTile_Xrmk2FMi6IPt0dnEd60lhRQSXjYRI9IPZh5nyR8QzWTLYnNKn7KM9mkBqH1bVZGty3_gn4MAfbAGXPtACKrCHX9gQERWIH8meXyAkSr832T3tqCNVtbd_l1QvWrrQDA=s3161" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2138" data-original-width="3161" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhv4HVhBoZKRHnAmslTDml4SGnNqB_VZMmb-4TpNOQ9WuVgUIYX4SntpwTile_Xrmk2FMi6IPt0dnEd60lhRQSXjYRI9IPZh5nyR8QzWTLYnNKn7KM9mkBqH1bVZGty3_gn4MAfbAGXPtACKrCHX9gQERWIH8meXyAkSr832T3tqCNVtbd_l1QvWrrQDA=w252-h216" width="252" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://disruptiveasia.asiasociety.org/women-missing-but-in-action-in-japanese-politics" target="_blank">Disruptive Asia</a>, 2022, vol. 5</p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-3272702006410224532021-10-31T14:22:00.001+10:002021-10-31T14:36:45.382+10:00#JapanVotes2021 A few observations<p><b> It's a little bit funny...a little bit sad</b></p><p>Today is Election Day in Japan, the lower house, House of Reps. I've been following them since, ooh, about 1984. Actually, my first ever ticket to fly to Japan was booked for a date which would have meant arriving just days before the 1983 election. The flight was cancelled and the next available one was a couple of weeks later. (An acquaintance once pointed out, I am the *only* person they know who recalls travel dates and trips by whether there was an election involved...)</p><p>Prior to returning to Japan to work in 2016, I had made a point of flying to Tokyo each election from the landmark change of government one in 2009, to 2015. Self-funded of course, my then place of employ didn't consider my research a priority, but I digress. (At least I avoided a lot of form filling and submission.) Yes, friends who travelled to Japan for all sorts of reasons thought my psephological excursions were, well, strange. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DvDMG7eG0NghpvEBiSHxB_yjoYbnPf3MjlUR75nfy4PWUl7p0kVQwd62Kfg0PX3BTss07SHB7AHDpw5KxnCPx3yBnrHJ5HzGciQ-9VZ4RhugSTThedxfaN5fDNVicor1c5sRSEl9bNUT/s2048/FB5Icn3VgA4quEj.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DvDMG7eG0NghpvEBiSHxB_yjoYbnPf3MjlUR75nfy4PWUl7p0kVQwd62Kfg0PX3BTss07SHB7AHDpw5KxnCPx3yBnrHJ5HzGciQ-9VZ4RhugSTThedxfaN5fDNVicor1c5sRSEl9bNUT/w200-h150/FB5Icn3VgA4quEj.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We wait for the poster (Tokyo 11th)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p>Anyway, back to the present. One of the reasons I took up my present position in Tokyo was I expected being on the ground as it were, would be better for the kind of research I like to do, the books I like to write (eventually, one day, when I have, er, time). I had detected a bit of a disconnect with the apparent 'high levels' of support for the then Abe government and what was going on at a grassroots level. I wanted to get in on this in situ, something I couldn't do with a ten-day annual trip. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbIB1rlNxiK9afOaXYe6uILKdFMFmJbKhGRPQ0klG1MzIkMkvwqpdb8Fp8lfVyXz7fmaHkre52WC9KcVImoWiCqdIU8geC1p4pcNhOzJURgjTV9uMPK7gZc0ugTt9VcOs6gVds7CDdRRz/s1200/FC_I6iFaUAAsEAi.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbIB1rlNxiK9afOaXYe6uILKdFMFmJbKhGRPQ0klG1MzIkMkvwqpdb8Fp8lfVyXz7fmaHkre52WC9KcVImoWiCqdIU8geC1p4pcNhOzJURgjTV9uMPK7gZc0ugTt9VcOs6gVds7CDdRRz/s320/FC_I6iFaUAAsEAi.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The candidates in my electorate, notice anything?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In my previous trips, I used to land and then set out my schedule to follow the candidates and leaders around as they made their speeches in public appeals, mostly at train stations, but in other public spaces as well. It wasn't just to hear what they had to say, but also observe the people who stopped to listen, to watch, to comment. All the interactions. I went as far as my budget would allow. Usually around the greater Tokyo region. One of my personal disappointments this time is that work has kept me away from the hustings...even when I planned to catch someone somewhere on the train line home, 'twas thwarted by someone turning up in my office at *just the wrong time*.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiticva4fhidOzZyugvJDzZMdKepylYycdzagzlyXaHKC27lWlgHGKIoQDzZVXifA95N8KBxd0HzuTzqCUdpaBFZPSMA47RicIVvhDXTUQB4-qGy8DkkNpCywr6PdUK9MjKQN9ENpdLvE2S/s1280/IMG_0613.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiticva4fhidOzZyugvJDzZMdKepylYycdzagzlyXaHKC27lWlgHGKIoQDzZVXifA95N8KBxd0HzuTzqCUdpaBFZPSMA47RicIVvhDXTUQB4-qGy8DkkNpCywr6PdUK9MjKQN9ENpdLvE2S/s320/IMG_0613.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtRgRUcb6j04uRHzDflJqysqEVSbcQgrE8IEdixQnbW2p-u5EL2_CCkI1KSiyE8D2PF7jP64eIJGmOM1xvKTXGYINGBHVFbRDWrxQijnB9J4tyj6HaFkPyZtAR4Y1FjTeCqQEb93ZeX8C/s1280/IMG_0611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtRgRUcb6j04uRHzDflJqysqEVSbcQgrE8IEdixQnbW2p-u5EL2_CCkI1KSiyE8D2PF7jP64eIJGmOM1xvKTXGYINGBHVFbRDWrxQijnB9J4tyj6HaFkPyZtAR4Y1FjTeCqQEb93ZeX8C/w266-h400/IMG_0611.jpg" width="266" /></a> <p></p><p>Even yesterday, Saturday, the 'grand finale' day where the main contenders make their final pleas...I had a four-hour graduate class. What does a psephy do? Once the class finished I had time to go to one, just one, final call. In Shinjuku, opposition party leaders were going to gather with key candidates. There is always a large crowd (we are still in Covid times). It is a couple of train rides away and it was probably already too late to get a front row spot.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtgfK88w6TA_pKQAb-jlMC-jTkFAMGt_m4kDX3JA4nF6Mtrh9_58twzqLNEg7LjXmra3xWpX6BexD9PTSc_bST8AEgpD1DU9Z4ookIBxxSqjwVIU2t5W0IAHFuz6hBTF4RX-6mRWjSUwq/s1280/IMG_0615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtgfK88w6TA_pKQAb-jlMC-jTkFAMGt_m4kDX3JA4nF6Mtrh9_58twzqLNEg7LjXmra3xWpX6BexD9PTSc_bST8AEgpD1DU9Z4ookIBxxSqjwVIU2t5W0IAHFuz6hBTF4RX-6mRWjSUwq/w640-h426/IMG_0615.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc0x4czruVDg-EwiMQHGXzwCTXExv9Q6klJWkDDc7DAvIKX7V6JKp67WjsiR8q1RsWuoFKdwk3nLOKSlWL3rOqIPPHLbJNB9tsqZYRe_XoWzjYHAupL84vxJihzFEVMC0IqByjYa2D_U8/s1280/IMG_0601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwc0x4czruVDg-EwiMQHGXzwCTXExv9Q6klJWkDDc7DAvIKX7V6JKp67WjsiR8q1RsWuoFKdwk3nLOKSlWL3rOqIPPHLbJNB9tsqZYRe_XoWzjYHAupL84vxJihzFEVMC0IqByjYa2D_U8/w400-h266/IMG_0601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6BLxkIfL-bxUz3bs6IT7UjFrM6B4Ms-DcwjoikhTwg8bBCBgO6toDo_B8R9lO_g2t005YPheTnLlz2f-f9mgkjCiAdaFxgI7gymFV9_rDJA1lUGSwEkbj0IYLZmmPxMV4nv8DsbkkF7e/s1280/IMG_0585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6BLxkIfL-bxUz3bs6IT7UjFrM6B4Ms-DcwjoikhTwg8bBCBgO6toDo_B8R9lO_g2t005YPheTnLlz2f-f9mgkjCiAdaFxgI7gymFV9_rDJA1lUGSwEkbj0IYLZmmPxMV4nv8DsbkkF7e/w400-h266/IMG_0585.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINIHTkVt2XIdLzc31fC3Znf5BrSsVEuQdkqV4uJsd-ENjWDzDzsNINfAMeDqderr_FLtqa8W-n_WG5I9jkxThMLsBOVcouwSNvuzvVOK4B4JjdDuInvB6_2wSJHpHOM7HkR_c_CaWtTaJ/s1144/IMG_0586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1144" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINIHTkVt2XIdLzc31fC3Znf5BrSsVEuQdkqV4uJsd-ENjWDzDzsNINfAMeDqderr_FLtqa8W-n_WG5I9jkxThMLsBOVcouwSNvuzvVOK4B4JjdDuInvB6_2wSJHpHOM7HkR_c_CaWtTaJ/w400-h314/IMG_0586.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifya7xTwcRpxJAS0OYlK9m9b4vPkh7CXkYZvGTbtRm-d_7ddAtcuE_VfF6-U6ksMOINPUT0u457GziMUVIArH807PzFZYJgvurg8_Xr1HgB5aWfM5ubecd_q6Qh7V0ZhsDeeGQ8EW-Mfcy/s1280/IMG_0594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifya7xTwcRpxJAS0OYlK9m9b4vPkh7CXkYZvGTbtRm-d_7ddAtcuE_VfF6-U6ksMOINPUT0u457GziMUVIArH807PzFZYJgvurg8_Xr1HgB5aWfM5ubecd_q6Qh7V0ZhsDeeGQ8EW-Mfcy/w640-h426/IMG_0594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUd_AIImN_pp8u95WTNexq_eKFl0GFZ2t07LN-GolSeRASqxtHQkR1OkJRvhXb1mzbLGvYEIvnswq-KzEinNr1YE4YGsrOV7oPjHbp5XUJty7JkAVXCsULSBcAGe_Brrpu9LJdZ8_Puqbw/s1280/IMG_0618.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUd_AIImN_pp8u95WTNexq_eKFl0GFZ2t07LN-GolSeRASqxtHQkR1OkJRvhXb1mzbLGvYEIvnswq-KzEinNr1YE4YGsrOV7oPjHbp5XUJty7JkAVXCsULSBcAGe_Brrpu9LJdZ8_Puqbw/w400-h266/IMG_0618.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXxnJUtI4K7P-KWaknP2h3UB1xS9QNRZOVkBMPQkbF2OvsKUilLdAHdLjC8goWe1cKLbrFNEo2v2zord8Siei_gd8QYr3yUuotRm5H18Te1BQ_mxSLYvMhBd8yDazpk_oiDiVH5sdDo8U/s1280/IMG_0626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXxnJUtI4K7P-KWaknP2h3UB1xS9QNRZOVkBMPQkbF2OvsKUilLdAHdLjC8goWe1cKLbrFNEo2v2zord8Siei_gd8QYr3yUuotRm5H18Te1BQ_mxSLYvMhBd8yDazpk_oiDiVH5sdDo8U/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>So, to Akabane Station. A 30 minute bus ride away, the electorate next door to where I live and featuring a couple of politicians whose careers I have followed pretty closely. The call was for local candidate Ikeuchi Saori, a woman in her 30s, previously elected for a term in parliament but defeated in the last election. She started her campaign for the next election almost the very next day. She is dynamic, progressive, turns up at local events, is committed. She was being supported by the party's Secretary-General, Koike Akira, whose campaign to return to parliament I happened to capture in Shinjuku many years ago. There was a bit of historical continuity in following-up. So I went to Akabane. </p><p>I have to stress, this was for research purposes. It was a hard decision, my researcher instincts want me to be everywhere. In going to the final call for candidates in the Japanese Communist Party, I am not advocating for their election, nor for their policies. I considered staying at home too, to avoid accusations of bias etc. But in all honesty, these rallies are fascinating, and I would think something like this introduced in Australia would be quite interesting, instead of the clinical, staged hotel conference rooms we tend to get. </p><p>The crowd was a reasonable size, for one candidate, and enthusiastic. Ikeuchi has two chances--to represent the single-member district and she is also listed on the JCP's proportional list. It is an interesting system here in Japan, two systems in the one house--289 seats made up of single-member constituencies, 176 seats drawn from the proportional system, for a total of 465 seats. If a candidate wins in their single-seat electorate, obviously they don't take a seat in the proportional list. It is a kind of 'second chance' system, which has its fans, and critics. I have started to investigate the use of the proportional system to prioritise women, LGBTQI candidates and others to perhaps bring some 'proportionality' to Japan's parliament...but even if it works in theory, you would have to find a way to move the rusted-on time servers usually found at the top of the lists. (We know how this works from the Australia Senate example...)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk7Gt0zDp4vbNSNQyoOxpLJYEchNmiyCdbYS5sm4ZLiFCL4hGLyNPu8luMnRmqp6cN3XR2mAHByfMVcZgYNoYizLoCD6Ne1jxEbTiXrnekADM9xmmNskAnVwTg8Ifg8OWcNhW3FZEamrp/s1280/IMG_0632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDk7Gt0zDp4vbNSNQyoOxpLJYEchNmiyCdbYS5sm4ZLiFCL4hGLyNPu8luMnRmqp6cN3XR2mAHByfMVcZgYNoYizLoCD6Ne1jxEbTiXrnekADM9xmmNskAnVwTg8Ifg8OWcNhW3FZEamrp/w640-h426/IMG_0632.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>So a few pics here, but I've decided to put a few more over on the <a href="http://psephyspix.blogspot.com/2021/10/saturday-night-out-for-psephy-looks-like.html" target="_blank">psephyspix</a> blog too...just for the atmosphere of a final campaign call.</p><p>Thanks for getting this far. More, as they say, to come.</p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-17598393199229332462021-07-25T22:45:00.001+10:002021-07-25T22:45:57.293+10:00Tokyo 2020+1 Thoughts along the way pt. 1<p><b> Should we even be here?</b></p><p>This will be an occasional series over the next few weeks, how could it not be? These are the Olympics that should have been held last year. Last year they were postponed because Covid cases were reaching daily heights in the low hundreds each day...this year, this past week in particular, the daily average has been over 1000. </p><p>Recently, I have been asked to write commentaries for <a href="https://theconversation.com/under-pressure-on-the-olympics-japans-prime-minister-is-saying-little-and-hoping-for-a-political-lifesaver-161740" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> and <a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/postcard-tokyo-20201" target="_blank">The Interpreter</a> (Lowy Institute) and several media interviews, mostly as an Australian in Tokyo at this time and what that perspective brings. It doesn't hurt that politics is my day job and let's face it, there is a lot of politics to digest. It does hurt that I have long been a sports fan (even played a few in earlier times) and that the Olympics are being held at all under the present circumstances. I feel for the athletes, I really do. I scored tickets to a couple of events too (women's hockey and rugby 7s, but not the surfing 😒). But I also recognise and share the frustration of many people here who don't want (rather, didn't want) the Olympics to go ahead. The costs, the risks, and for what? A keen observer of political protests, I would have liked to be out and about observing the many protests that have been going on around town...but I'm sticking to the pandemic rules, for now.</p><p>Japan was awarded the Olympics in 2013, and with a few years of candidate-campaigning prior to that, I feel my visits to Japan over the last decade or so, have had a distinct Olympic tinge to them. And now of course, with Brisbane winning the bid for 2032, if ever I get home, that will equate to some two decades of living in Olympic cities. The political scientist in me is wary...and perhaps by 2032, a little weary.</p><p>A secondary purpose of these posts is to get me back into writing mode. I won't be stuck as head of department forever (I hope) and I do want to get back into good writing habits. I have much to write. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxMMuQpT8p2QAam5jWTH9CeOBriKzjE0irJbTQ_VKfJ0tAgGyKHdbTqfhFj9lhxqRuex3QjC8bGuOrbBMXe7JmbT_CluTvbqBpPB-NflDsJ30E5dYhpxrvFNnWzjr7TZ5utGhj7Pinszp/s1280/IMG_0494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxMMuQpT8p2QAam5jWTH9CeOBriKzjE0irJbTQ_VKfJ0tAgGyKHdbTqfhFj9lhxqRuex3QjC8bGuOrbBMXe7JmbT_CluTvbqBpPB-NflDsJ30E5dYhpxrvFNnWzjr7TZ5utGhj7Pinszp/w213-h320/IMG_0494.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The mini-cauldron, <br />placed at Ariake, <br />just near work</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The posts won't be linear as such but will reflect a journal of ideas and early analysis. Some of the posts will reflect comments made in media interviews, I guess they count as my own words, even if they have been published elsewhere. Some related posts will be over on the photo blog too (as I crank that one up again for another go at #project365, or # 52, or # 12, depending on whether my energies run to daily, weekly or monthly efforts...<br /></p><p>On this, the first Sunday of the Olympics, officially opened on Friday night but with events commencing last Wednesday, I spent a fair bit of time watching the surfing, on an internet connection because this Olympics is being held with no spectators. We have been asked to watch the Olympics on telly (or other devices) instead. As a separate research project, I have been looking at surfing's introduction as an Olympic sport. I've travelled several times to the town where the venue is located, I've given two or three conference papers, I've invested quite a bit of time there. Now, with essentially a four day window of competition (with lay days for poor surf), I've spent time wondering whether I can break the current State of Emergency, and head out tomorrow, a rare meeting-free day, for research purposes. I need to write the concluding paragraphs to that article after all. But instead, I will probably stay home, wait until after the SoE, and look at the legacy post-Olympics for Ichinomiya. </p><p>Sports me has won out over academic me today. But there is so much to write, to consider, to reflect. I plan to be back tomorrow, or the next day, to tease out a few ideas. