Meiji Modern: What Women’s Education Means Then and Now
VIEW EVENT DETAILSIn recognition and to celebrate the “Meiji Modern: Fifty Years of New Japan” exhibition at the Asia Society Museum in New York, we will discuss the significance of education, in particular women’s education and modernization by a panel of experts in this program. Japan took its steps to modernization 150 years ago. What was achieved then, and how is it still relevant today? Moderated by Claire Chino, Asia Society Japan Founding Member, we will be joined by Dr. Carol Gluck, George Sansom Professor of History, Columbia University, Dr. Junko Hibiya, Former President of International Christian University, and Dr. Nick Homma, Founding Board Chair of Digital Museum of History of Japanese in New York.
What does it mean to be “modern?” It was only 155 years ago. Meiji Emperor was only fourteen years old when he started his reign. The Meiji era (1868 – 1912) spans four remarkable decades when Japan opened its doors and propelled the country to the modern age. How did Japan modernize in such a short time? What can we learn from the modernization efforts of the past? Are some of the modernization efforts still relevant in today’s day and age?
Please join us to explore the significant role education in particular women’s education plays in the effort to modernize.
Event and Registration Details
- This event will be conducted in in-person and online, and registration is required.
- In-person participation is for members and guests only. Please pay your fee by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) or at the door.
- Online participation is open to the public and free.
Speaker Bios
Dr. Carol Gluck
George Sansom Professor of History, Columbia University
Carol Gluck is the George Sansom Professor of History Emerita at Columbia University, specializing in the history of modern Japan, international history, and public memory. Her books include Japan's Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period; Words in Motion: Toward a Global Lexicon; the forthcoming Past Obsessions: World War II in History and Memory; in Japanese, Rekishi de kangaeru [Thinking with the Past](2007) and Sensō no kioku [War memory](2019). Former President of the Association for Asian Studies, she is a member of the Board of Japan Society and the Trustees Emeriti of Asia Society.
Junko Hibiya
Former President of International Christian University
Junko Hibiya is Professor Emerita of International Christian University (ICU), a pioneer of liberal arts education in Japan, established to cultivate globally minded citizens. She became President in 2012 at the university, the first woman to serve as President in the history of the institution. Before joining the administrative stream, she served as a professor of Sociolinguistics. Prior to her tenure at ICU, she was on the faculty of Keio University for fifteen years after receiving her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.
Since 2015 she has been a member of the Central Council for Education, a permanent advisory council in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. She was also elected to a Council Member of the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) 2020, advancing SCJ's international collaborations in her capacity as Secretary of the Committee for International Affairs.
Dr. Shunichi (Nick) Homma
Founding Board Chair, Digital Museum of History of Japanese in New York. M.M. Hatch Professor, Columbia University (virtually from NYC)
Dr. Shunichi (Nick) Homma is the Margaret Milliken Hatch Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, where he serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Faculty Practice Organization and as the Deputy Chief of Cardiology Division. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and trained in cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. He has served in various leadership capacities in cardiology including serving as a board member of American Heart Assn, American Society of Echocardiography, and as the President of NY Society of Echocardiography. He has also served as visiting professor at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tohoku University, and Kansai Medical University.
Understanding importance of uncovering and documenting stories of Japanese predecessors in NY, Nick is a founding member of the Japan History Council of New York. He is its first Chair and leads the Museum Committee for Digital Museum of the History of Japanese in New York.
Mitsuru Claire Chino
Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, ITOCHU Corporation
Mitsuru Claire Chino is a bilingual and bicultural (U.S. and Japan) senior business executive with a Fortune Global 500 company and an international lawyer with 30+ years’ experience. She was a partner of an international law firm prior to joining ITOCHU, a diversified industrials. With ITOCHU over the years, she has served as Global General Counsel, CEO of its North American operations and an Audit & Supervisory Board member. Since April, Claire is Managing Executive Officer in charge of corporate communications.
She is a graduate of Smith College (B.A. cum laude) and Cornell Law School (J.D.), where she serves on the advisory board. She is also a classically trained singer who has studied voice at the Juilliard School of Music (Evening Division).
Thanks to Our Event Partner
Event Details
(In-person: Members & guests only / Online: Open to the public)
International House of Japan B1