Project Management Unit
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
The University of Tokyo
Leader: SATO Tsugitaka
Islamic Area Studies Project Management Office
The University of Tokyo
Bungakubu Annexe
7-3-1 Hongo
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5841-2687 Fax: +81-3-5841-2686
(Please note that these phone and fax numbers are new.)
e-mail: i-office@l.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Project Management Unit: Research Themes and Activities
The Project Management Unit holds regular meetings to organize and integrate the research conducted under the auspices of the project, taking into consideration the activities of all of the units and groups. Based on the plan agreed upon at these meetings, we will sponsor a symposium entitled "Area Studies and the Positioning of Islamic Studies Therein" on July 10, 1999 in Tokyo and an international symposium entitled "Beyond the Border: A New Framework for Understanding the Dynamism of Muslim Societies" from October 8 to 10 in Kyoto.
One of the aims of this project is to apply the latest computer technology to area studies. The Project Management Unit conducts and supports activities such as the integration of information systems, the creation of a database using Arabic characters, and the processing and application of geographic and visual data.
In order to conduct exchanges with and provide information to not only scholars of the project but also to others involved in Islamic studies, an Internet website is being managed from the Project Management Unit office. In this way, an overall image of the project as well as updated information on the progress of each unit can be provided in real time. In addition, by sponsoring workshops and symposia, we will continue to work to heighten the interest and understanding of the modern Islamic world.
The Project Management Unit publishes the Working Paper Series and the Proceedings Series in addition to the Islamic Area Studies Series in both English and Japanese.
Project Management Unit: International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- IKEDA Misako will travel to the U.S.A. (Boston, New York, Princeton, Los Angeles, and Austin) to investigate trends in contemporary Arabic studies. August 25 - September 7, 1999.
- MIURA Toru will travel to London and Damascus for editorial meetings concerning the Islamic Area Studies Series (English Version). September 1 - 15, 1999.
Scholars invited to Japan
- HSU Cheng-Hsiang (National Chengchi University) will be invited to Tokyo to report on trends in Middle Eastern Islamic Studies in Taiwan and conduct exchanges. May 14 - 18, 1999.
- Ann M. LESCH (Villanova University) will be invited to Tokyo to participate in an international workshop on Palestinian issues and waqf and attend a meeting on joint research. October 7 - 14, 1999.
- Michael DUMPER (University of Exeter) will be invited to Tokyo to participate in an international workshop on Palestinian issues and waqf and attend a meeting on joint research. October 7 - 14, 1999.
Unit 1 Thought and Politics in the Islamic World
Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology
The University of Tokyo
Leader: KOMATSU Hisao
Islamic Area Studies Unit 1 Research Office
The University of Tokyo
Bungakubu Annexe
7-3-1 Hongo
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5841-2687 Fax: +81-3-5841-2686
e-mail: ias-hiro@l.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Unit 1: Research Themes and Activities
Our research unit aims to clarify the complex relationships between Islam and contemporary civilization. This will be approached through a holistic study of 1) political and social movements based on modern Islamic thought, 2) the present state and role of Islamic areas in post-Cold-War international politics, and 3) the present conditions and movements of Islamic law which connect thought and politics with society. The three groups comprising Unit 1 will research the following topics:
Group 1-A:
Renamed "Contemporary Islamic Thought and Movements" this year, Group 1-A will deal with post-19th century, mainly contemporary, Islamic thought and the Islamic revival movement. Political, social, and economical conditions will be studied both from historical and comparative viewpoints.
Group 1-B:
Entitled "Islam and International Relations," Group 1-B will study the current situation of political movements. The interaction between these Islamic movements and international politics will be analyzed, focusing on the formation of nationalism and the notion of "nation-state" in Islamic society, as well as the "state-society" relationships.
Group 1-C:
Also renamed this year, Group 1-C, "Islamic Law and Society", will study and compare local manifestations of Islamic family law, it being the only realm in which traditional standards are applied almost unchanged to this day. We are interested in studying the position of Islamic family law within the framework of the "state" as modelled after Western traditions, and in investigating its functions within some of the contemporary Islamic societies.