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_ABt_4dCsSg2lQClA4Ca_o6J6025GAs3xFAH40tqf27_QeTNQHtIlMVwAYhGwWTdYF-Dh6ARpVdrAKkBGGU0yI03Fwppzswa2WQHkoeIBE5n9qz7EKTQdArt2OjCYBobGgbr-r9akjyp/s2048/fullsizeoutput_59.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_ABt_4dCsSg2lQClA4Ca_o6J6025GAs3xFAH40tqf27_QeTNQHtIlMVwAYhGwWTdYF-Dh6ARpVdrAKkBGGU0yI03Fwppzswa2WQHkoeIBE5n9qz7EKTQdArt2OjCYBobGgbr-r9akjyp/s320/fullsizeoutput_59.heic" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A behind the scenes view of <br />the topiary mascots at Ariake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-287896470552639512021-03-11T14:57:00.000+10:002021-03-11T14:57:05.497+10:00Ten years on: personal reflections on the Tohoku triple disaster<p><b> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">A pause for reflection</span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MT1l5MX23M0qcatJ4aumfw2j9C35y66SHXsspUEJ0g3LvSIdjnM_l4HV8hyphenhyphendg68gdzIq1_j0_Y_OgcfEOSJpOT3bQrtlvH9ytkiT8GCUYdOXqsNVWyE0Avxh1-LyReAzc4KW9ddzsEwj/s2016/IMG_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MT1l5MX23M0qcatJ4aumfw2j9C35y66SHXsspUEJ0g3LvSIdjnM_l4HV8hyphenhyphendg68gdzIq1_j0_Y_OgcfEOSJpOT3bQrtlvH9ytkiT8GCUYdOXqsNVWyE0Avxh1-LyReAzc4KW9ddzsEwj/s320/IMG_0533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am here in Tokyo today, the tenth anniversary of the Tohoku disaster that struck the northern part of the main island of Honshu on this day 11 March, 2011. A few months ago I thought about travelling to Ishinomaki on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture to be there on this day. But I thought the better of it. One reason is that Tokyo remains under a State of Emergency due to Covid, and although I've been doing some work up in Ishinomaki in recent years, as well as Fukushima with some colleagues, I thought that these places would be crowded with people, media primarily, there to capture the tenth anniversary commemorations. It would seem intrusive to me, given I have no immediate, direct connections with people there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the other hand, I know that people I've worked with throughout Tohoku, also do not want the disaster to fade into history and they are grateful when I return, they are grateful when I listen to their stories, while I am actually the one who feels most honoured to share in their generosity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was still in Australia in 2011 when news of the disaster reached us. I was working and my mother rang to tell me she had seen news of an earthquake in Japan. I wrote a short reflection about that day, and the first year <a href="http://psephy.blogspot.com/2012/03/311-one-year-onmany-years-into-future.html" style="font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">here </a>here back in 2012. It is interesting to look back on that post now. I did not expect I would be in Japan in 2021; I did not expect I would have been able to contribute, albeit it on a very small scale, to recovery. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After 2011, when I went back to Japan each year on my annual research trip, I hesitated to travel north, for fear of being somewhat of a voyeur, an outsider looking in, and for what? To fulfil an academic curiosity while trying to understand and learn, as far as my discipline of political science was concerned? When I stayed with friends in Tokyo in 2012, 2013, 2014 and again in 2015, I heeded their advice. There will be time to go, just not immediately. There will be time to go and help in the recovery, <i>there will be time</i>. And indeed, this has turned out to be the case. One comment that sticks with me was the one where one person said to me, 'we are thinking 500 years ahead, we want this story to be known in 500 years, and beyond'. Five hundred years from now. It is a long time, but also a brief time, as 2021, ten years on seems to be from that day in 2011.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nGOhTcKgDK95MYTF9zN1xc5SUlpGZyMsL2_ZlLppK-jfJvwZSbJCRa-N4-geNnFtc12bDZq1iyDVzHeDgcCnOVQCWx8HXxrhSkZSUgZ1yNNP0IHA7lAI4A74s7IhMg32K7k3SeIMEGKH/s2016/IMG_0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nGOhTcKgDK95MYTF9zN1xc5SUlpGZyMsL2_ZlLppK-jfJvwZSbJCRa-N4-geNnFtc12bDZq1iyDVzHeDgcCnOVQCWx8HXxrhSkZSUgZ1yNNP0IHA7lAI4A74s7IhMg32K7k3SeIMEGKH/s320/IMG_0536.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In retrospect, I made the right decision not to go this week. I wrote about my visit to Ishinomaki in 2018 for a university project </span><a href="http://psephy.blogspot.com/2018/08/notes-on-ishinomaki-1.html" style="font-family: メイリオ, Meiryo, "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro W3", "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> and it is where I would have gone today but I know will go another time, when the spotlight is off the town for the rest of the year and the locals will be pleased that we have not forgotten them. These last few weeks, there have been many programs on tv looking back, looking forward. My eyes and ears are drawn to the Ishinomaki stories. One in particular last week, ten years on, a father continues to go diving almost everyday to search for remains of his daughter, a bank clerk at the time, washed away in the tsunami. Each year on her birthday in December, friends and relatives gather to 'celebrate', to observe. Last December, due to Covid restrictions, it was just her parents. They go to her grave each day to wash her headstone because 'it is just like getting up to wash her face everyday' said her father.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last week, authorities found the remains of a woman lost in 2011, in Matsushima, not far from Ishinomaki. Her discovery brought the number of people declared dead to 15 900, and those who remain missing, to 2525. Relatives continue to search for the missing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I first visited the Tohoku region when I was an exchange student at a university in Tokyo. My summer holiday in 1985, before returning to Australia (not knowing when I would return to Japan, but imagining I might) was a long, detailed and planned train journey around Japan, back in the days when basically you were restricted to local or limited express trains. Part 1 of the journey was to head north from Tokyo, by rail, along the coast of Honshu via Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka, and back down the coast, through to Niigata...and onwards. In those days, my Tokyo friends 'warned' me I might struggle with the language in Tohoku since 'they speak a completely different language there you know', half-jesting, half-serious. Indeed, the Tohoku dialect is a strong and distinctive one as I learned on my travels. I momentarily lost confidence in my ability to understand the language I had been living with for almost two years! But the generosity of the locals remains memorable. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvZ_OAU8Gnlelo1D_pTdUA4LAqNFW_ySZrjn6cvyF5m-R29ekPiaixN8tucvl8St9ONky6qvJfIj8jXqjGV8zlFEePe_JZ9mQm6ZtC0kxZbZZ1TgaRdUw4POapjRw4asbm_w8gW1M_XAb/s2016/IMG_0534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvZ_OAU8Gnlelo1D_pTdUA4LAqNFW_ySZrjn6cvyF5m-R29ekPiaixN8tucvl8St9ONky6qvJfIj8jXqjGV8zlFEePe_JZ9mQm6ZtC0kxZbZZ1TgaRdUw4POapjRw4asbm_w8gW1M_XAb/s320/IMG_0534.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I finished the trip, reaching all the way down to Kyushu and back along the coast to Tokyo via Hiroshima, Kyoto and Nagoya, and each town, each place, was special, but the Tohoku region remained particularly memorable. I don't think the railways exist these days for a repeat journey but maybe one day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I have taught classes about Japan over the years, one question that comes up time and again is the question of 'anniversary' or 'commemoration'...why do we seem to prioritise those anniversaries ending in '0' over others? The dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki come to mind as examples of anniversaries people don't want to see recede into history. Yesterday, 10 March, was the anniversary of mass aerial bombing over Tokyo during World War Two, not as prominent as others but remembered nonetheless. Another thing I have learnt from speaking with people in Ishinomaki is they remember <i>every</i> day. It is important for them and others in the region that we too, do not forget, and that we too, will continue to remember for them and with them, any day of the year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I will get back to Ishinomaki, soon. It is one place I will return to, time and again. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To my friends, I will remember you today, from Tokyo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">11 March, 2021, 2:46pm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Photos taken from Hiyoriyama Park, and the Kajimamiko Shrine, atop the hill in Ishinomaki, where many people sought refuge from the tsunami.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLH7qQFGWXxffSgZJWN9prXE3j_6KjMyiZfLP5rU2Y0VGBfPJfrbZLLezf6268Hz_IyC3n9N-y3q5JNftM7V-DtPFOo72K728mdDZGW7eFDaa_pyCb52i3vo8lfHRqBT0g8D9sC0_f0-7/s2016/IMG_4549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLH7qQFGWXxffSgZJWN9prXE3j_6KjMyiZfLP5rU2Y0VGBfPJfrbZLLezf6268Hz_IyC3n9N-y3q5JNftM7V-DtPFOo72K728mdDZGW7eFDaa_pyCb52i3vo8lfHRqBT0g8D9sC0_f0-7/w400-h300/IMG_4549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-36411563962918413062020-06-29T14:58:00.001+10:002020-06-29T14:58:28.847+10:00Australia-Japan relations and pitching for a post-COVID future<b>Some thoughts on the 2020 Lowy polling</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Looking ahead at what can be: Australia,
Japan and the post-COVID world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">If Prime Minister Abe reads the annual Lowy
Institute poll, it might have provided about the only fillip to his recent
political fortunes. He would have no doubt been pleased that a constituency, somewhere,
thought rather highly of his leadership. In recent weeks, PM Abe’s polls in
Japan, across most of the leading polling outlets, have seen a drop in satisfaction
or popularity of him and his Cabinet (depending on the phrasing of the
question). Scandals surrounding his government continue to hamper his
leadership, his handling of the response to the COVID-19 crisis has drifted in
the wake of more assertive responses by prefectural governors, and with the end
of his third term approaching, there is less confidence he can once again
persuade party colleagues of yet another extension to the previous
two-year-two-term limit on the party presidency. His planned triumphs of 2020,
the Tokyo Olympics and a referendum on changes to the Peace Constitution are
all but corona-ed. Both incumbent Australian and Japanese governments are in
lockstep with the Trump Administration, and PMs Morrison and Abe look set to
accept the dubious invite to Trump’s G7 later in the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">The Lowy poll invites an opportune moment to
look to where the Australia-Japan relationship might go, in a post-COVID world,
beyond the fog of the US-China entanglement. In key findings, seven in ten
Australians express confidence in PM Abe, 79 percent recognise Japan as a
democracy and in the ‘feelings’ thermometer Japan came in at 69 degrees, around
the midpoint of 63 in 2007 and 74 in 2018. It is probably reasonable to
speculate that Japan’s popularity as a tourist destination for Australians in recent
years is reflected in these figures. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In Japan, at the time of writing, a few news sites picked up the The </span><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="https://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3290087"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agence France-Presse</span></a></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (AFP) report with the focus on the China
angle, nothing about Australians high level of confidence in Japan. </span><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Prior to the signing of the security
agreement in 2007, Japan viewed Australia as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific
region, building a relationship as ‘advanced liberal democratic countries,
supporting and strengthening peace and prosperity and a free trade system’,
(Diplomatic Bluebooks, inter alia) amongst other aims. As successive Australian
governments of both persuasions encouraged and enabled a stronger defence
outlook by Japan, the two countries have boasted of a ‘special strategic
partnership…sharing fundamental values and strategic interests’ (Diplomatic
Bluebook 2016ff). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">Despite a record of government-level
engagement dating from the late-nineteenth century, most observers view the
relationship through its mutually beneficial economic growth from the 1960s
onwards, or more lately, the security agreement signed by PMs Howard and Abe in
2007. But in a post-COVID world, where we might hope for a return for good
global citizenship, Australia and Japan could leverage this bilateral goodwill
to forge a partnership with a broader ‘human security’ remit.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDW7b_5tOClC1I9QMX_vYgqabMJcj-HMlZE0BjEIzmZYJ8kcdQHVHhjicY-khH9U9pPdWtot_w3PCxGyJrXH7XUcNNMMMemU9BkDhKODCvR6c0Gu65tw0V2RqmkBBMuu0FYsJBgSsztKu/s1600/IMG_E0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDW7b_5tOClC1I9QMX_vYgqabMJcj-HMlZE0BjEIzmZYJ8kcdQHVHhjicY-khH9U9pPdWtot_w3PCxGyJrXH7XUcNNMMMemU9BkDhKODCvR6c0Gu65tw0V2RqmkBBMuu0FYsJBgSsztKu/s320/IMG_E0462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abe has much to ponder (from a class simulation exercise) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">In an international environment which has accommodated
advancing militarisation over other forms of security in recent years, it will
take a courageous turn in leadership to recalibrate national interests to reflect
a more nuanced, post-COVID world. To borrow an Olympic analogy, we may need try
to pole vault our way into a new era. In doing so, I would suggest that the
potential strengths in a future Japan-Australia alliance lie not in a narrow
security alliance but a broader, human security approach. Many years ago, as a
graduate student doing interviews about Japan’s relationship with Australia,
one bureaucrat especially conversant with the Australian vernacular, told me
‘Japan sees Australia as a friendly corner shop; we might like to occasionally
shop elsewhere but Australia will always there when we need them’. It is a
comment that has stayed with me ever since and re-emerges when I think about
what could be. In the 1970s and 1980s, the bilateral relationship was informed
by regular ministerial meetings where ministers across several portfolios would
gather to confer on matters of state. The increase in regional fora and a sense
of redundancy saw the ministerial level meetings diminish over time, only to be
revived in a foreign affairs/security 2+2 format as a part of ‘strengthening
the strategic partnership’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">The bilateral relationship could return to
its shared interests in the region (beyond narrow strategic parameters) and
begin to build regional resilience on climate change and embrace the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Japan, the SDGs are being
taken up across corporate, educational and social institutions (disclaimer:
including my own university) and operate within parameters that resonate with past
practices of comprehensive security and human security. A renewed effort at people-to-people
engagement (previously a strength of the bilateral relationship) would help
facilitate and reconnect the breadth of the relationship and the possibilities.
