The lecture

This lecture will address the perception of Japan as a homogeneous society, with a singular cultural identity and little room for diversity. Studies show that contemporary Japanese realities are much more complex. We will challenge this widely accepted homogeneity myth by examining the various forms of diversity in contemporary Japan, from its class diversity, immigrant communities, and subcultures to the changing social attitudes towards ethnicity, gender, and regional differences. By the end, I hope to offer a deeper understanding of the rich diversity that shapes Japan today and why it's crucial to move beyond stereotypes in our globalized world.

The speaker

Andreas Niehaus studied Japanese Studies, English literature, and German Philology as well as sport history at Cologne University and Cologne Sport University, where he also received his doctor’s degree; following a one-year research stay at Keiō University. In 2004 Andreas Niehaus was appointed at Ghent University, where he is currently holding a position as senior full professor (gewoon hoogleraar) for Japanese Studies. He has served as head of the Department for Languages and cultures for eight years and as director of the International Office of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy for six years. In 2023 he was elected President of the European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS), the largest scholarly association for Japanese Studies worldwide. His extensively published in the fields of early modern and modern Japanese body culture, martial arts and sports as well as food, health and ideology. For a full CV and publication list, see: https://research.flw.ugent.be/nl/andreas.niehaus.