Each group will conduct its research individually, but in order that the three groups may integrate their research and conduct comparative studies, an international workshop "Islam and Politics in Russia and Central Asia: Early 17th - Late 20th Centuries" will be held on October 13-14, 1999.
Unit 1 will publish the following volumes:
Publications based on symposia:
Al-Afghani (HACHIOSHI Makoto and NAKANISHI Hisae, eds.)
Islam and Feminism (OKA Mari and NAKANISHI Hisae, eds.)
The IAS Series:
Al-Manar: The Lighthouse of Modern Islam (KOSUGI Yasushi, ed.)
Islam and Politics in Russia and Central Asia (KOMATSU Hisao and St姿hane A. DUDOIGNON, eds.)
Translation Series:
Khomeini Works (TOMITA Kenji)
Selections from the Risale-i Nur Collection (KASUYA Gen)
Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Ja'fari's Universal Human Rights: From the Viewpoints of Islam and the West (NAKANISHI Hisae)
Also, we will be using the IAS information systems to digitalize microfilms of Central Asian newspapers and magazines for our database.
Unit 1: International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- SAKAI Hiroki: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Two others will be sent to the Middle East and research institutes in Western countries. October 1999.
Scholars invited to Japan
- Azzam TAMIMI (University of Westminster) will visit Kyoto. July 12-19, 1999.
- Supported by the Japan Foundation and the French Foreign Ministry, we plan to invite nine scholars from abroad for the international symposium on October 13-14. Two scholars each will be invited from Russia, Tatarstan, and Uzbekistan; one scholar each from France, USA, Germany, and Tajikistan.
Unit 1: From the Group Leaders
(Group 1-A) This year, we aim to elucidate the nature and development of 20th-century Islamic thought and movements toward Islamic revival through the comparative analysis of political, sociological, and economic conditions. To this end we will hold a series of workshops reviewing books and original texts, as well as workshops on the Islamic revival movement. At the same time we plan to edit a volume based on last year's international symposium on the Manar journal, publishing it as Volume II of the IAS Series. The Unit 1 international workshop to be held in October, "Islam and Politics in Russia and Central Asia" will focus on Central Asia, a relatively unexplored field in the realm of the humanities and sociology. It will be an opportunity to deepen Central Asian area studies and comparative studies between Central Asia and other areas. We hope that many people will come and join us at the workshop. (KOMATSU Hisao)
(Group 1-B) Group 1-B will conduct research on the politics of Islam within the framework of international politics, including historical studies on imperialism, the dependency theory, and the world-system theory. We will engage in the discourse of contemporary political sciences through comparative studies. We will also conduct joint research projects with political scientists and area specialists from both Japan and abroad, for a productive combination of area studies and theoretical studies. (SAKAI Keiko)
(Group 1-C) Group 1-C will study Islamic law, focusing on family law, where the influences of traditional Islamic law are most evident. We are interested in forming a basis for future research on how family law is manifest in contemporary Islamic societies, which, having been modelled after Western countries, are now undergoing rapid changes. (YANAGIHASHI Hiroyuki)
Unit 2 Society and Economy in the Islamic World
The Institute of Asian Cultures
Sophia University
Leader: KISAICHI Masatoshi
Islamic Area Studies Unit 2 Research Office
The Institute of Asian Cultures
Sophia University
7-1 Kioi-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8554, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3238-3162; +81-3-3238-3697 Fax: +81-3-3238-3162
e-mail: h-ono@hoffman.cc.sophia.ac.jp
Unit 2: Research Themes and Activities
The basis of our research lies in studying contemporary sociological and political issues from a historical outlook. Dividing our research into three different topics, we will study contemporary issues found in Islam-related areas. The three topics will be: 1) Islam and social development, 2) Islam and economic development, and 3) Islam and popular movementsﾑeach handled by Groups 2-A, 2-B, and 2-C, respectively. While each group will be responsible for their individual research aims, we will also conduct research involving the joint efforts of the entire unit and include topics outside the realm of the unit. The first and second groups will further develop the research conducted last year, and the third will combine the research conducted by last year's Group 2-C with that of Unit 5 Group 5-A, in order to produce research complementary to that of Groups 2-A and 2-B.