Those seven in ten people who believe PM Abe is doing a good job might not be
aware that more than half the Japanese population still resist amendments to
the peace constitution. We rarely see that reflected in the 2+2 dialogues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">There is a sense of the inevitable in
expanding military responses. It is the dominant frame through which we view
‘security’, through which we view ‘strong leadership’. At the time of writing,
there is speculation coming out of the weekend that PM Abe might call a snap
election, a tactic he has used previously to try and bolster support for his
agenda (though the opposition parties continue to be in disarray and unable,
seemingly, to garner a majority vote). Tokyo is in the throes of a
gubernatorial election in which former Abe foe and incumbent Governor Koike
looks set to retain her post. That Koike is effectively backed by the Liberal
Democratic Party this time (unlike the previous election where she faced a
candidate supported by the LDP) will offer the national leadership a charade of
support, should they choose to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU">With many observers urging governments to reset
the levers in a post-COVID world, Japan and Australia have a capability to do
so, in the region, with the right leadership mix. We ought to start planning
now, and rather than running behind opinion polls, here is an opportunity to
get out in front.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-46654458502290333032020-06-22T23:35:00.005+10:002020-06-22T23:35:54.426+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~~fin, for now ~~<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A moment's release</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the last instalment of the 2020 Covid lockdown diary, for now. The restrictions have been lifted, we can move between prefectural boundaries (still can't go home though), and yesterday, I had to leave the neighbourhood to go to campus, the first time since returning from campus on 7 April. It is the longest time I can recall, in my lifetime, being confined to a 39 sq.m apartment and being limited to a radius of about 800m. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although restrictions have been lifted, we still have to maintain distance, wear masks, wash hands. 'Eating out' is not quite what it once was, with limitations still in place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday's train trip to the campus (for an open day, but online) was not crowded, in the way it might have been on a Sunday. Everyone did their best to stay apart, and every passenger wore a mask. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM2poRMKy3SPchziMIQ569yekTdA67dZ0I2T501twRWkl6IwBKs4jE_b7-DiURHNKQGt2ozJkNe18fz3hZ4axERtAB68_YiT6diR4XeNqv2dh0Dg2ZIOxNJFRmYnwNswTHpVCv2q_VN4u/s1600/IMG_0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1238" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlM2poRMKy3SPchziMIQ569yekTdA67dZ0I2T501twRWkl6IwBKs4jE_b7-DiURHNKQGt2ozJkNe18fz3hZ4axERtAB68_YiT6diR4XeNqv2dh0Dg2ZIOxNJFRmYnwNswTHpVCv2q_VN4u/s200/IMG_0154.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A phase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It felt strange. I felt a little uneasy. But I guess I will eventually get used to it. For the time being we continue to teach online, from home, we continue to hold out meetings online, from home. I still feel that going out for anything other than going to the campus if required, will be an unnecessary trip. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It concerns me that I don't know when that feeling will recede.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, the campaigning has begun for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on 5 July. In previous years, I've been out and about following the candidates around on the hustings. For now, I'm going to be following on their social media accounts...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is time to return to blogging about politics...the rest, I hope, will follow. </span>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-16478104128530030492020-06-22T23:20:00.001+10:002020-06-23T07:15:18.899+10:00Learning a language is not a 'job-ready' skill...<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>...it is much more than that </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the news of this week, I was curious that the 'new' higher
education charges distinguished 'languages' from 'the humanities', as if they
could be considered separate. I started to tweet to the sound of the hashtag
#MyArtsDegree and similar, as people loudly and proudly proclaimed their
Arts/Humanities education. I then watched the minister's Q&A. He 'wished'
he had studied a language because he would have helped him with getting him a
job, apparently. And there you have it. 'Language as a job skill'... and policy
devised by people thinking only of how it would benefit them, personally. OK,
political scientist AND linguist here, to talk about just how wrong that
approach is, and has been. Let's take a look at the last forty years or so of
languages in the academy, which may or may not include traces of personal
insight, as is the nature of personal blogging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the late-ish 1970s, at a state (public) high school on
Queensland's Gold Coast, all year 8 students, then the first year of high
school had to study Japanese for one semester, and could choose French or
German to study in the other semester. In years 9 and 10, you had to continue
with at least one of those languages and by years 11 and 12, senior years,
languages were optional. The cohort of 350 year 8 students had whittled away to
six students by years 11 and 12. Around that time, Chinese was offered as a
senior elective for two years. I recall one student was studying all four languages
plus English. The head teacher of languages was fluent in French and German and
was inspirational. I stayed with Japanese all the way through. I liked it but also,
I had some idea in the back of my mind that a foreign language was a
prerequisite for university entry into the Arts and although I didn’t think I’d
be going to uni, I wanted to keep my options open. (Turns out that was old
information, but I didn’t know, I didn’t come from a family with university
experiences, but we are jumping ahead…) I was keen to do Chinese too but it
clashed with my Art classes which I was taking in preference to Physics, which
I was told was going to cost me the chance to do Science at uni, if I wanted
to. And I thought I might like that. You see, I was really more maths/science
oriented at school—in the Maths 1, Chemistry, Biology stream— except for
Japanese and Art. What a multi-disciplinary miscreant I was. I still remember
the day I discovered an extract of a Japanese paper in our biology textbook.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, it came to choosing post-secondary life. I liked Japanese, I
liked Science, I planned to go to teacher’s college, like most of my friends; I
also had my name down to join the management track at Woolworths, my then
part-time employer, because, realistically that about all kids like me could
aspire too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chanced upon a new-ish uni in Brisbane offering a degree in Science
with Japanese and a Grad Dip in Education over five years. This! This is
exactly what I wanted to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Alas, the Qld Dept of Education deemed that to teach Japanese, one
had to have a secondary teaching area in history or English; nah, dropped history
after grade 8, did not like it. To teach science and biology though, one had to
take maths as a secondary area, it couldn’t be Japanese. I could graduate with
a degree in Science and Japanese, I just couldn’t teach…OK. This was one of my
first lessons in what I would come to understand to be ‘the bureaucracy’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I looked more into this new university, their ‘Asian Studies’
degree and a teaching diploma, a ‘joint degree’ and with the expectation that
actually I was going to work at Woolworths after finishing high school, I
directed my tertiary preferences towards Griffith anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, to my surprise, I got there. It felt wrong to be going into
an Arts degree with a mostly science background; grade 8 history did not leave
me with a great appreciation of the subject and yet here I was…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here was a degree, we might disdainfully call it an ‘area studies’
or ‘regional studies’ degree today, that took language seriously, as part of understanding
the modern world. The other university across the river (where I was to end up
eventually) offered language study through translation and grammar, what we
would now call ‘old school’. No, I was attracted by the teaching diploma combination
so I went there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">EDUCATION IS TRANSFORMATIVE. And this, perhaps, is the fear of
ideologically-driven governments. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Griffith degree was interdisciplinary before that was trendy. The
expectation that you would study the languages of the countries you were
interested in was, well not even an option. It is just what you did. Every
lecturer and tutor we had in first year spoke more than one language. Role
models. I moved through, politics, history, economics (not so interesting),
sociology… No International Relations at that time, it was considered a
postgraduate degree, ‘once you had sufficient and in-depth understanding of
other countries’. I still wanted to teach at high school but I also wanted to
go to Japan, on one of the exchange programs on offer. I got it, I went with
the expectation of staying one year, coming back and doing my Dip Ed. Well,
things changed a little, I got a chance to spend an extra year under the
agreement and came back to do honours (and then, I would do a Dip Ed, I told
myself…).</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It might be worth mentioning that along the way, the student
assembly (the uni had rather ‘quaint’ ideas about student representation in
those days) urged some rebadging of the degrees available at the time. We had
four schools offering two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Science or
Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts, either in Asian Studies or
Humanities (where Italian was compulsory, as it happens). We sought to distinguish
the two BAs by calling our degree Bachelor of Asian Studies. We were told no.
The uni only offered BA or BSc…yes, there once was that time. We also had a
precursor to the modern business school, a School of Social and Industrial
Administration—promising antidote to the emerging neoliberalism until, it was
sucked up by the emergent neoliberalism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the honours graduation, I was introduced to the keynote
speaker, a chairman of a national airline, a former ambassador to Japan, a
businessman of repute. He asked me what I was going to do with my degree and I
mentioned I had enrolled in a PhD (at the uni across the river) to which he
replied with a ‘phrrh, don’t waste your time doing that’. That was more or less
the end of that conversation. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One of the
long-term issues with job applicants with language skills is that employers
rarely see language acquisition as a skill worthy of employment, despite the expectation
of good ‘communication skills’</i>…you can see where this is heading can’t you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, let’s skip along a little.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I struggled with the PhD. Imposter syndrome was a big part of it
of course. But it was also my first taste of undertaking a PhD not for the intrinsic
knowledge-building, but for the career utility. My two years in Japan had given
me a greater interest in politics, particularly women in politics and an
interest in the thinking of Hannah Arendt among others. In formulating a
project, I was told, no, do something useful, practical, something that will
get you a job. I shifted my ambitions from teaching Japanese at high school to
teaching politics at university. That’s how I ended up doing Japan-Australia relations,
but the details of that are really for another time, chats with people
considering a PhD…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was back to Japan for 18 months on a Japanese government
scholarship, for fieldwork and postgraduate study at one of Japan’s leading
universities. I put more and more effort into Japanese language, and took on
another one, Korean, finding it easier to study in Japanese because of the
similar grammatical structures. It is an unpopular opinion, but there was
actually much to prefer in the Japanese tertiary education system over what the
Australian one was becoming around this time. This was around the time HECS was
introduced and PhD students were given a ‘scholarship’ of sorts, not a stipend
as such but an exemption of fees ‘they could charge you if they wanted to’. Commonwealth
Scholarships for postgraduate studies at the time were competitive but obtainable,
as I recall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I returned to Australia, still uncertain about the direction of
the PhD. I had learnt a lot in Japan and had ideas about where it should go.
The supervisor didn’t agree. Around this time, I applied for and got a job in the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, specifically for my language skills
and in-country experience. The Foundation I was a part of decided to
discontinue a really very valuable language program for Australian university students
and rebadge it as an opportunity for two junior lawyers to take up positions in
Japanese law firms on full pay and supplements. The previous program assisted
anywhere between 10-15 or so students each year, mostly Arts/Humanities students.
This attack on humanities is not new. (Disclaimer: I received one of these
scholarships—equivalent to a one-way airfare to Tokyo at the time—as part of my
first sojourn in Japan.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You would think that a Federal Department that employed a person
for their language and country knowledge would like to keep them on. Not so. It
was made clear early on that my knowledge of Japan actually was a bit of a
disadvantage since I might not be able to provide frank and fearless advice, a
bit too close to my subject. I was told to not expect a post to Japan…ok, back
to the academy. (I gather things have improved since.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I returned to the academy around the time Japanese was on the
uptake in schools in a big way. A youngish Queensland bureaucrat who later went
on to become Prime Minster, wrote a report into Asian languages which recommended
compulsory language education in schools (again). This meant retraining a whole
lot of French and German teachers at high schools to teach Japanese (how hard
could it be??) and I ended up with a research associate job doing just this. Brilliant
and experienced teachers who also knew the folly and the political expediency of
this policy direction. There was much talk but not much in the way of
resources. It was about making people ‘job-ready’ to boost our trade prospects
with the region. Not to encourage curiosity, wonder and learning for the sake
of it, but ‘job-ready’, job skills… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The 1990s and early 2000s were a mix of unemployment and jobs that
didn’t require direct use of language. Still when I sat down to read a book, I
had a choice of English or Japanese, I could watch a Japanese movie without
subtitles, stay in touch with friends in Japan, just normal everyday elements
of life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I eventually finished the PhD, looking at Japan-Australia
relations through a security frame. It mainly involved translating Japanese language
materials, distant and obscure stories about Australia, the sort of things that
perhaps were never intended to be translated. It was at a time when
disciplinary boundaries were uncomfortable with language. I still recall a
seminar on International Security, where I proffered an interpretation from a
Japanese perspective, (post the PhD being awarded with no corrections or rewriting—bar a
couple of typos—and a Dean’s Excellence Award), only to be told that ‘people
like me’ were always trying to be gatekeepers to the security discourse. Well,
yeah, because otherwise seeing the world exclusively from a European postmodern
theoretical perspective is always a great POV.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thus to bring us up to speed, languages other than English have
been long been seen as peripheral, in reality. Occasionally tossed around as a
bit of a political football and closely aligned to Australia’s ‘national
interests’ where those interests were mostly about trade with Asia. Perhaps the
very worst form of language training in Australia has been the so-called ‘Business
Japanese’ or ‘Business Chinese’ and similar. It says right there that we have
little interest in engaging with you otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so, to the next to last instalment of ‘languages in Australia—a
potted history’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Early 2000s, I had to find a new job. My then employer decided to
lock-out the final year PhD tutors from teaching, losing our income just when
we needed it most. I went for an advertised position in Japanese Studies and
International Relations, at a rank way above my then station but confident that
I was the only person in Australia with Masters and PhD (almost) in International
Relations and publications and course building experience in Japanese Studies. I
was asked at interview stage why should language even be taught at universities
anyway. Odd, given the advertised position. Anyway, I got the job and then
pressed for a comprehensive set of courses about Japan and the East Asian
region, to give students a political, historical, sociological context for
their studies, ideally taught by specialists in those fields. I was allowed one
class. It took about four years to be approved. It had to be a 'catch-all'
broadbrush introduction to everything Japan in 14 short weeks; my other courses
in International Relations were for a more general student cohort but I did use
Japanese-sourced materials (which allowed inclusion of other views translated
into Japanese, or their original Korean or Chinese articles) and I encouraged
students with languages other than English to use original sources too. It was
'International' relations after all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the duration, thirteen years or thereabouts, we were
constantly under pressure, literally under the axe, whereupon if numbers didn’t
go up, the courses, the classes would be cut. ‘Languages are too expensive to teach’
is always the cry from those academics with one eye on the managerial ladder
(*where pay and conditions are in inverse proportion to the amount of
educating, teaching students and researching one does on the 'frontline'*) acquiesce
to the financial drivers of a tertiary education. Our counterargument was that
if you don’t give us the opportunity to build a comprehensive program there is
little point in learning language on its own. It needs context. We tried to
encourage language programs embedded in a Design degree (we had both Italian
and Japanese and thought the match would be a good one). We tried to work with
the Tourism degree, encouraging the radical idea that students studying tourism
might find knowing another language useful in their chosen field. There were
other examples. Often the ‘degree structure’ and its requirements wouldn’t
allow language units. We were told by people who had never studied or taught
languages that we had to conform to the university-wide requirement of a
maximum of three assessment items. It goes on and on. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another factor that plays against language learning in
universities is the GPA (grade point average) culture that has come to determine
outcomes. How many times have we had students say that as much as they enjoy
learning the language, they can earn a High Distinction in a Business subject with a
fraction of the effort it takes to earn a Credit or Distinction in languages.
