Greetings from Canada! With the support of a 2019 Starting Scholar Award from the Japanese Sociological Society (JSS), I presented my work on the dynamics and structures that digital social networks adopted on Twitter in the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting in the US.
What impressed me was the empirical scope of Japanese sociology and the theoretical (even philosophical) fluency with which its scholars conduct their work. Even more impressive was the JSS’ long-standing coalitions with counterpart sociological associations in the Asia-Pacific and the coordination of speeches from their presidents, the banquet, the availability of linguistic resources and liaisons, and the entire conference experience itself.
I am pleased that the themes for this year’s JSS annual conference are about minority integration. These are universal issues that the JSS, sociology, and modern societies themselves are fated to grapple with in these turbulent times of change – and the JSS’ efforts show that Japanese sociology is poised to lead the way for reform in the Japanese academy.
The JSS conference is an invaluable experience because it creates a rare epistemic space in a global network in which such ideas and scholars can develop and flow. Just as important, I was won over by the warmth and camaraderie of everyone I met, over thoughts shared on the discipline, international conferences, and the wintry cold of Toronto.
I express profound gratitude to those who made it possible for me to be a part of this epistemic space, in no particular order and including, but not limited to: Emiko Ochiai, Keiko Hirao, Minako Konno, Kumi Seike, Sachi Takaya, Piya Pongsapitaksanti, the International Liaison Committee, and the JSS itself. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to network with such wonderful colleagues and a deep, rich culture, no less.
My message to other scholars who will come after me? Use this experience to cultivate a cosmopolitan, critical mindset and reflect on how you might one day contribute to the discipline in your own country and beyond.