This year, our unit's biggest project is the international workshop in November, "Democratization and Popular Movements in Islamic Areas" which will highlight the results of the year's research. We will be inviting scholars whose studies complement ours, and hope for the participation of the entire IAS project. We will put emphasis not only on lectures, but also on productive discussions and suggestions for further research. We plan to draw up the proceedings of this workshop. Also, in order to develop and gain further insight into the topics covered in the workshop, each group will be conducting research abroad.
Below are some research plans for each group:
Group 2-A:
1) Islam and democratization
2) Participation, human rights and social justice in Islamic political thought
3) Social movements in Islamic areas
4) The role of religion in social development
5) Women and ethnic minorities in social development
Emphasis will be placed on topics 1, 2, and 3 above.
Group 2-B:
1) Forces responsible for the market economy and economic development
2) Changes in industrial structure and social hierarchy
3) Introduction of Islamic economic and financial systems
4) Area integration
5) Network of commerce, circulation, and labor forces
6) Natural resource development and environmental issues
7) Population issues
8) ODA and NGOs
We will study the above as they pertain to Islamic areas, focusing on the new goals set by economic collaboration and unification based on Islam, and on how various Islamic movements are handling economic crises.
Group 2-C:
1) Sufism
2) Veneration of saints
3) Tariqah
4) Food, clothing, and shelter as cultural elements
5) Social aspects of rituals, festivals, and performing arts
6) Grassroot social movements
We will focus on 1, 2, and 3 above.
The research conducted by each group will be presented in the form of book reports, workshops, and publications, and over the Internet. Another important goal is to gather all of our previous research into an easily accessible format. This will include the studies on research trends conducted in previous years by Group 2-C.
Unit 2: International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- SHIMIZU Manabu (Utsunomiya University) will be leading research entitled "Fieldwork and Joint Research Projects with Native Scholars on Islam and Economic Development." SHIMIZU and TORII Takashi (Meiji University) will be sent to Malaysia and Pakistan; IWASAKI Yoko (Institute of Developing Economies/Japan External Trade Organization) will be sent to Iran. August 1-20, 1999.
- "Fieldwork and Joint Research Projects with Native Scholars on Islam and Democratization." Under the leadership of KISAICHI Masatoshi (Sophia University) this research will be conducted on Dec. 10-30, 1999. ASAMI Yasuhito (Hitotsubashi University) and IWASAKI Erina (Hitotsubashi University) will join KISAICHI on trips to Indonesia, Thailand, and Egypt.
Scholars invited to Japan
- Three scholars will be invited to Japan to take part in the international workshop "Democratization and Popular Movements in Islamic Areas." They will be Syed ALATAS (National University of Singapore), Boutheina CHERIET (Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization), and Masdar F. MAS'UDI (The Indonesian Society for Pesantren and Community Development).
Unit 2: From the Group Leaders
(Group 2-A) We will conduct our studies on the theme "Issues of Democratization in Islamic Areas" in order to integrate the results of the past two years of research. The reason for this is that in the 21st century, "democratization and Islam" will be an issue of utmost importance in the Islamic world. We also believe in the importance of area studies being concerned with such issues of contemporary pertinence. In our studies we will be comparing Africa, Central Asia, Latin America and Western Europe, with Southeast Asia and the Middle East as axes. In our research on democratization, we will emphasize the historical outlook―which had previously not been treated in depth―examining the background and historical nature of Islamic society. (KISAICHI Masatoshi)
(Group 2-B) The economic crises in Asia have caused political unrest in Malaysia and Indonesia; the Middle Eastern oil countries, having population, water, and food problems as well as deficiencies in petroleum, are forced to re-evaluate their former plans for development. By looking at the changes in agricultural land systems, privatization of land, mechanisms of capital accumulationﾑincluding Islamic financesﾑand the flow of goods, finances, and population in the Islamic areas, we will draw up a model for the future of economic development. (SHIMIZU Manabu)
(Group 2-C) We will attempt to clarify the significance of the concept of "culture" in the realm of socio-economic research, looking at various examples of social movements. We will take up the complex phenomena of Sufism, veneration of saints, and tariqah, in which refinement of thought mingles with popular faith, and which hold both historical and contemporary significance, organizing research in these areas and planning its overall development. (AKAHORI Masayuki)
Unit 3 Nations, Regions, and Islam
The Japan Center for Area Studies
National Museum of Ethnology
Leader: KATO Hiroshi
Islamic Area Studies Unit 3 Research Office
The Japan Center for Area Studies
National Museum of Ethnology
10-1 Senri Expo Park
Suita-shi 565-8511, JAPAN
Tel: +81-6-6878-8343 Fax: +81-6-6878-8353
email: jcasmail@idc.minpaku.ac.jp
Unit 3: Research Themes and Activities
In today's world, political and social conflicts are often intertwined with ethnicity and religion. This is especially apparent in the Islamic world. One reason for this is that the traditions of Islamic civilization and culture, including habitation and identity, rest uneasily with the ideas of nationhood that were developed in modern Europe. Another reason may be that while the Islamic world is a diverse one, it is, on the political level, mostly made up of developing nations. As such, the political and economic conditions of these countries are broadly affected by international politics and economics.