We were fortunate we were teaching students who really wanted to be there. The
traffic wasn’t all one way to the Business school. We had students switch to
language when they hadn’t planned to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the last couple of days, many have written eloquently about
the ideologically-driven damnation of the humanities by the present government,
hypocrisy writ-large when you look at the qualifications of most of those in
the Cabinet where these decisions are made. Language is a deeply embedded part
of the Humanities, of our humanity, and goodness knows we need a lot of that
now. It cannot be separated into a different band to satisfy the wistful
longing of an Education Minister who ‘wished’ he had studied a language. The
fact is Minister, you could have done so. You chose not to do so. If ever the John
Rawls idea of the ‘veil of ignorance’ were to come into play, it would be most
appropriate for the present government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is never too late to learn a language (I’ve recommenced
Mandarin study and dabble in Finnish, just because). But we will never learn
soon enough. Languages policy in Australia could be very simple. Just learn
one, or two, just because. Or as many as you like because knowing others begins
with seeing things through a different lens. There can be no price differential
on what it means to be human. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have never regretted the time and energy I have had to put into learning a language and I would do it again and again. Learn even more languages in fact. Many people remark 'how lucky' I am to have a language...no, I made the choice to do so, and made the effort. The opportunity should be there for everyone. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There will be a book on this one day. This has been a raging first
draft on the way to a manuscript. If you reached this far, well, thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or as we might say, </span></span><span lang="JA" style="color: black; font-family: "yu mincho" , serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ここまで読んでいただき、誠にありがとうございます。感謝しています。引き続き、宜しくお願い致します。</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
A tweet or two in the heat of the moment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A society that is willing to invest in education at the primary,
secondary, tertiary and even lifelong stages of learning, builds a better
society. A society, through those it elects, that would rather spend
unaccountable trillions on weapons of war, gets war, hate and division.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#MyArtsDegree taught me that language, be it your first, second or
third, is fundamental to who we are and what we can become. It is so much more
than a 'skill' to make you 'job-ready'. Language *in* the Arts and Humanities
gives language its meaning and context. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-/-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The marginalisation of foreign languages has been happening for
years. It feels like I've spent my entire academic career fighting against my
own irrelevance. I lost, I'm irrelevant. Language rebadged as a job skill won't
fix the problems though.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-80263423500541287772020-06-11T13:25:00.001+10:002020-06-11T13:25:43.366+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~~seven~~<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...a little inward reflection</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will turn to a little inward inflection in this post. As I noted in this series part six, the State of Emergency has been lifted but some restrictions are still in place, mainly taking care when out and about, keeping your distance, washing your hands, wearing your mask. (Although, it should be noted that this week, with the increase in temperature--into the low-mid 30s--there are concerns about being overcome by the heat or breathing difficulties which might arise from wearing masks; while it is widely recognised that people in Japan more readily wear masks, it is not common to do so during summer, as was noted on the TV this week.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAtVNPcj1lxuNld0NBoX0JilupErgoquGMb2CPrNUuuMjB7k4SkoJIITBNcV3l9cf3bwhkUTw0TLjIeJ7yalnexmwjt28PUWD80S4cdS5zCW7cjdh9bYzBAndVFr61EpB-2c3aF9jE9x2/s1600/EWMW4831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAtVNPcj1lxuNld0NBoX0JilupErgoquGMb2CPrNUuuMjB7k4SkoJIITBNcV3l9cf3bwhkUTw0TLjIeJ7yalnexmwjt28PUWD80S4cdS5zCW7cjdh9bYzBAndVFr61EpB-2c3aF9jE9x2/s400/EWMW4831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circling A to B and through</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in the last post, our university continues to work online, and term 2 commenced last week. I understand the caution, we don't have a large campus and so trying to conduct classes with sufficient spacing, getting to and from campus would mean, by and large, crowded public transport. But as we move into the third month of teaching at a distance, it has given me pause to think about this particular time as an educator, as a person and the ups and downs of the last two weeks in particular.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBdZyJv4j2OPGzxKLJlPd0MJulSueaU7mvTtboaZPx5O1hOBh873Pv5nJsFyqotLDZi2EYemye9qnqYIlXCdzUdBqnON0FN9iXfNQyR49X-RUOPd0VzrKH3sCGQE_oGRF6F5lWCQxh55t/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBdZyJv4j2OPGzxKLJlPd0MJulSueaU7mvTtboaZPx5O1hOBh873Pv5nJsFyqotLDZi2EYemye9qnqYIlXCdzUdBqnON0FN9iXfNQyR49X-RUOPd0VzrKH3sCGQE_oGRF6F5lWCQxh55t/s320/IMG_3536.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the lifting of restrictions, I have remained pretty much within the orbit of my neighbourhood; I have not caught a train to anywhere, even down the track to re-enter society. That might partly be a factor of my university remaining in distance mode but I wonder to myself now why has it become difficult to go further, go shopping, go and get a haircut? And the past two weeks from an online point of view have been particularly troubling to observe, as the political world--in Australia, in the United States, in Europe, in China, everywhere really--is erupting under a confluence of events. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if it is my disciplinary training--political science, history, language--that makes me feel heavy at heart, that makes me feel the greater futility in the human endeavour. At times I want to opt out and yet, feel compelled to 'stay in' precisely because of my academic inclinations (which yes, do flow over into the personal, because things like equality and justice do matter). I feel simultaneously attacked and engaged. I wonder if this is a factor of being alone with myself and my thoughts for all my waking hours rather than my usual commuting, teaching, meetings, standing in corridors talking; social media has been overwhelming this past week or so; anything on screen is an effort to do, because everything is on screen perhaps. I feel bad about the fact I simply no longer want to look at my email inbox because it fills with questions I cannot answer from this space. I fear. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2NOPcYz-dVE4s7At2h0TKJlxrFPvClahkF1UPUu6USZ-j0qnxwObvSQOo1P00I6az642T8kOwje0lSOnHPPRXUU9RU9elo0hyphenhyphenDiXXlB30lkFGbxIq1jbFfKKr-Wqy6dIIITm5AeND0O/s1600/IMG_E3512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsV2NOPcYz-dVE4s7At2h0TKJlxrFPvClahkF1UPUu6USZ-j0qnxwObvSQOo1P00I6az642T8kOwje0lSOnHPPRXUU9RU9elo0hyphenhyphenDiXXlB30lkFGbxIq1jbFfKKr-Wqy6dIIITm5AeND0O/s200/IMG_E3512.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snack one afternoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I entered this semi-lockdown, I developed 'habits' let's call them, to keep up with the new circumstances; I kept engaging online, I made sure to eat properly, to stop and exercise through various means, to walk through the park on the way to the shop to buy the paper, to literally smell the flowers (or at least photograph them), to keep writing while I had the much-wanted, much-valued 'time'...it is just these past couple of weeks where that seems to have slowed. Perhaps, psychologically, I prepared for two months and perhaps a re-adjustment is needed for the next two. But politics, as I teach it, is an engaged, face-to-face conversational discipline; trying to respond, in written form, in a conversational, engaging way with students (remembering I am doing this in my second language), is tiring, it loses its immediacy. Perhaps, I am just... tired?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also thinking about the time I am 'losing' in terms of field work too, something that might not have been a problem but for the fact that my five year visa will be up for renewal soon...or will it. I have the gnawing sense of wanting to stay 'just a little bit longer' competing with the familial responsibilities that await at home, even though one can't return home at the moment, because of COVID restrictions. I have to think about leaving as I think about staying. I want to stay; I want to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Japanese, there is the expression 鬱, utsu or 憂鬱 yu-utsu (unforgettable <i>because</i> it contains so many strokes, one of those instantly recognisable but difficult to write kanji), it refers to feeling low, perhaps depression; I don't think I'm there and yet this week has been, it seems to me, in a very complex way, bordering on that. Perhaps. I haven't felt this way during this sojourn in Japan until these last couple of weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apologies for the indulgence and introspection of this post when so much is going on in the world today. But if this blog is a sample of a modern-day journal, then I felt it important to record this moment as part of this particular time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will strive to do better. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think it is the email inbox. I must get back to it. </span><br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-87135021454628419142020-06-03T14:00:00.000+10:002020-06-03T14:00:24.008+10:00Why our libraries, and their collections matter<i>...a short note on the importance of collecting, for collecting's sake</i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Japanese
immigrants in search of pearls: </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a Japanese hand-made photo album captures life
in Queensland in the 1890s<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">In 2010, I received a note to say I was awarded a
Fellowship to undertake research in the National Library’s Asian Collections,
access to one of the richest sources of materials on Japan’s relations with
Australia, (and the region more broadly) dating back to the 19th century. My
primary interest was to examine materials, in Japanese, about Australia, who
wrote them, what did they write, what did they ‘see’? I was looking for the
historical origins of the Australia-Japan trade in natural resources but also ‘more’.
What that ‘more’ was I hoped, included details of how Japanese people viewed Australia,
what connections were there prior to the well-documented economic partnership. At
the time, something was known of the ‘pearl divers’ who came to Australia particularly
Thursday Island and Broome, and since then, more stories are coming to light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">This post sets out the foundation of one of my current
projects that, without the resources of the National Library of Australia,
would not have happened. The discovery of the album has taken me to archives
and libraries in Japan where I have since tracked down the provenance of the ‘anonymous’
photos, and which has opened up a whole new area of inquiry into Japanese ‘migration
societies’ and early colonial ambitions of the Japanese ruling elite. As we
unfold more stories about the indentured labourers sent to Australia from
Japan, we are also looking into who brought them here, their motivations, their
actions. In his report, Watanabe detailed an encounter with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people, including several words translated into Japanese
language, He documented costs of living of all manner of daily products. The
report is the formal version of his tour; the minutes of the ‘migration
association’ of which he was a member document much deeper insight into the
views and attitudes of the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Watanabe in this story, was elected to the Japanese
Parliament in the early 1900s as was Satoh, the self-proclaimed ‘merchant king’
of Thursday Island. The links are deep and complex; the work continues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">It is easy to dismiss this as ‘niche’ history, as
something only a few people would be interested in. But it is much more than that.
As a society, we don’t do history very well. We cannot stop because of ‘other
priorities’. To abandon our past is to ignore our present and dismiss our
future. We each have a role to play in ensuring that does not happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="JA" style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(F</span><span lang="JA" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">irst written in 2012 as part of the record of the fellowship)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Amidst
the serious business of examining the National Library’s Japanese language
materials written about Australia c. late 19<sup>th</sup> and early 20<sup>th</sup>
centuries, several serendipitous moments of pure research magic revealed
themselves over my three-month tenure. One story in particular, retold here,
highlights the value of the collections and how we, as researchers, can use the
resources of the Library to map out some very intriguing stories about
Australia told from a somewhat unanticipated perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A secondary purpose of my research in
examining Japanese writing about an earlier period in Australia was to also try
and assess the visual images of Australia that the Japanese were taking back
with them at the time. Among the expected maps and illustrations in a number of
books and pamphlets I came across a catalogue entry describing an album of
sepia photographs described thus: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 2.0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gōshū Hoku-a chihō
shashin (Photographs from Australia [Northern region])</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;">,</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
[Japan: s. n.] , Meiji 27 [1894] [28] p. ; 29 cm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It consists of sepia
colour photographs, mounted on cardboard papers and bound; cover title,
handwritten in ink; captions on each photographs also hand written in Japanese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no note of author or photographer, just the captions which give an
indication of the photographer’s journey—Darwin, Northern Territory, Thursday
Island, and other parts of Northern Queensland—and the date on the cover, Meiji
27 [1894] (plus a note that it was a ‘gift’). This was just the sort of record
of images I hoped to find, but I didn’t anticipate the anonymity. With its
provenance uncertain, I began to imagine the circumstances under which the
photos were taken, the captions written (in Japanese), the care with which the
album was made, and the fact that it had survived almost 120 years. Could the
photographer have been someone involved in Northern Queensland, with interests
in the pearling industry? Certainly, there was a nagging familiarity about one
or two of the photos before me. I recalled an image of the pearl divers very
similar to the one in the album. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpZtMiX1q7wblJYFzOFgdAK6lfoCu0GYO1M2oYIEIl5NytQsFzvWwnbDqb5SDMpvOvH_bBBW4xYtIMibWaUJV8BAydiKT-noXkSR2fIg6BsAGO9uFjH_RAFBp9gl0baVn1x3NIljPJj0V/s1600/Watanabe+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpZtMiX1q7wblJYFzOFgdAK6lfoCu0GYO1M2oYIEIl5NytQsFzvWwnbDqb5SDMpvOvH_bBBW4xYtIMibWaUJV8BAydiKT-noXkSR2fIg6BsAGO9uFjH_RAFBp9gl0baVn1x3NIljPJj0V/s200/Watanabe+cover.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cover of the album</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
not strictly part of my brief, I couldn’t resist the urge to find out more
about the photos, maybe solve the puzzle. I started out on Japanese websites
mentioning Thursday Island and names of note in 1894. One prominent Japanese
person at the time was Sato Torajiro (sometimes ‘Satow’). He established a shop
on Thursday Island and was involved in the pearling industry. His story alone
is worth investigating for his role in early Japan-Australia relations. He
eventually returned to Japan and became a politician of some note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -4.6pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The emerging detective story took me to look up
material written about Sato and the pearling industry on Thursday Island. This
led me to some of the detailed histories of migrants from western Japan (Kinan
chihō imin shiryōshū series) written by Shimizu Akira in the </span><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">including</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> two
which dealt particularly with </span><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Satō
Torajiro</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">. Not expecting them to be there, I looked up
the NLA catalogue anyway. The full series is in the library. I went to
investigate further. While looking for these two documents in the stacks, I
also noted a collection of stories put together to commemorate the year of
friendship anniversaries, 1998. Entitled, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ōsutoraria no
Nihonjin : isseiki o koeru Nihonjin no sokuseki = Japanese in Australia,
1867-1998</span></i><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">, it
was edited and overseen by Hosaka Yoshihide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -4.6pt;">
<span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">An initial ‘serendipitous’ breakthrough occurred when I realised
that two illustrations used in a couple of stories were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">reprints </i>of two of the photos from the album. The first was a
sketch of a photo showing pearlers on a ship, one of whom is fitted out in
diving equipment, including the helmet. He is being watched and assisted by
four other men (p. 21). It illustrates a story told by Jotani Isamu, a pearler
who arrived on Thursday Island in 1936, and returned to Japan in March 1946
after internment. But if the sketch is from the 1894 photo collection, then
this didn’t quite match. There was nothing in the text to indicate the source
of the illustration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A further article on pages 30-32,
was a short history of sugar cane and Japanese contract labourers, by former UQ
history graduate Murakami Yuichi. The sketch accompanying this article matched
another of the photos from the collection, this time a photo of two labourers
pictured outside their ‘tin shed’ lodgings. A minor breakthrough: the pictures
in this article were sourced to DCS Sissons, a renowned Australian scholar of
early Japan-Australia relations. Sissons wrote the Australian Dictionary of
Biography entry on Sato Torajiro, so I thought I was getting closer to my
answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DCS Sissons has left a substantial
collection of his writings to the NLA, and I was planning to peruse them during
the tenure of my HWF. However, the lure proved too strong and I found myself in
the manuscript room, seeking out the Sissons collection (ms 3902). There are
several boxes of materials, but very well archived, to the extent that I
briefly wondered about such collections in the future. With most of us working
electronically these days, there will be little in the way of such archival
treasures. In the material, there was one box of ‘Japanese in
Australia—photographs’ as well as several materials on pearling and Thursday
Island. Feeling a sense of zeroing in on my quarry, I first examined the box of
photographs and there, in a folder in the very first envelope, were photographs
of the sketches, and the annotation on the envelope was ‘Watanabe Tanken
1894’…right date, but not the name I was anticipating. Who was Watanabe, and
why sketches of the very photos I had seen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On a hunch, I typed in ‘Watanabe tanken’ to the catalogue and the
result was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-left: 2.0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gōshū tanken hōkokusho</span></i><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;">by </span><a href="http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Search/Home?lookfor=author:%22Watanabe%2C%20Kanju%CC%84ro%CC%84%22&iknowwhatimean=1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Watanabe, Kanjūrō</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;">with
the catalogue description: </span><span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;">[Tokyo] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaimushō Tsūshōkyoku Dai 2-ka, Meiji 27
[1894], 3, 5, 289 p., [11] leaves of plates (3 folded): ill., maps ; 26 cm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-left: 2.0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #2b1c1f; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The 11 leaves of plates promised something. The plates
included reproductions, probably lithographs, of the photos from the album.
