Speaker: Michael Fisch (Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago

Date and time: May. 15, 2017 (Mon.), 3:00-5:00PM

Venue: 1st Meeting Room (3F), The Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo

Language: English

Report

On May 15 2017, Professor Michael Fisch gave a talk entitled “Repetition and Recovery: The limits of Reason in Post 3.11 Japan.” In his talk, Professor Fisch focused on the ongoing construction of mammoth seawalls along the northeast Japanese sea coast and analyzed how this was developed as an alternative to protect against tsunami. He further explored to what extent these seawalls have changed local environment and the how they have been received by various social groups. Ultimately, Professor Fisch perceives the sea walls to be a manifestation of the deep-rooted logic of rationality that reduces the project of post-3.11 recovery to a case of repetition rather than true transcending. This talk is part of Professor Fisch’s ongoing project that explores the emergence of what he identifies as “experimental ecologies” that work to contest, recast, and re-conceive disaster infrastructure design in post-3.11 Japan. The talk was followed by a lively Q&A session and discussion with members of the audience.