For such reasons, the political leaders of the Islamic world navigate a difficult course between the idea of the nation as the political unit, on one hand, and on the other, as the larger cultural units that include ethnicity and religion. At the same time, in order to stabilize their own regimes, the leaders of these nations direct various forms of political propaganda, both internally and externally, that emphasizes their adherence to Islamic cultural traditions. This highlights the mutability of the citizens' notions of 'region', which reflect the stratified structure of their identities, as well as the combination of coexistence and conflict that weaves through it.
The initial year of our research project was dedicated to identifying issues, the second to developing methodologies. This year, we continue to develop the idea of conflict and coexistence within the framework of "Nations, Regions, and Islam." This includes the collection and the creation of a database of relevant sources, as well as the basic analysis of this material.
Whether at the level of building an identity, or at the level of political propaganda, the mechanisms of conflict and coexistence are deeply affected by education and by the mass media. Given the important effects of conflict and coexistence upon the lives of the marginalized sectors of society, we established education, mass media, women, children, the elderly, and minorities, as the six main topics of our research.
The purpose of our research is to analyze the conflict and coexistence that exist at the following different levels of the Islamic world: the broad level of Islamic civilization and culture, the more specific level of race and region, and the political level (nationhood). "Being Muslim", that is, the underlying structures of an Islamic identity, became the focal point of our research; whether in a positive or in a negative way, issues of conflict and coexistence are central to the Islamic movement. The following is a list of issues that the research unit as a whole is involved with:
1) How education and the mass media affect the identities both of the Muslim majority and of the non-Muslim minorities in Islamic nations, and their role in the unity between such populations
2) The issues of conflict and coexistence between the Muslim majority and the non-Muslim minority within the Islamic world
3) The issues of conflict and coexistence faced by Muslims who, while making up the majority in the Islamic world, find themselves as the minorities when they move to places such as the E.U., the U.S.A., or Japan, as immigrants or migrant workers
4) The issues of conflict and coexistence faced by marginalized sectors of society such as women, children, and the elderly within the Islamic world
5) The increasingly radical Islamic revival movement and the future of national structures
The three groups comprising Unit 3 have the following research plans:
Group 3-A will deal with nation-states and Muslim identity, investigating the genesis of ideologies and images that play an important role in national unity and shaping minority identities. The group will create a database on education and mass media in the Islamic world, especially basic information that affects the lives of the marginalized: women, children, the elderly, and minority groups.
Group 3-B will deal with contemporary Muslims and cultural conflict, focusing on issues of conflict and coexistence concerning Islam in relation to the mass media. The group will investigate written and visual media sources for representations, both true and false, particularly of women, children, the elderly, and minority groups.
Group 3-C will collect and investigate sources concerning the contemporary Muslim world. These sources include various forms of text, digital sources such as CD-ROMs, videotapes, photographs, and other visual material. Much of this material is not readily available, so activities will include travel for source collection. Group 3-C will analyze this material and make it available to groups 3-A and 3-B. In addition, it will establish a database of the sources, making it easily available to a wider public.