Indeed, this report was the likely source of Sissons’s illustrations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">One step closer but it was not conclusive proof that
the photos in the album were taken by Watanabe for his report. The librarians
demand a high standard of proof, fortunately. Next step was to find evidence,
something that would indicate the source of the sketches in the report that
hopefully linked them back to the album. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Connecting the illustrations 1: top: the oft-reproduced picture from Sissons; middle: the annotated original photo in Watanabe's album; bottom:the lithographic reproduction in the Watanabe Report</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdf4HG2FzmjqEVdBKU3q-g-DnrxvushMvzI1W5ZsJ_Vj8T9zBVsrv41MgQnbL3F4VeOydlQDD2RHFWY84gcz7YIt2ZMCsfZuDpn2XTWUYnysZkRfxfQwGK6KFhSRyZlvVs4w4x8AF0YsP/s1600/Labourers+reproduced+lithograph+via+Sissons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdf4HG2FzmjqEVdBKU3q-g-DnrxvushMvzI1W5ZsJ_Vj8T9zBVsrv41MgQnbL3F4VeOydlQDD2RHFWY84gcz7YIt2ZMCsfZuDpn2XTWUYnysZkRfxfQwGK6KFhSRyZlvVs4w4x8AF0YsP/s1600/Labourers+reproduced+lithograph+via+Sissons.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoCwnZHepW9kYSuvmAFJ9hd-SE7JXI2vkjVyXYf47hEo35wH4gRb0pVIs4WecRk50JN1irp_19yOBP6GVtA5520qUjH0gof2VzVx_76NJHIGzUrW_TtN6HKNJYjSwFa0DDK2xAFguacD0/s1600/Labourers+sepia+orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoCwnZHepW9kYSuvmAFJ9hd-SE7JXI2vkjVyXYf47hEo35wH4gRb0pVIs4WecRk50JN1irp_19yOBP6GVtA5520qUjH0gof2VzVx_76NJHIGzUrW_TtN6HKNJYjSwFa0DDK2xAFguacD0/s1600/Labourers+sepia+orig.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwoad2Z93MTOzqczVNX8c-2ZQJMUGApV0p3-4Ux-msNwvfi0MLflon5tuD7QblEza6iKrOLGQ8BhRUqcZRrWJBL9-3HLyelJyGxc41HNq0CyAOoyHdlCx9KAO5TxHu0k47rB8m7iM10PS/s1600/Labourers+Watanabe+lithograph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwoad2Z93MTOzqczVNX8c-2ZQJMUGApV0p3-4Ux-msNwvfi0MLflon5tuD7QblEza6iKrOLGQ8BhRUqcZRrWJBL9-3HLyelJyGxc41HNq0CyAOoyHdlCx9KAO5TxHu0k47rB8m7iM10PS/s1600/Labourers+Watanabe+lithograph.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Reading official reports in 19<sup>th</sup> century
Japanese is not an easy task since such reports are written in a combination of
full-form, pre-modern kanji and katakana. However, on page four of his
introduction we find a comment about him taking a ‘photo machine’, the ‘convenience
of which allowed him to capture aspects of the local conditions’. Further on,
he notes that most of the time on this trip was around Queensland and the
Northern Territory, which matches the captions and images in the album. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Connecting the illustrations 2: the pearl divers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Top:the oft-reproduced Sissons illustration; middle: the original photo with hand-written caption from Watanabe's album; bottom: the lithographic reproduction in Watanabe's report</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK69EBfI4ClUPtDfG72pDol2XMnBIEpyCdNOcy_q2z9Ch3dfnf9txkysA4H-U4JeQmhh52NMBLOZC0d6t_xNRXpHncZCtfhlvukQXUKGZ_kW7sfB6TIkQji_-AYoFCYykoqdDTxTdDpP04/s1600/Pearlers+reproduced+lithograph+via+Sissons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK69EBfI4ClUPtDfG72pDol2XMnBIEpyCdNOcy_q2z9Ch3dfnf9txkysA4H-U4JeQmhh52NMBLOZC0d6t_xNRXpHncZCtfhlvukQXUKGZ_kW7sfB6TIkQji_-AYoFCYykoqdDTxTdDpP04/s1600/Pearlers+reproduced+lithograph+via+Sissons.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bLedB5bRgOVJyPgUgaBMOUbX6ftc3OXD6rMYKCEkF1dptEpd8Mz7AEFV8to7EN95D6Ynovr_eptHjgRsh-CSUrIj2p6lamk52V36Hjt-JbBA_HrAdCAUVMx0-1ScoQfXm0OuTopFU2Dw/s1600/Pearlers+sepia+orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bLedB5bRgOVJyPgUgaBMOUbX6ftc3OXD6rMYKCEkF1dptEpd8Mz7AEFV8to7EN95D6Ynovr_eptHjgRsh-CSUrIj2p6lamk52V36Hjt-JbBA_HrAdCAUVMx0-1ScoQfXm0OuTopFU2Dw/s1600/Pearlers+sepia+orig.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh5fbruoI0bkXqYy5gIh9uhdqg8ng0VAbch__GJQbKrxsq-rJQ_u_vHmtWk9JA167pClCDVl8U0hcgFooSuTho3CM_S80ligvYy0w4fIre6HeQ7ga1N2tlMDn5XPA5MvFwRGVcroWbwsI/s1600/Pearlers+Watanabe+lithograph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh5fbruoI0bkXqYy5gIh9uhdqg8ng0VAbch__GJQbKrxsq-rJQ_u_vHmtWk9JA167pClCDVl8U0hcgFooSuTho3CM_S80ligvYy0w4fIre6HeQ7ga1N2tlMDn5XPA5MvFwRGVcroWbwsI/s1600/Pearlers+Watanabe+lithograph.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">So, not 100% proof but as close as one might get.* What
we also appear to have achieved is the discovery of the original photographs of
those reproduced in the Watanabe report which were in turn used by David
Sissons, and then others, using the Sissons’s reproductions. For example, in
box 45 of the Sissons’s manuscripts, there is correspondence between Sissons
and ‘Miss Mays’ the Reader Services Librarian at James Cook University wherein
he forwarded copies of the Watanabe reproductions for use in a library
exhibition; and the prints are used in Sissons’s article in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Queensland Heritage</i> (1979, MS 3092, box
2), including the diver and crew (p. 8), the scenic view of Thursday Island (p.
9) and the Japanese club on Thursday Island (looking up from below, p. 15). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">*The link has now been made via the record of minutes of the migrant society.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ahrpivxNddLROYTrq64PJUn92RIjkeFWnL6Ghm_f83fdzSCD-YDS4_DFRi3jCavFj5wF1HaHDfj4vznPr_CIOHMm5egT4VHigNzLyljzSY1QwguGCU7LtXpN9bx1t3zoV6vCMPI-bOlU/s1600/%25E6%25B8%25A1%25E8%25BE%25BA%25E9%2596%2593%25E5%258D%2581%25E9%2583%258E%25E5%25AF%2584%25E4%25BB%2598%25E8%25A8%25BC%25E6%258B%25A0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ahrpivxNddLROYTrq64PJUn92RIjkeFWnL6Ghm_f83fdzSCD-YDS4_DFRi3jCavFj5wF1HaHDfj4vznPr_CIOHMm5egT4VHigNzLyljzSY1QwguGCU7LtXpN9bx1t3zoV6vCMPI-bOlU/s400/%25E6%25B8%25A1%25E8%25BE%25BA%25E9%2596%2593%25E5%258D%2581%25E9%2583%258E%25E5%25AF%2584%25E4%25BB%2598%25E8%25A8%25BC%25E6%258B%25A0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The minutes from a meeting in 1894 showing evidence of Watanabe's 'gift' of the album,<br />
presented at Wakayama University in December 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The National Parliamentary Library in Japan holds a
copy of the Watanabe report but not any evidence of the photos (according to
the on-line catalogue). The mystery remains however, of how the photos came to
be separated from the report and lodged with the NLA. While the condition of
some photos is poor, and the detail not particularly remarkable, those that do
show detail are worthy of preservation (although my preference would be for the
whole album to be preserved). The three photos of the indigenous men and women
(and young European boy in one), which were made into one image in the final
report, along with the list of local words with Japanese meanings, surely has
heritage value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Although a temporary sidestep in my main project, the
exercise reiterated two significant points for me as a researcher. The first is
the value of the Asian collection we have in the Library and what it tells us
about how others saw us, particularly in the 1890s as the collection of six
colonies were debating the emerging federation. The Watanabe Report and the
photo album are but one example of a myriad of such materials in the
collection. Part of my work now considers how much about Australia’s emerging social
and political debate might have made it back to a Japanese socio-political
milieu as its leaders were similarly dealing with a ‘new’ world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">The second point of course is that the materials in
our national collection serve as a reminder that Australia’s engagement with
Asia stretches back over many years and in a variety of ways. The value of this
collection cannot be underestimated as our politicians embark on yet another
White Paper on how we might capitalise on the contemporary relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Footnote: There was also the incidental side-discovery
that the late International Relations professor, Sato Seizaburo, occasional
visitor to Australia, was the grandson of Sato Torajiro of Thursday Island
fame—the connection was made in the archives of DCS Sissons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-AU</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="382">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Mention"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Smart Hyperlink"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Cambria",serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-44672645943787243362020-05-28T21:39:00.000+10:002020-05-28T21:39:06.711+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~~six~~<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...are we there yet?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that short detour on leadership earlier this week, let's return to life under a semi-lockdown situation. Because that is what remains despite the State of Emergency being lifted at the beginning of the week. The number of daily cases in Tokyo remains low, generally under 20, occasionally single figures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg238n2WJSZ4FjZ3SlEyYkN2cREdXbD_iqXhkOQeLP_oo_lCCvguBVxGrA4BYn8Q0Yk1cJCbdf3EKQkXdYjQ5ufHSjg7kDRsN0d0t79wGsnf9W8j-C_w5DcSRw2K5-sX8IQO4xupqZnXj11/s1600/IMG_3488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg238n2WJSZ4FjZ3SlEyYkN2cREdXbD_iqXhkOQeLP_oo_lCCvguBVxGrA4BYn8Q0Yk1cJCbdf3EKQkXdYjQ5ufHSjg7kDRsN0d0t79wGsnf9W8j-C_w5DcSRw2K5-sX8IQO4xupqZnXj11/s320/IMG_3488.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TV Asahi Morning Show reporting on foreign reporting <br />of the 'Japan model' of controlling the virus, <br />this still of a panel about ABC Australia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is much speculation in the foreign media about a so-called 'Japanese model', how has the country kept the cases and deaths comparatively low without the severe restrictions applied in other countries. Several businesses had to close; public facilities were also asked to close, as were universities, schools and so on. People were asked to work at home where possible, and we were offered a figure of 80%, the percentage to aim for in terms of reducing commuting traffic, contact and gathering in public. These became the figures to watch on nightly broadcasts, we were given details of percentages at key train stations, according to mobile phone data, mostly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Masks have become symbolic of the pandemic. Early on, panic buying saw most shops sold out of masks very quickly however, unlike toilet paper which has basically returned to the shelves, masks are still hard to come by, in the usual places. Now two or three things have happened with masks. The foreign press have reported the masks as part of the Japanese model. Japanese people have a custom of wearing masks, certainly. In previous times, those with a cold might wear one to prevent transmission to others; masks are commonly worn during hayfever season (which coincided with the emergence of COVID19 this year); I haven't worn them previously but even I have taken to wearing masks as I go about my chores. Now, they are required in public at most times. But, supplies remain low. This has resulted in two things--a 'black market', where they are sold in quantities in shops that don't normally sell them, and at exorbitant prices. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago the Abe government tried to respond to this by posting out two masks to every household. We learnt this week that less than 35% have been delivered at this stage and in some cases, some residences have received two deliveries. There was some controversy this week too when one school insisted the 'Abenomasuku', and only the Abe mask, had to be worn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second 'phenomenon' worth noting has been the regionalisation and craftsmanship arising in a kind of unofficial mask competition. It emerged as various prefectural governors began to wear masks made of local materials with local markings or symbols (often supplied by constituents), perhaps to contrast with Abe's efforts. As I noted at the time on twitter (19 May), </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>'Forthcoming: 'Symbolism and meaning in mask motifs--the emergent space in political symbolism and regional parochialism in a time of COVID19'</i>, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to try and capture the sense of how masks have become quite the accessory. I still haven't managed to replenish my disposable paper masks but I have acquired a cloth, re-usable one and the materials required to make another if required. Plenty of industries have also moved to make masks, particularly in my broader community of interest, wetsuit manufacturers have made them out of wetsuit materials and the big international clothing maker, UniQlo, announced they will have some available in stores soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Concerns are currently being expressed about wearing masks in summer. No doubt we will see more variations made for summer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOzGSGCKrBpPvFvLt1gZnlkQWkyB8vO4-yovmV9PPUnmCiAjUYrgodE_8Ztv6Se-fO2WlyMcB8rxjaaznfNUwxzukvsxTWYY6CRhHZu7B7b887y8hlZDH6uDVqbuB8w-AB1XtWhDPfGSz/s1600/surfin-guide-line_SNS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1151" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOzGSGCKrBpPvFvLt1gZnlkQWkyB8vO4-yovmV9PPUnmCiAjUYrgodE_8Ztv6Se-fO2WlyMcB8rxjaaznfNUwxzukvsxTWYY6CRhHZu7B7b887y8hlZDH6uDVqbuB8w-AB1XtWhDPfGSz/s320/surfin-guide-line_SNS.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Surfing Association offers the above <br />advice when we return to the surf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now with the state of emergency lifted, but restrictions left in place, there have been some interesting changes on tv too. During the SoE, a number of panel shows had members 'zoom in' from home; some are continuing that practice this week, while others have brought their guests back into the studio. In the latter, much is made of 'distancing' on stage as well. A number of drama series which would normally continue shooting have halted production which has meant replays of earlier episodes, or completely different program. It could be seen as symbolic but it has been important I think, a constant reminder of present circumstances.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shops continue to keep vinyl sheets between staff and customers at the registers, 2m markings and hand sanitizer at the door. Restaurants and pubs, are re-opening with precautions too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, my workplace has determined that, by and large, we should continue working and teaching from home, extending our exclusion from campus until the end of July. That will be four months by the time we get to return. Perhaps. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, for the foreseeable future, little will change for me here, in my little apartment, in the Tokyo suburbs. My neighbourhood obachans remain a source of daily (brief) chats, and I do miss the wonderful women at my station kiosk, I hope they are ok. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still to venture beyond the limits of my neighbourhood, but let's see what happens by this time next week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asahi Shimbun reports, at 9:00pm last night (27 May) Japan recorded 16744 cases and 870 deaths. This on the day, the United States passed 100,000 deaths. How, why? That's the subject of another post, another day.</span><br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-27990942107556910872020-05-24T20:39:00.000+10:002020-05-24T20:39:37.487+10:00That detour continued ~~ five point five point two ~~<b>...and my point is?</b><br />
<br />
As well you may ask.<br />
<br />
First to what I would expect someone who might have learnt from past mistakes should do in order to 'earn' leadership credentials in the current climate.<br />
<br />
'SnapBack' would not be part of the vocabulary or the policy planning for a start. This should be an opportunity for leaders to review and redirect budget spending, rethink the sort of society we might aspire to be. For many years, I've engaged with the concept of 'human security', security that puts people first. An early proponent was Japanese foreign policy specialist and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Professor <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/10/5db7e6954/unhcr-statement-death-former-un-high-commissioner-refugees-sadako-ogata.html" target="_blank">Ogata Sadako</a> who passed away last year. Human Security. If we spent less time, money and energy on war and more on people, communities, health, education, social welfare and so on, we might even minimise the need for war. I introduce Prof Ogata each year to students in my Peace Studies course, very few knew a Japanese woman was at the forefront of this policy proposal.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_vvjWQSLHITTFv-2FS1iuCx5tJPFG6a4wpY1QNN-VgkGPJ8rcWFsyByvd6LA-nZI5UY9DZMAYtDfTW6_AEcYgGPRbJOVlnzrwjmYZZJ1vXSwYsKivINh7jevtF0kSRCbfK0FrhnA1lug/s1600/P1010257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_vvjWQSLHITTFv-2FS1iuCx5tJPFG6a4wpY1QNN-VgkGPJ8rcWFsyByvd6LA-nZI5UY9DZMAYtDfTW6_AEcYgGPRbJOVlnzrwjmYZZJ1vXSwYsKivINh7jevtF0kSRCbfK0FrhnA1lug/s320/P1010257.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a road to...(Ariake district)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My particular concern with the revisionism around Morrison's 'leadership' was how quickly people seemed to almost forgive him for the debacle that was the bushfire season, the manner in which he inserted himself into the PM's position, his 'stop the boats' policy as immigration minister, indeed, the very nature of his preselection, his many faults that others have written about at length. I do not see any change in his fundamental beliefs and approach to anything, much less anything to do with politics. 'SnapBack', this idea that things will 'return to (some kind of) normal' after this pandemic, is just indicative of the ideologically-driven approach.<br />
