The Japan Foundation, Bangkok in collaboration with Japanese Section, Department of Thai and Eastern Languages, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, and Japanese Studies Center, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai University, with a nominal support by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, co-organized the special lecture and seminar on “From Heisei to Reiwa : Historical Perspectives” by Dr. Hirohito Suzuki, Center for Global Innovation Studies, Toyo University, on two days and two places, Bangkok (2nd September 2019) and Chiang Mai (4th September 2019). Apart from the special lecture by Dr. Hirohito Suzuki, there was a panel discussion at Thammasat University Rangsit Campust to review the past of all achievements and challenges that Japan has been facing before moving into the new era, especially the historical identity and sub-cultural developments of Ikebukuro city in Tokyo. Those Thai panelists are as below.
| (1) | Asst. Prof. Dr. Teewin Suputtikun, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University : The topic is “International Politic and International Security of Japan and the World in Heisei Period.” | |
| (2) | Dr. Saikaew Thipakorn, Director of Japan – ASEAN Studies Center, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University: The topic is “Japan’s Soft Power, Popular and Cultural Diplomacy during the Heisei Period.” | |
| (3) | Asst. Prof. Dr. Nipaporn Ratchatapattanakul, Department of History, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University: The topic is “Historical Perspectives on Social and Economic Development in Heisei Period.” | |
| (4) | Dr. Panida Anantanakom, Japanese section, Department of Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai University, as commentator. | |
The main purpose of these two seminars is to deepen further understanding about Japanese society in varied perspectives during the Heisei period, after the abdication of Japanese Emperor Akihito, and entered into the new era “Reiwa” in May 2019.
It is highly believed that this special seminar will be inspiring and benefit for all Thai people to better understanding about the past achievements and constraints of Japanese socio-economic developments and looking into the new challenges of Japanese new era since May 2019 onwards.