Unit 3: Specific Research Contents
1999
Cooperative meetings at the unit and group levels, as well as joint seminars with other units, will be arranged as necessary. As in the previous year, understanding regional issues will be of central concern. The work accomplished so far will be presented at the project's international workshops, "The Islamic Movement and the Woman's Workplace: Political and Economic Viewpoints", and "Muslim Migrant Workers in Europe." This material will eventually be prepared for publication. Research material on contemporary Islam will be gathered with an emphasis on Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Overseas research will also be conducted.
2000
Cooperative meetings at the unit and group levels, as well as joint seminars with other units, will be arranged as necessary. In addition to regional issues, an emphasis will be placed on regional comparison. Introducing comparative studies will help to distinguish the characteristics of each region more clearly. Research material on contemporary Islam will be gathered with an emphasis on North America and South America. Overseas research will be carried out.
2002
Cooperative meetings at the unit and group levels, as well as joint seminars with other units, will be arranged as necessary. Meetings at various organizational levels will be oriented towards concluding the project. Research material on contemporary Islam will be gathered with an emphasis on the Middle East and Central Asia. Overseas research will be planned as appropriate to the final year of the project. The achievements of Unit 3 as a whole will be collected, organized, and presented at the International Symposium.
Unit 3: From the Group Leaders
(Group 3-A) We will continue to study the problems of identity among the people of the Islamic world, focusing on women, education, and on the mass media. This year, however, we will especially emphasize the important but hidden role of women as a human resource. To this end, our research will concentrate upon the role of women in urban and rural workplaces, and will include seminars, overseas assignments, and guest researchers. (KATO Hiroshi)
(Group 3-B) We will conduct fieldwork both in and outside of Japan, making use of visual, as well as written sources. We will present our work in forums that include not only specialists on the Middle East, but scholars specializing in other regions, in politics, thought, or in culture. By transcending the usual academic or regional boundaries in this long-term approach, we hope to encounter various forms of academically productive "conflicts." (OTSUKA Kazuo)
(Group 3-C) This year's compilation of sources will emphasize non-written material, especially film footage, photographs, and posters. Our collection of visual sources will begin with videos of representative movies from Egypt, Iran, and Syria. We hope, in addition, to establish an independent research group that will use this material in a critical analysis of contemporary Islamic culture. (USUKI Akira)
Unit 4 Geographic Information Systems for Islamic Area Studies
Graduate School of Engineering
The University of Tokyo
Leader: OKABE Atsuyuki
Islamic Area Studies Unit 4 Research Office
Department of Urban Engineering
The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5841-6225 Fax: +81-3-5800-6965
e-mail: tkuroiwa@ua.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Unit 4: Research Themes and Activities
1) To collect high resolution RS data (IRS-C3) and combine it with ground truth data obtained from field studies to improve the precision of the landcover data which was created based on the medium resolution data from previous years
2) To classify ecological areas and to analyze their relationships with social structures using nearly complete historical spatial data
3) To conduct urban spatial structural analyses based on spatial data gained from field studies on Turkish cities and using both lifestyle and geographical/climate features found in this data
4) To conduct quantitative analyses of characteristically Islamic features found in road patterns based on road network data collected from Turkish cities and similar data obtained from other countries for purposes of comparison
Unit 4: International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- Six researchers (ASAMI Yasushi, ARAI Yuji, Ismail ﾛSTEK, JINNAI Hidenobu, TSURUTA Yoshiko, YAMASHITA Kimiyo) will visit Turkey to conduct surveys on urban spaces. December 1999.
Scholars invited to Japan
- Ayｩe Sema KUBAT (Istanbul Technical University) will attend a meeting of the small-scale spatial analysis group and to participate in the international symposium in Kyoto. October 1999.
- Frank HEIDEMANN (University of Munich) will participate in a meeting of the large-scale spatial analysis group. His data will be added to GIS and we will conduct joint research on land use, caste structure, and social trends. November 1999.