<br />
I've taught politics now for more years than I care to count; I have seen students learn, understand, modify their approach, change their views, in the space of two or three years. (Some who haven't either but that's for another time.) Look across the ditch, to NZ where the leader, Jacinda Ardern, has been genuine from the start, continued through, with consistency. It is possible.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, his polling* numbers suggest otherwise. Indeed, a number of leaders across the world, some data suggest, are experiencing something of a boost in polls or popularity as they are given the credit for navigating the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
<br />
(*I use polling in a professional sense, I don't use it as indicative of politicians' popularity or otherwise.)<br />
<br />
Now, let us turn to Japan's PM Abe. The two PMs find themselves in similar circumstances; Abe has for several years now, been battling scandals on several fronts, largely favours for friends and acquaintances, government largesse, or corruption of the sort favoured by governments of today. Any one of the various scandals in past years would have forced his resignation, but he survives. Not only has he survived, he has succeeded in having the two-year-two-term norm of the LDP presidency (and effectively the prime ministership) extended to realise a personal aspiration of being Japan's longest-serving prime minister of the modern era.<br />
<br />
Like Morrison, Abe was slowish to respond to the initial stages and like Morrison, arguably he was pressed into action and outdone by Japan's equivalent of Australia's state premiers, prefectural governors. It was the governors, notably Koike in Tokyo, the governors of Tokyo's surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa (which form part of the greater Tokyo commuter region--think Brisbane-Gold Coast or Sydney-Newcastle) and also Osaka and Hokkaido. There is a comparative study worth doing there, in the future. The governors ultimately forced Abe's hand on declaring a national state of emergency so they could respond locally; Abe's policy responses were also seen as ad hoc and impulsive. Chief among them was his sudden decision to close schools, (leaving many parents in a difficult position), his 'two masks per household' policy (at great expense) and initial plans of ¥300,000 in economic assistance to those in need, quickly being redrafted to give ¥100,000 to everyone. Like Morrison's promises of monetary compensation, the 'idea' is struggling under the weight of bureaucracy to be realised. Similarly, the masks were delivered well after people found ways to improvise, indeed starting a new fashionable wave and prefectural parochialism. In fact, it turns out that nowhere near the anticipated number of masks have been delivered and some premises have received more than one delivery.<br />
<br />
Although Abe appears in daily media conferences, people have stopped listening to him. Conversely, the 'popularity' of the governors has risen, as they have taken on stronger leadership roles. In the interim, polling for Abe has been on the slide, in contrast to Morrison. It is an interesting conundrum. Both countries have had, arguably, reasonably controlled numbers in terms of cases and deaths, neither country reaching the horrific statistics of the US, UK and others. I suspect, a mere hypothesis at this time, that the media may have a role to play. The media environments are quite different in the two countries.<br />
<br />
Just after I tweeted the thread on Morrison, a surprising opinion poll result* turned up for Abe. At the beginning of May, his popularity was on a downward trend, sitting in the low 40s. In this past week, the Mainichi poll put his support at 27%, a dramatic drop. It is only one poll. Ironically, it appears that it is not Abe's pandemic performance that is resounding through the populace but a scandal of equivalence some might say to those earlier in his term (but then, corruption is corruption, once you start 'grading' it, you are in trouble), an attempt to extend the tenure of one of his preferred public prosecutors, in blatant disregard of the separation of powers here in Japan, a concept taught in schools (and universities, specifically mine, in my class). What was the difference this time? Interestingly, a massive twitter hashtag campaign (which warrants a post of its own) which saw key members of the government cave on the changes to the legislation. Subsequently, it turns out the prosecutor in question was caught out, against all sorts of rules, not the least of which was semi-lockdown demands, of playing and betting on mahjong, with a couple of journalists. Gone.<br />
<br />
(*I use polling in a professional sense, I don't use it as indicative of politicians' popularity or otherwise.) (^-^)/<br />
<br />
Will Abe be able to walk back from this one? At the moment it looks unlikely. He is also, at this stage, unlikely to resign but might see out his current term (until 2021). Unless, other unforeseen events emerge.<br />
<br />
Like Morrison, there is hollowness about Abe's politics, his 'leadership' characteristics (one might be trying to avoid the use of 'qualities'), a product of the modern, professional political class. And yet despite the similarities in their present circumstances, their trajectories are heading in different directions, for now.<br />
<br />
Is our politics broken? Perhaps, but not beyond repair, I would like to think, dare to hope.<br />
<br />
Modern politicians think democracy means capturing the most votes, they justify their actions on the basis that 'we were elected, we got the votes'. Democracy however, is an ongoing process, a dialogue if you will, between voters and the people they elect. So voters too have a responsibility to keep their elected representatives accountable. It is time to reinvigorate the social contract...but that is a topic for another post.<br />
<br />
These are notes on the way to a larger project to investigate our politics. These are the things that keep me occupied between classes and meetings, living and breathing, and spending time in a semi-lockdown environment (extended).<br />
<br />
Thank you for arriving at this point. There is more to think about, more to come.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-49356301691662738432020-05-23T21:22:00.002+10:002020-05-23T21:22:56.586+10:00A slight detour during life in semi-lockdown ~five point five point one~<b>...a few notes on political leadership (part one)</b><br />
<br />
A lot of people want to know how and why I ended up studying politics, in particular Japanese politics but politics in general. I mean, if you are going to 'do Japan', aren't there better things to do than politics?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Start with 'politics', you can go anywhere. I suppose it was a bit of a strategic accident in a way. I commenced my university studies in what is now referred to quaintly as 'area studies', back when moving on to higher education meant you could explore your curiosity, learn about 'others', expand your horizons, and have it considered a positive rather than a waste of time and failure to think about a job.<br />
<br />
<i>(#a digression: I remember participating in one of the annual university days, when they were at the crossroads between--come to uni and study, meet the lecturers--and--university PR opportunity, ignore the academics--those times. Anyway, a rather overbearing fellow was talking to me about what he wanted his daughter to study and was saying he'd rather we taught Chinese instead of Japanese, so as I was wont to do, I spoke through him directly to his daughter and asked what interested her; she wanted to study Japanese, go to Japan, listed all the things she was interested in; I said great, I gave her a potted history of what I did over the years--teaching, living in Japan, working at DFAT, working in parliament...etc etc; her eyes lit up, her father harrumphed and said, 'well I want my daughter to have a career, not a series of jobs!' Seriously, I've never forgotten that.)</i><br />
<br />
Anyway, back to that first degree. I ended up in politics for two reasons I suppose, firstly, and simply, the politics and history lecturers were the most interesting and economics, which is what I was supposed to be combining with Japanese at the time was frankly, boring. So secondly, while economics was the go-to discipline to understand Japan, I figured with so many 'Japanese and economics graduates' potentially on the horizon, I should distinguish myself from the pack. So politics it was. OK, I was more interested in Chinese politics but, since I was studying Japanese, I went in that direction. Interestingly, in those days, International Relations was considered inappropriate to study at the undergraduate level, no subjects were offered except for a final semester, final year all-round 'Australia and Asia' subject which sort of introduced us to some concepts. No, the priority in those days was learn the language, learn about the society, understand commonalities and differences, and then go on.<br />
<br />
Thus politics has been a thread throughout all that I have done, all that I do. My first degree encouraged a comparative approach to other societies, as a way to understand our own and learn about others; it offered ways to 'reflect' on our own actions, before 'reflection' became the norm in education. I moved through postgraduate studies in International Relations, but my interest these days is to stand back from the frontlines and 'think', in the Arendtian-style, about politics--what motivates us to do, or not do, act, or not act, and so on.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKIxPg1q0Yzd6f5tCJYc8eDYuEUpm1zbZcIbL_4Pd2eLS9FrIpO6ALC9-w_Z8xkQ1VbpqD8mgr1Ndkgyu4f3dgLz5zOOTvhuqPc_J1WwGUl9NGSzBsqOJEOWqQF3oEOTV1cl-X-Psfcx1/s1600/IMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1600" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKIxPg1q0Yzd6f5tCJYc8eDYuEUpm1zbZcIbL_4Pd2eLS9FrIpO6ALC9-w_Z8xkQ1VbpqD8mgr1Ndkgyu4f3dgLz5zOOTvhuqPc_J1WwGUl9NGSzBsqOJEOWqQF3oEOTV1cl-X-Psfcx1/s400/IMG_0861.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern leadership</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So it was this week, perhaps because of the time afforded during a state of semi-lockdown, I tweeted a few observations about Scott Morrison, Australia's prime minister. Much was being made about the first anniversary of the government winning the election last weekend. Now, it is no secret that the present neo-liberal approach to governing in several countries offends my sense of politics for equality, fairness and justice; I think politicians play a game where they think democracy is about capturing as many votes as possible, then ignoring the electorate for the rest of the time. I think it is much more of a two-way, ongoing process between elections, not just election day.<br />
<br />
And twitter is a funny place. I'm there for lots of reasons but I'm always amused when a tweet about today's lunch gets more likes and RTs than my 'expert' commentary on something political but this week, for just a brief moment, a short thread I wrote garnered more tweets, comments (and new followers) than my last Friday night beer and curry tweet and given we've been in semi-lockdown for nearly two months, that is quite a while.<br />
<br />
There were six tweets in the thread (I was even 'threadreadered'):<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Praising the PM's leadership at this point is like giving a student 10/10 for their first assignment of the semester and telling them 'no worries, you're on track for a high distinction now, sit back, relax, all the hard work is done'. Nor is it his 'leadership' alone. 1/6<br />
<br />
The premiers have contributed in equal, if not greater amounts to get to this point. The *collective* effort here is to be noted. The PM's record until now and hereafter cannot be excluded from any assessment. I'm actually yet to see any propensity for reflection on his part. 2/6<br />
<br />
Beware 'SnapBack', I mean who, anybody with any sort of capacity for courageous leadership, who thinks this is an appropriate way to proceed in these times. Leaders are willing to find billions to pay for endless wars, often in another's name, with no end, no 'SnapBack'. 3/6<br />
<br />
I see no fundamental change in the PM's style or manner, much less leadership.<br />
In the tension between journalism and academia, we acknowledge journalists are compelled to 'write the first draft of history' while those of us in the back rows have time to mull over things. 4/6<br />
<br />
And I for one would be happy to concede all of the above and proven wrong. Maybe there will be recognition that snapping back (I mean, it even sounds sadistic, snapping legs off insects-type awfulness) to the old way will not be in the interests of society at large. 5/6<br />
<br />
But until then, until we work our way through this, let's just temper the hype. And maybe think about redirecting that bottomless pit of defence budget to the more immediate needs of human security, a greater vision of our human potential. 6/6<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
It was as much a meditation on what political 'leaders' will learn from this pandemic and wondering who among them will have the courage to reflect on what is really needed for our societies as we emerge from this. I doubt Morrison has the wherewithal to do so. He is what I would call a 'shallow' political player, one of those who chases votes but doesn't understand what he <i>should</i> do once he gets there (the proverbial dog that caught the car it was chasing).<br />
<br />
In the next post, (this one ended up a little longer than I anticipated) I will look a little more closely at the Japanese and Australian political leadership in this time of semi-lockdown. While Morrison's polling has been going up, Abe's has headed south. On the surface, the respective responses (and outcomes) to the pandemic, have been similar, so why the difference in the perceptions of their leadership? And which country will be better positioned to take the next steps.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-3241959109560246772020-05-12T15:38:00.000+10:002020-05-12T15:38:06.423+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~ four ~ <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so it continues</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what started as a weekly reconciliation of life in a semi-lockdown scenario, has now stretched into a fortnight (or thereabouts), largely because, well, it is more of the same. Although my government-supplied masks (two of) arrived just after the last post here. The masks have been controversial, great expense, and policy with good intentions but misdirected outcomes. It will be a case study in future politics classes...I've put mine in my disaster emergency kit, when they might come in handy in the event that the big earthqu...wait, let's not go there, we've had more than a few quakeshakes in recent weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P2LXgIPDpf98kRVrIYqwqcab0TMv74nA8xJwZefnGAWgB-xvfnCEWAIcMImxOjjUulTPwHlYH24UzGFRSNXeL9ytTOtVxTcHY0zliUpIIk_YsVxGZoqGRA4xQj374DIQTQaNb6R5SqjC/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P2LXgIPDpf98kRVrIYqwqcab0TMv74nA8xJwZefnGAWgB-xvfnCEWAIcMImxOjjUulTPwHlYH24UzGFRSNXeL9ytTOtVxTcHY0zliUpIIk_YsVxGZoqGRA4xQj374DIQTQaNb6R5SqjC/s320/IMG_0151.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A full moon this week, signifying a full month<br /> of life in a time of semi-lockdown. 7 May 2020</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We almost reached the end of the Golden Week break (6 May), we were in the last weekend with just a few days to go, when the Government announced on Sunday 3 May that it would formally announce that (in all likelihood) the state of emergency would be extended on 4 May, which it was. As we have seen in Australia (and elsewhere, but Australia and Japan are my key interests here), the debate is shifting towards the economy vs dead people benefits, an awful discourse (and yet...) and which should take priority. We have seen some innovation on the part of small bars and restaurants in their shift to a 'take-away' or delivery service, but a number of other retailers haven't had quite that sort of opportunity. Apart from my neighbourhood convenience store (where toilet paper is back in regular supply, though masks are not), and the supermarket precinct a little further afield, most of the other retailers in the area have closed for the duration. And that is all I have seen firsthand because I have not been on a train now for more than five, almost six weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, just as we see in Australia, there remains a continuing tension and parry between prefectural governors (think premiers) and the prime minister and cabinet. In recent days, it has been the Tokyo and Osaka governors who continue to take the lead, leaving PM Abe following. In the meantime, he is currently subject of questioning over the <a href="http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13366966" target="_blank">extension of the retirement age</a> for public prosecutors, in this case another 'favour for a friend', and raising doubts about the separation of powers in Japan. It follows a series of other scandals that, one would like to say have 'dogged' his prime ministership but in a worrying sign for parliamentary democracy, it seems he will escape serious retribution on this too. On the other hand, as his term is due to come to an end within the year, there does appear to be less speculation about him continuing on 'indefinitely', by extending the term for the LDP president/prime minister. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ¥100,000 assistance payment is now being rolled out across the country, though not without its hiccups. Like the masks, this has been a poorly improvised policy idea; as it stands, each person in a household will be entitled to ¥100,000 though it must be applied for through the 'head of the household', which generally means the male head of the family. To its credit, the media have been quick to highlight the patriarchal bias inherent in this system, also highlighting problems of families in breakdown and domestic violence (DV, as it is referred to in Japan), and people made homeless through these times. I personally would hope to see a stronger response for people in these situations, prioritised over everyone having access (including foreign residents). </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW6SEplFXLbPjwK9UlZ4Dj3dDWhKP1cjtxJ7lCIYJzWsguNZIlIlosLTceuY0VOhES0PvVeXdxPW_l8s7B7qQayT-pDr_K4oKmbUNId7WTk7HvbKBq2ArGtOwCYBeuIPLuI8AusF-5RJF/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW6SEplFXLbPjwK9UlZ4Dj3dDWhKP1cjtxJ7lCIYJzWsguNZIlIlosLTceuY0VOhES0PvVeXdxPW_l8s7B7qQayT-pDr_K4oKmbUNId7WTk7HvbKBq2ArGtOwCYBeuIPLuI8AusF-5RJF/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There might be too much tweeting at times</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Classes continue online, and now until the end of July for the time being, making the entire first semester an 'online' experience. Students have adapted differently to the circumstances--some getting by, some liking the extended opportunity to read and think about their materials, but, worryingly, some not responding at all. This will be a key issue for us to follow up. While some are accepting this as the 'new normal, get used to it', I am more of the view that while it works for emergency purposes, for politics which demands engagement and debate, it is not an ideal situation. But I'm getting old and closer every day to retirement so no-one will care about my views. I mean, when you conduct politics online, you get twitter-driven cesspits...it is the wrong kind of socio-political distancing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, in a first, the annual Constitution Day rally (3 May, a public holiday) which is normally held not far from my campus, and which I attend each year, also shifted to online this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for the time being, we remain now in a time of semi-lockdown for at least another three weeks, until 31 May. Tokyo's case numbers appeared to be going down and staying down, in double figures although we are wary, given the lengthy string of public holidays. Some questioning of methodology too, but for now, we remain hopeful we might be on the slow but sure road to an exit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daily updates via twitter @psephy and #tokyolyf </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers, and thanks for reading.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-65242210243007140912020-04-26T19:07:00.002+10:002020-04-26T19:07:43.876+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~three~<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Time is ... merely a concept</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A week has gone by and I've opened the blog, to write a post about...this week. And yet, it feels like, it will be a lot like last week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Restrictions in Tokyo (and the greater Tokyo region) have become a bit stricter; the Governor, Koike, has asked people to limit grocery shopping to once every three days, to ensure (where possible) that just one family member goes and, as we approach the tradition 'Golden Week' holiday period, she has asked that we 'Stay Home' rather than, as usually happens, people go on holiday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sense we are entering a critical two-week period with the virus, a little on the edge as we wait to see whether or not the 'semi-lockdown' is too little, or is too late. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a2ctZTNfYPZyu1gW1zmaSpCdDPVR2vK5L3AkW5X11PwcGga4KciKwK-UkeQwfMV3WQyZap86n-EUqkhgjTJ8I-_0LlKzSg1btlONRXmlD9JxDVHa-R2zwNmScekQ3iXfuXuiKC2hnp_j/s1600/IMG_E3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-a2ctZTNfYPZyu1gW1zmaSpCdDPVR2vK5L3AkW5X11PwcGga4KciKwK-UkeQwfMV3WQyZap86n-EUqkhgjTJ8I-_0LlKzSg1btlONRXmlD9JxDVHa-R2zwNmScekQ3iXfuXuiKC2hnp_j/s320/IMG_E3272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An isolation still life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the beaches were overrun with out of town visitors last week (including my two surfing spots, Ichinomiya in Chiba and Shonan/Kamakura in Kanagawa) the professional surfing association, many surf shop owners and even my surf club in Zaimokuza, have called on all surfers to observe the rules and 'stay home'. By the looks of news footage tonight (compared with last week) it seems the call has been heeded.My first 'breakout', when it is allowed, will be the beach I think.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, news coverage during the week has mostly been on the virus. A lot of footage of 'last week' vs 'this week' scenes of Tokyo in semi-lockdown, streets and streetscapes almost empty. The photographer in me wants to go out and record some of it. But I can't. Lots of workers still struggling with requests to stay home versus 'need' to go to work. he Abe Government is pleading with people to cooperate in getting the day-to-day contact down by 80%, just 20% of people out on the streets for work, shopping, and other activities. It has been mostly around 60%. Those of us who can work at home do, and recognise it for the privilege it is compared with many who do not have that option. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLY9Uo4YstVppTdrGLLHItX9vqtVE0tA92ok2sQ5kq81DBuX1VBruzCXU40MsdksTgeZXJ7Vp6pMo-tFfEs_jjFrS9hKn91ka5mknKHvbWUCWpX0r8P722vtnq0tmIJoLsij-mGTW0usq/s1600/IMG_E3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLY9Uo4YstVppTdrGLLHItX9vqtVE0tA92ok2sQ5kq81DBuX1VBruzCXU40MsdksTgeZXJ7Vp6pMo-tFfEs_jjFrS9hKn91ka5mknKHvbWUCWpX0r8P722vtnq0tmIJoLsij-mGTW0usq/s320/IMG_E3281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">preparations for a class, online</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some reporting this week too, in the media of people leaving notes of appreciation to the garbage collectors. With so many more at home for longer hours, daily household rubbish volume has increased quite substantially, I note that they are collecting the rubbish a little bit later each day in my neighbourhood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My work from home experience continues with its challenges. Although the communication with students remains fairly low-key technologically-speaking, I am now rethinking of ways to engage with them since I'm not getting the responses I expected. My University has also made the decision to extend online teaching to into term 2. I don't know if that means academics will still be unable to go to campus or continue to work from home. I also had to make the very difficult decision to cancel all study abroad programs for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, the extensive paperwork required means an application deadline in early May, and with no end to the restrictions in sight, we couldn't proceed on the 'what if...may be...' uncertainty. It will be hard for some students who dreamed of the opportunity to live and study away from home, but such is the way of things at present.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6zEInuLhO7a1Wnov56Xqah9pJE_TvTZUCj4sTEgQTd8fWJJcasSoDO5zA9knt5m2PFG9O5TI0lMrJaN1NOfrG7EZCmRjOGbDWpMoURr0PRwQuWAsgktAUyJqn5lxhjiJW8Vfxs7ke6GC/s1600/IMG_E3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1117" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6zEInuLhO7a1Wnov56Xqah9pJE_TvTZUCj4sTEgQTd8fWJJcasSoDO5zA9knt5m2PFG9O5TI0lMrJaN1NOfrG7EZCmRjOGbDWpMoURr0PRwQuWAsgktAUyJqn5lxhjiJW8Vfxs7ke6GC/s200/IMG_E3286.JPG" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower play </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't been on a train since returning home from work on 7 April. That's a strange feeling for life in Tokyo. My excursions outside are limited to the convenience store (still) and every so often, an extended walk to the larger supermarket for grocery items I can't get at the local shop. I keep to myself and my books and writing mostly; social media is an interesting source of engagement, the historian in me would like to marvel at the documenting of this period in fifty years time. Or perhaps one hundred years time, in the same way we seek out the historical record of the Spanish Flu of c. 1918. I have taken to dancing, #isodancing, as a way to keep up some exercise and movement, and when the coast is clear, a perimeter walk around the neighbourhood park. Some of us on socmed have taken to sharing pics of our isolives, a couple of examples are included here. I guess there is time to be a bit more creative in these times of not rushing to catch trains on our daily commutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The outlook for this week is...more of the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Asahi Shimbun reports that, at 10.30pm, 25 April 2020, Japan had recorded 13,229 cases and 360 deaths. Tokyo is currently seeing an average daily increase in cases identified hovering around the 110 mark. The 'curve' isn't yet flattening, yet the growth isn't in the order of the United States either. Hence, my anticipation for the next couple of weeks...it will tell us much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next week--stay safe.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-90454374989599140602020-04-18T14:06:00.000+10:002020-04-18T14:06:17.504+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~two~ <b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing reflections on this moment in history</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second week of 'classes' completed. Several more 'zoom' meetings accomplished (though I have to set up to host one next week...not sure about that) and life in lockdown, of a politely requested type, continues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, there was TOILET PAPER this week, in the neighbourhood convenience store, at last. Since the first week of supplies disappearing off the selves a couple of months ago, toilet paper has been hard to come by (masks as well, more on that shortly). </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jqhk1RrNBkeu-7j_qAfpuecDKYIfI1J4Lm3AnX6wWtML_uiy-bLgxVvSrCdydALlZtqb9exDb2Vyeq-sUivBLx2ECHDmJYiNeSmxRu3zgaLIHVp2gNYWkUYaV3Rv7gSLaKXUYM7tMeYz/s1600/EVxOGVjU4AEFgeX.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jqhk1RrNBkeu-7j_qAfpuecDKYIfI1J4Lm3AnX6wWtML_uiy-bLgxVvSrCdydALlZtqb9exDb2Vyeq-sUivBLx2ECHDmJYiNeSmxRu3zgaLIHVp2gNYWkUYaV3Rv7gSLaKXUYM7tMeYz/s320/EVxOGVjU4AEFgeX.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, at last...felt like I'd won the lottery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been abiding by the 'stay home unless it is absolutely necessary' requests made of the governments at all levels. I really haven't had to go out beyond the neighbourhood perimeter either for the newspaper and milk, or a little further afield (an additional 850m) to the local supermarket for grocery items. And flowers. I enjoy my flowers although the florist informed me they too will be closing temporarily from 18 April. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tokyo Governor Koike is regularly on TV through ads or media conferences, Abe mostly doing press conferences. The schism between the Prime Minister and the various prefectural governors has widened this week. Initially, the state of emergency applied to seven prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka (technically not prefectures but larger governing entities) and of course this week we saw the ramifications of those 'limitations'. TV current affairs shows showed extensive footage of people from the 'quasi-lockdown' prefectures heading to unaffected prefectures to, in some instances, attend a gym, for example. Hence this week, the state of emergency was extended nationwide. People were grateful for that but worried the call may have come too late. Tokyo's cases keep climbing, not alarmingly, but with sufficient concern about a lack of resources to cope in the event of projected exponential estimates. As we've seen in Australia too, people in Tokyo with holiday homes in other prefectures have moved to those, with the concomitant strain on local amenities. We are not in a 'lockdown' as such, we remain at the politely requested 'please try to avoid' these actions. Police are roaming some areas with move on powers of sorts but no fines or arrests to this point, that I am aware of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prime Minister Abe. There is much talk of 'leadership' in these times, and let's face it, there is going to be so much data for the political scientists among us to analyse when this is done: who did what, well, badly, lacked foresight, had it by the bucketload. One of the memes doing the rounds on twitter suggests the countries that are handling this pandemic well have one thing in common, women leaders...yep. I might add Governor Koike* to that list by the end of this...she stumbles a little bit at times but has been more assertive and clearer in her messaging than Abe and mostly avoided gimmickry. But Prime Minister Abe. His biggest misread this week was getting in on a twitter meme started by a popular singer/songwriter Hoshino Gen, who sang a song about staying home and dancing (or similar) and invited tweeps to share video of them doing just that. PM Abe climbed onboard but showed himself sitting around the house, cradling his dog, having a cuppa, switching tv channels with a remote...I kinda get what he was trying to convey to the nation, but...he shoulda danced. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two policy announcements and actions yesterday of note: first, after much political debate, it seems everyone is to receive a payment of ¥100,000 (about A$1450). Now the language used was 'kokumin' (国民) or 'citizens' which raised questions about whether or not foreign residents will also be eligible, particularly those who work in occupations that have been severely affected by closures. Turns out, it might cover non-Japanese residents, probably those paying tax. Details to follow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Second, we saw the first deliveries of PM Abe's 'two cloth masks per household' promise, coming in at a cost of ¥46.6 billion (around A$700 million), mind-boggling amounts of money on what, despite best intentions, will be considered poor policy I think. Two masks per household when average households have 3-5 people, delivered to addresses (among which will be empty dwellings), they require rather fiddly care with washing (according to a segment on morning tv) and, as PM Abe wears one everyday, they do appear a bit small in terms of face coverage (contrast this with the handmade masks of Koike and Okinawa Governor Tamaki which are attracting much admiration, but that could be a bit political too). The deliveries are starting too late. Shops have been sold-out of masks for weeks and people have been taking to making their own. Again, a policy with some good intention but needed better delivery and the budget...what could be done with that amount of money in the present climate...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first full week working at home was interesting. Apart from daily outings to buy the paper and milk, I truly have been living an isolated life (not that I mind). I have three classes online to prepare this term and they are scheduled for Thursday and Friday. At this stage, we are keeping it simple, via email contact and exchange. I received some lovely emails from students as they adjust to this working environment and I have tried to keep my messages to them upbeat as we work our way through these times, as people and as students of political science. The other side of the work coin has meant hours, many hours, sitting in front of the screen on 'zoom' meetings. Wednesday involved four hours straight, no break, that is not good and surprisingly more tiring than real-life meetings. There are emails, too many emails...some things never change.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmZekjXB_PcWxzlXALQLbcJn77h1gDPzttf1QVQP2cZA92cPMY81xKLLkoq-Y11-i9mhP8u-KMk8T_bFx914Gny_LRrnt328sFNPnWjFZ1R3HZM3RAlMqkM4NUtbWyd3t7wlEaSu0mEKi/s1600/EVjH-b1UUAYAMXj.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmZekjXB_PcWxzlXALQLbcJn77h1gDPzttf1QVQP2cZA92cPMY81xKLLkoq-Y11-i9mhP8u-KMk8T_bFx914Gny_LRrnt328sFNPnWjFZ1R3HZM3RAlMqkM4NUtbWyd3t7wlEaSu0mEKi/s320/EVjH-b1UUAYAMXj.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cords, all the cords to keep us connected</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So at the end of week two...personally doing OK, although I would like to get to the beach soon. I am not bored, perhaps rather grateful for this time to think and re-orient myself, physically and mentally. I've taken to wearing a (home-made) cloth mask outdoors everytime too. And hand-washing, very much hand-washing. I try to maintain a gentle exercise regime as well. The park across the road is getting a workout from families each day, it would be hard being cooped up in the small apartments in the neighbourhood. There are now two loudspeaker announcements each day, reminding us of why we are here indoors and why we should keep doing so, one at 10.30am and one at 5.30pm. And there is the whole new vocabulary we are learning for our everyday lives now, every day something new to learn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, and I had my tenth anniversary on twitter, which I wrote about (previous post) as well, because I guess it was a distraction from what I should have been writing...