Course Introduction
Department of History and
Anthropology
Hiroshi ODA
Globalization is the defining characteristic of our contemporary society. Borders have become blurred amid the movement of, and interaction among people, things, capital, and information on an unprecedented scale, and the world is uniting to confront global issues. Accompanying this change, we can see the trend toward an “Earth Village.” However, problems with confrontational relationships that run counter to globalization—such as nationalism and deeply rooted ethnic, religious, and territorial issues—remain very serious. We say that the world has moved far beyond the Cold War age of east-west conflict and become more complicated.
This environment demands that we produce new thinking and interdisciplinary methods that surpass the existing fields of research. The Hokkaido University Graduate School of Letters established the Department of History and Anthropology in 1995 to respond to the demands of our age. Since the department’s establishment, this course has focused on changes in the increasingly complicated worldand strived to provide research and education that surpasses the existing frameworks.
The course is taught by faculty from the schools of history and anthropology
and engages in a wide range of research on topics in history, culture,
society, and thought. It also covers many regions in its research geographic
areas including Japan, East Asia, the Middle East, the United States, Europe,
and Africa. When conducting survey research on the literature and materials
of various world regions, the course also engages in field work. The faculty
membersrespect each student’s individual curiosity and engage in research
and instruction that enable students to experience the satisfaction of
knowing and thinking thoroughly. We hope that after having taken the course,
many of the students will think about Japan’s history and culture, as well
as become exceptional individuals dealing with the challenges facing humanity
and the world.
Faculty Overview
| Name | Research Areas | Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Keiko OHTA  |
Social history of the Middle East, History of Muslim Christian relations | Muslim society in the Middle East, Islamization, Christian churches in the Middle East, Border studies, Minority Christian communities, The Crusades |
| Professor Seokyeong KWON |
History of modern Japanese thought, Korean social and cultural history, History of Japan-Korea relations | Imperialism, Colonies, Intellectualism, Bushido, State socialism, Social policy, Korean floor-stoves (ondol), White robes (hakui), Ceramics |
| Professor Hiroshi ODA |
Cultural Anthropology | Peace, Nature, Decolonization, Germany, Ethnography, Narrative |
| Professor Katsuyuki MURATA |
American History/American Studies | 20th Century, Migration, Race, Ethnicity, (trans-)Nationality, Urban space |
Graduate School Admissions
Please view the faculty introduction page and each faculty member’s personal page to learn more about the research areas covered in the Department of History and Anthropology. The Department also actively integrates research themes beyond the specific research areas. For details, please feel free to consult the faculty member from whom you expect to receive instruction. Contact information for each faculty member is provided on his or her page. (To learn more about the research themes in which current students of this course are engaged, please view the student thesis page.)