Young Kiwi Scholar off to Japan

Young Kiwi Scholar off to Japan

Media Release from the Embassy of Japan, Wellington, New Zealand

21 July 2010

Thomas Vink, a master’s student from Wellington, is heading to Japan today to represent New Zealand at a regional invitation programme for graduate students.

Thomas was selected as one of twenty promising young scholars from East-Asia, Australia and New Zealand to spend seven weeks participating in academic coursework, cultural activities and individual fieldwork.

Thomas is currently writing his master’s thesis at Victoria University of Wellington.  His research examines monuments, memorials and other ‘sites of memory’ which have come to form key representations of collective understandings of the past in East-Asia.  He hopes to use his research opportunities in Japan to promote mutual understanding in the region.

“Ultimately, the significance of my research is to promote an increased understanding of the many different varieties of individuals and groups, in East-Asia, that acquire meaning from the past.”

After arriving in Tokyo on 21 July, Thomas will ride the bullet train to Kyoto to visit cultural sites and also the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies.

Next, he will attend a summer session of Asian Studies at Sophia University during which he will learn about Japanese language, society, religions and politics.  In the afternoons, he will have the chance to sample traditional performing arts such as Noh (Japanese drama), Wadaiko (Japanese drumming) and Rakugo (Japanese comedy).

Finally, Thomas will conduct individual fieldwork to ‘sites of memory’ around Japan which will contribute to his master’s thesis.  The programme concludes with all the young scholars presenting their research findings at a conference in Tokyo.

The all-expenses-paid “Special Invitation Programme for Graduate Students” is funded by the Japanese Government and is part of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange of Students and Youth (JENESYS) Programme.  JENESYS has a budget of NZ$315 million and will invite approximately 6,000 youths to Japan over a five year period.  Information about future programmes is available from the Embassy of Japan in Wellington.

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