(^~^)></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 11.00pm 17 April 2020, Asahi Shimbun noted there were 9850 cases, 207 deaths, *not including figures from the Diamond Princess (which seems to be a political decision...just like its sister ship the Ruby Princess...more to come?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Disclaimer: I am a writing a book on Japan's female politicians centring on the maverick conservative Koike and the late progressive Doi Takako. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-8334366999419776412020-04-15T15:29:00.001+10:002020-04-21T08:58:13.668+10:00Things a little birdie taught me...<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">...thoughts on ten years as a reluctant tweepster</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twitter tells me that on or about this day ten years ago, I hatched my cyber-identity and joined the evolving social media world, at least, I took my tentative reluctant first steps. Indeed, so uncertain was I that for a little while I kept the account private, unsure what to make of this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the ten years hence, of course, much has changed, some for good, some not so. As I sit here in Tokyo in partial lockdown, in between conducting classes and holding meetings in one form or another 'online', I thought it might be worth a bit of a reflection on the past ten years on this platform. Will I be here in ten years time? I don't know. Ten years ago if you told me I'd be working in Tokyo I'd would have been a little skeptical. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before we jump into the ten thoughts on ten years of twitter, here's a short recall on how I got to be here, on twitter, here blogging and over there on Instagram. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2010, twitter still hadn't quite caught on I suppose in the way MySpace (is that what it was called?) or Facebook was emerging; indeed at the time, a few political scientists of my acquaintance were getting rather excited about something called 'Second Life' as an experimental space to create the new ideal fair and just society. But I wasn't having any of it, I had enough to do as a lecturer in a regional university and an amateur musician in community orchestras, thank you. Anyway, this particular semester, I was teaching a subject called 'Politics and the Media' and although not participating in the online world I was observing closely enough to recognise social media was exerting some level of influence in the political sphere. Enter one of our then-recently graduated politics students who appeared to be pretty savvy in this arena, Todd Winther, aka @toddocracy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I invited Todd along to give a guest lecture on this emerging platform, indeed, I suggest he was one of the pioneers of using twitter as a political tool and he gave a most engaging lecture. So engaging, I was duped by his charismatic spin to be the 'look it's easy to set up an account, let's get Donna to set up one now'. 'Er, what?' But in a completely unrehearsed double act, there I was, put on the spot and the account @psephy was hatched. And why, or what, is 'psephy' is the most asked question. Well, when it came to putting a name to the account (at the time there was still a character limit) I asked the students, who were naturally much more accustomed to these things. We settled on psephy, short for 'psephologist' (silent p) because I was always telling students of politics that when they were mocked for being students of politics, I always told them to tell people that you are planning to be a psephologist, it tends to stop the mocking pretty quickly. And a psephologist is, you ask? One who dabbles in the fine art/science of psephology, analysing voting and perhaps politics more broadly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also admired Todd's willingness to put his views firmly in the public sphere via his blog. It took me a little while but I soon gathered the courage, and here we are. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy4SPmB2_giZ6xAHbCunLynN8oD7paHq7xvueFJwY6bxArQzjBHsI-3Bt-XeocV5AtlfAxgMwcPA9YhyphenhyphenByQ-ffL_lFRsiX85jezD6slKEH9bqMgi0pzAZEwx_HsZr5ES9QBN7T7LWfYxg/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy4SPmB2_giZ6xAHbCunLynN8oD7paHq7xvueFJwY6bxArQzjBHsI-3Bt-XeocV5AtlfAxgMwcPA9YhyphenhyphenByQ-ffL_lFRsiX85jezD6slKEH9bqMgi0pzAZEwx_HsZr5ES9QBN7T7LWfYxg/s320/IMG_0345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds of Brisbane (a flock of seagulls, tra-la)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, ten years on. Why am I still here? Like many here, it has its pros and cons, nay its ugly side but also uplifting and supportive moments. I try very hard to be part of the supportive tweeps. So to my ten thoughts on ten years for what they are worth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. I have met some wonderful people via twitter, some only online, some from an online presence to a real life acquaintance and others I've met in real life and we've continued the conversations on twitter. I do feel that with a carefully curated list, you can be a member of an engaging community of friends and colleagues, close to what I imagine we imagined it would be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. As a specialist in Japanese politics and society, twitter early on gave me access to Japanese sources of information I might not otherwise have come across while living in Australia. This was never more more so with the 11 March Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami/Fukushima meltdown. I would go so far to suggest that it shifted my research direction and partly contributed to finding myself in my present position, back in Japan doing research on democratic politics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. In the early days, it seemed everyone was willing to exchange a 'tweet', journalists, politicians and others in a way that made you feel like you were in a big conversation. That doesn't happen so much now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. You are what you tweet, or you should be. I have always maintained a policy of tweeting others as I would want to be tweeted. I have no false persona, I have no wish to engage in the troll wars, I do not swear (well, hardly, maybe the occasional 'bloody'), but that requires much self-discipline of late...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. I tend to keep to tweeting what I know or find of interest. That seems to fall into two main areas--one is as a conduit for exchanging information on Japan and Australia, either the relationship or social or political phenomena; the other is engaging with tweepsters as friends, sharing aspects of our diverse lives (in recent times, I've tagged that #tokyolyf). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. I have twitter to thank for becoming part of the ABC Brisbane family. One random tweet one day caught the eye of one of the producers and, one thing after another, I've had the privilege of contributing on occasion to different programs. Even today, I still manage to participate via the twittersphere, from here in Tokyo. In my line of work, a media presence is valuable and I thank my friends at ABC Brisbane and regionals, for the opportunities they've given this once shy media person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Twitter the platform, needs a lot of fixing. Others have spoken about this at length elsewhere. I get followed by the weirdest 'bots' and it is disappointing when what we all identify as being so wrong with the platform seems to be left unattended as if it is deliberate. This problem has loomed large in my thoughts as I weigh up the value of staying versus going. I would leave, if a better platform emerged. I reckon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. I adjusted to the shift from 140 chars to 280 chars more smoothly than I imagined, though it was always possible to express much more in a Japanese tweet of 140chars. The improvements to the site over the years, while controversial at the time, have settled (except for the bad bits, see 7 above). The ads can be a bit heavy-handed, in Japanese and English. Oh, and an edit button would be good (does anyone else remember that brief moment in twitter time when we could edit tweets, using MT for 'modified tweet' as opposed to the more common RT?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. I set up a blog once I realised that getting my 'view' out in public quickly wasn't such a bad thing and that as I grew in confidence, I needed more than 140-280chars to expand on some ideas. I guess being trained in academia with its propensity to need to knock you down more often than not can hinder personal progress in that way. I think too, my academic training also makes me cautious in what I'm prepared to tweet, or not to tweet. My basic rule still rules, before you hit send (on an email) or tweet, are you sure it is something you would say to the recipient in person? If not, delete. I've deleted more than a few drafts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. So ten years, and 105,775 tweets later...still here. It has allowed me develop an alternative path as an academic contributor to the public arena,* not necessarily in a way accepted by the academy, but overall, probably closer to what I wanted to do when I decided to pursue an academic career. I guess that too is still evolving so, for the foreseeable future at least, I still be around, tweeting from my little corner of the twitterverse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*However, I remain puzzled that my tweets that garner the most likes rarely, if ever, have anything to do with my professional expertise but often just a (trying to be) pithy comment on the issue of the day. Teehee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for being part of the journey, thusfar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4RRvbTZ13ITmV1_7l2gjpCpRmgDqYPh9EoCENRp08zE0wYbF_Q-XYUsSIZSS2q-XrzcXpTq3Aj49xTLhGdRuswpQxeymayfBwik17rtHy8D0xwCfP9E6N-3okps5wAMAtMD0fCkGu3pZ/s1600/IMG_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4RRvbTZ13ITmV1_7l2gjpCpRmgDqYPh9EoCENRp08zE0wYbF_Q-XYUsSIZSS2q-XrzcXpTq3Aj49xTLhGdRuswpQxeymayfBwik17rtHy8D0xwCfP9E6N-3okps5wAMAtMD0fCkGu3pZ/s320/IMG_0330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds of Tokyo (true, outside my window, in the 'burbs)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-62442843629554437272020-04-13T18:59:00.002+10:002020-04-13T18:59:17.868+10:00Life in a semi-lockdown scenario ~one~ <b>Life in a time of a pandemic</b><br />
<br />
How many of us will be writing of our experiences during this time of a declared world pandemic in the early months of 2020? Quite a few of us I imagine, and I imagine quite a few of us who can, probably should.<br />
<br />
My contribution to this project will be largely from the perspective of living in Tokyo during these times. Besides personal anecdotes, I will also present some 'first draft' analyses of how the politics of the pandemic are playing out, with a little Japan-Australia comparison for good measure.<br />
<br />
The Abe Government late last week decreed a 'state of emergency' in seven prefectures including Tokyo. Some would say it was too late. There has been a battle of wits between Prime Minister Abe and, in particular, Tokyo Governor Koike (more on their personal rivalries later). While the national and prefectural governments do not correspond directly with Australia's federal/state relations, we have seen similar power plays between the Prime Minister and prefectural governors, not unlike the challenges presented by PM Morrison and state premiers. The state of emergency gives prefectures some room to announce quite strict measures regarding staying at home, what might be considered essential vs non-essential services for purposes of opening and closing hours, and who should be going to work and who should be 'teleworking'.<br />
<br />
I work at a University and much of the past couple of months has focussed on, in the first instance, the welfare of students studying overseas, planning to study overseas, planning to come to Japan to study at our University and an unfortunate few who, just one or two weeks into their long-cherished dream of overseas study had to return home. My role as Director of International Relations carried a particular level of responsibility. On the other hand, a move to domestic responses and the likelihood of all classes going online for at least the first term, saw me shift gears (just a little) as Chair of the Department of Political Science. As the year proceeded, our significant academic markers--graduation ceremonies, inductions, orientations--were gradually cancelled as the reality of COVID19 bore down on us. I still find graduation ceremonies one of the most important events in the academic year, particularly since this cohort had started university the same year I started working here (2016) so we shared a sense of achievement, a sense of 'making it'. As for the first year students, what this 'introduction' will mean for them is yet, I suspect, to play out.<br />
<br />
With the state of emergency in place now, students and academics are not permitted on campus until at least 6 May and a significant number of admin staff are required to work from home. Ironically, our university had been preparing for a more comprehensive online environment starting in 2021, but circumstances have forced a hasty reworking of that plan. Classes 'commenced' last week, via an online platform. My classes for this term are mostly 'reading' classes which don't require screen time (I mean they could but I'm not sure all students are immediately in a position or environment where they can download the data required). Rather, I am encouraging students to use this time as a 'deep reading' opportunity, with a reading guide each week. First-year classes have been delayed for a couple of weeks to ensure all students have received the necessary resources to get themselves up and running online. I can't help but think this is not an ideal introduction to their new uni life but I guess we will see soon enough. As it was, the academic year was planned around the Olympics due to be held in 2020. Our Tokyo Bay campus is in the heart of many of the venues and was due to be utilised as part of the Olympic administration. We now have to rethink that for 2021.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I am myself adjusting to working at home and not going out unless absolutely necessary (which generally means popping down to the convenience store for milk, newspapers and other essentials and the local greengrocer for essential strawberries and apples and veges). I am in a fortunate place where in some ways, being a 'homebody' is a preferred life choice anyway. But we are not yet one week in and I expect my longing for a walk in the park or a visit to the beach will come along soon enough. I am also reflecting on the fact that, even if I wanted too, I cannot presently return to Australia, indefinitely; that has a particularly surreal element to it. Nonetheless, I shall do what needs to be done. On twitter the other day, I posted a pic and a comment to the effect that I seemed to be adjusting OK--at 3.30pm, the coffee I made two hours previously was now cold, the morning paper had remained unread and I seem to have spent the bulk of my time on work emails...*just like a day at the office*...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvJHcIn5-wet2mblQJCEtuzEzg1BmocD0E7IDs8ZITF8h5vJYjdpjchaJ7aOjRWIBCXwh1rBYKCNXPI4VADai5w1wo7z84Pxvvrkys7qkWeJF53WPyMlDKGvn1S3ZLeCaG76Knqy23ELy/s1600/EVJKQ1kVAAAASUF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvJHcIn5-wet2mblQJCEtuzEzg1BmocD0E7IDs8ZITF8h5vJYjdpjchaJ7aOjRWIBCXwh1rBYKCNXPI4VADai5w1wo7z84Pxvvrkys7qkWeJF53WPyMlDKGvn1S3ZLeCaG76Knqy23ELy/s320/EVJKQ1kVAAAASUF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another day at the office, really</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In future posts, I will consider the political decisions taken as we moved into this 'requested' (as opposed to compulsory) lockdown, how the government leaders in Abe and Koike particularly 'finessed' the Olympic decision, and try to convey some of the day-to-day realities we find ourselves in.<br />
<br />
And the latest national figures available today, as we watch the curve,<br />
<br />
Cases confirmed*: 7268 people<br />
Deaths: 138 people<br />
<br />
Source: Asahi Shimbun at 10.00pm 12 April 2020<br />
<br />
That asterisk? * 'excludes numbers from the cruise ship Diamond Princess', about more of which in subsequent posts.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank you for reading.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3549329112312323099.post-51317354023690846692020-04-13T17:21:00.004+10:002020-04-13T17:21:51.342+10:00On being 'mobile'--thoughts on the international academy<b>How mobile should our careers be?</b><br />
<br />
Recently, I was asked to contribute to the Research Whisperer blog, a fantastic resource for researchers from around the world, curated, edited, facilitated and all the other things necessary to run a fabulous blog, by Tseen Khoo and Jonathon O'Donnell.<br />
<br />
I hope they don't mind if I post the link here (originally posted 10 March 2020).<br />
<br />
'<a href="https://researchwhisperer.org/2020/03/10/when-you-choose-to-re-locate/" target="_blank">When you choose to re-locate</a>'<br />
<br />
If nothing else, it has been a prompt to get back into my own blog-posting.<br />
<br />
With thanks to Tseen and Jonathon for giving me the opportunity to convey a few thoughts.<br />
<br />
<br />psephy (Donna Weeks)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15650028647232992753noreply@blogger.com