This thesis examines the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT) and the Setouchi Triennale (ST), two of the largest and best-known Art Triennale in (and outside) Japan, and considers how these art...Show moreThis thesis examines the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT) and the Setouchi Triennale (ST), two of the largest and best-known Art Triennale in (and outside) Japan, and considers how these art festivals intend to provide a solution to the continuing ageing population and declining birthrate in Japanese rural areas. Japan contains the largest proportion of elderly people in the world and its population continues to decline since 2004. Yet, this decrease is especially severe in rural areas because the majority of the population consist of elderly people. The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT) and the Setouchi Triennale (ST), have been established as strategies to tackle Japan’s increasingly ageing population. The former was established by Kitagawa Fram (1946-present) whereas the latter was co-founded in 2010 by Kitagawa Fram and Fukutake Sōichirō (1945/46-present). The common aim of the ETAT and ST initially seems to be the restoration of these economically declining rural areas through contemporary art projects. Yet, this thesis claims that Kitagawa’s and Fukutake’s idealistic views about the countryside and ‘traditional’ countryside lifestyles resulted into their attempt to reshape Japanese society by reidentifying neglected rural areas through contemporary art. This is because both men’s strong partnership and their active involvement in both Triennale shape these art festivals according to their own convictions and objectives. Therefore, this thesis demonstrates that the ETAT and ST’s purpose exceeds rural revitalization and is actually about the creation of a ‘new’ society which is brought together by the art festivals.Show less
This thesis provides an analysis on the J-horror film Kairo (Kurosawa Kiyoshi, 2001) and Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko (Takahata Isao, 1994) and their connection to the concept of furusato. Furusato, a...Show moreThis thesis provides an analysis on the J-horror film Kairo (Kurosawa Kiyoshi, 2001) and Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko (Takahata Isao, 1994) and their connection to the concept of furusato. Furusato, a nostalgic longing for the countryside as metaphorical "old home", is expressed very differently in these films: while Pom Poko heavily emphasises this nostalgia, furusato is implicitly present in Kairo through its absence.Show less
In deze scriptie wordt gekeken naar het gebruik van lokale identiteit in het Udon-ken project van de prefectuur Kagawa. Eerst wordt er gekeken naar de manier waarop lokale identiteit in het...Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt gekeken naar het gebruik van lokale identiteit in het Udon-ken project van de prefectuur Kagawa. Eerst wordt er gekeken naar de manier waarop lokale identiteit in het verleden toeristencampagnes is terug te vinden, met een nadruk op het gebruik van de furusato in de jaren '70 en '80. Vervolgens wordt er gekeken naar de relatie tussen lokale identiteit en voedselproducten. Tot slot wordt de eerste promotievideo, alsook de eerste versie van de website van het Udon-ken project geanalyseerd.Show less
BA Eindwerkstuk, gericht op de nostalgie achter Japanse furusato-dorpen. Ik heb me bij het maken van deze eindopdacht gericht op de vraag hoe nostalgie invloed heeft op landelijk toerisme vanuit de...Show moreBA Eindwerkstuk, gericht op de nostalgie achter Japanse furusato-dorpen. Ik heb me bij het maken van deze eindopdacht gericht op de vraag hoe nostalgie invloed heeft op landelijk toerisme vanuit de grote stad naar het platteland van Japan. Hierbij beagumenteer ik dat het platteland dienst neemt als een 'heterotopos' en dat cultureel erfgoed in bepaalde mate niet historisch correct hoeft te zijn om effect te hebben.Show less
In my thesis I will prove how the blind spot for furusato in the government's cultural heritage policies is harming rural communities and therefore counteracts various other goals set to relieve...Show moreIn my thesis I will prove how the blind spot for furusato in the government's cultural heritage policies is harming rural communities and therefore counteracts various other goals set to relieve the effects of the economic crisis.Show less
