- Ken'ichi Mishima, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Robert Bosch Academy, Former Professor for Philosophie and Comparative Studies of Civilization, University Osaka
- Song-U Chon, Professor at Hanyang Universität
- Ally Derks, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow, Robert Bosch Academy
- Eun-Jeung Lee, Professor and Director of the Institute of Korean Studies at Freie Universität Berlin
- Shi Ming, Journalist
- Sven Saaler, Professor of Japanese History at Sophia University in Tokyo and Representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Japan
- Wolfgang Seifert, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Japanese Studies at Heidelberg University
- Torsten Weber, Head of Humanities Section of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo
About
Japan’s official policy of dealing with the crimes committed during times of war is well known: it consists mainly of denial, relativization or offsetting. Occasionally, it seemed as though the respective governments were willing to officially recognize these crimes and to seek reconciliation, but this willingness quickly yielded in the face of right-wing pressure. As a consequence, public debates in Korea and China became even more embittered and mutual finger-pointing and vicious remarks by politicians and opinion leaders have reinforced existing prejudices and misinterpretations in all three countries.
Based on the perception that many troubles result from a lack of awareness of respective sensitivities and, in case of Japan, a lack of willingness to change perspectives, the workshop will provide space for exchanging views and arguments. It thereby contributes to the development of a transnational public sphere. To this end, the Dutch debate on the long colonial rule of Indonesia will also be presented as an example by using film material.
Registration for this event is closed.
Workshop @Academy “Dealing with the Past – the Difficult Path to Reconciliation” hosted by Ken’ichi Mishima
Urs Matthias Zachmann, Professor of History and Culture of Modern Japan at the Freie Universität Berlin, moderated the event
Ken’ichi Mishima, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow of the Robert Bosch Academy and former Chair Holder for Modern Philosophy and Comparative Studies of Civilization, University of Osaka
Eun-Jeung Lee, Professor and Director of the Institute of Korean Studies at Freie Universität Berlin
Torsten Weber, Head of Humanities Section of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo
Prof. Dr. Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit, Professor, Japanese Studies, Institute of East Asian Studies
Wolfgang Seifert, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Japanese Studies at Heidelberg University
Sven Saaler, Professor of Japanese History at Sophia University in Tokyo and Representative of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Japan
Shi Ming, Journalist
Ally Derks, Berlin, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow of the Robert Bosch Academy and former Director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
Ally Derks showed a film about the Dutch colonial history in Indonesia