Unit 4: From the Group Leader
The IAS project conducts research on various phenomena that occur in Islamic regions (spaces). We cannot ignore spatial factors when analyzing these phenomena but these spatial factors are often difficult to deal with. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a modern technological tool for overcoming this difficulty and makes it possible to integrate methods of human sciences and natural sciences. By using this new tool, we attempt to develop new perspectives in Islamic Area Studies. (OKABE Atsuyuki)
Unit 5 Islamic History and Culture
Institute of Oriental Culture
The University of Tokyo
Leader: HANEDA Masashi
Islamic Area Studies Unit 5 Research Office
Institute of Oriental Culture
The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3815-9565 Fax: +81-3-3815-9565
email: 5jimu@ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Unit 5: Research Themes and Activities
In order to enable a more systematic and active approach to the unit's research topic, Islamic history and culture, a new methodology was initiated in the fiscal year 1999. Its aims are as follows:
1) While Units 1 to 4 focus upon the contemporary Islamic world and those who inhabit it, Unit 5 will seek to shed light on the historical and cultural features that have shaped the present. In other words, it will investigate the foundations of the multi-layered, cumulative entity that is the present-day Islamic world.
2) The research of this unit, therefore, must go beyond purely historical or philological conclusions. Only when it reflects a firm awareness of contemporary issues, will the research conducted by Unit 5 truly contribute to the Islamic Area Studies project.
3) The internationalization of academic research has been rendered relatively simple by the rapid advances in transportation and communication technologies. This unit will actively promote international workshops and fieldwork, and direct the publication of research results towards a global audience.
Unit 5 was newly divided into three groups with distinctive research topics. Group 5-A studies "The Development of Art and Scholarship", approaching the diversity of Islamic culture from the investigation of ceramics, visual art, and knowledge in particular. Group 5-B, under the title of "History of Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges," will investigate the ways in which the Islamic world and its neighbors have dealt with and influenced each other historically. Group 5-C is entitled "The Potentials of Comparative Study." Designating the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and China as three sample societies, the study will seek to highlight each region's characteristics through the comparative analyses of certain topics.
The three groups comprising Unit 5 have the following research plans:
Group 5-A:
- Annotate and create a database of all examples of Islamic ceramic and glass artifacts kept in Japan (organizer: MASUYA Tomoko)
- Conduct fieldwork and organize a seminar on the "Saray Albums" of the Topkapi Palace (organizer: YAMANLAR MIZUNO Minako)
- Organize a seminar, "Links Between Knowledge and Society in Islam" (organizer: MORIMOTO Kazuo)
- Research urban space and architectural culture in the Middle East (organizer: MASUYA Tomoko)
Group 5-B:
- Support the "Research Group for the History of International Commerce" (organizer: FUKASAWA Katsumi)
- Support the seminar "The Historical Development of International Relations in the Islamic AreasﾑWith a Special Emphasis on the Ottoman Empire" (organizer: KUROKI Hidemitsu)
- Establish a seminar on a topic of "Inter-Regional Interaction" that would serve as a link between the two aforementioned seminars. Possible topics include 'port cities' and 'human networks.' (organizer: HANEDA Masashi)
Group 5-C:
- Hold seminars on "Comparative Studies" three times annually. In the first two years (1999-2000), the seminars will concentrate upon a comparative analysis of China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, structured around specific topics including property, markets, contracts, and justice. The study will seek common problems and criteria appropriate to the analysis of all three regions. The scope of the comparisons should be limited neither by historical era, nor by geographical location, but should rather remain flexible to the demands of the topic. Regions like Europe and Japan, along with regions lacking Islamic influence, should be included in the study. In the third year, a new regional and historical comparative framework will be established. (seminar organizers: MIURA Toru, KISHIMOTO Mio, SEKIMOTO Teruo)
- Establish a small associated research seminar on the topic of "Chinese Muslim Intellectuals." (organizer: KISHIMOTO Mio)
Independently from the activities of each of the research groups, the topic of "The Cultural History of Textiles" will be established as a topic common to the entire unit. Group 5-A will approach textiles as artistic productions. Group 5-B will interpret the role of textiles in regional interaction, and Group 5-C will apply the comparative analysis to the topic. Through fieldwork and general conferences, these treatments make up a multifaceted, holistic approach to the history and culture of textiles.
Unit 5: International Exchange
Every year, international workshops and lectures by foreign speakers will be organized, on topics closely related to the current research of each group in turn. Fieldwork abroad will be arranged.
Scholars to be sent abroad
- Research on the "Saray Albums" (Istanbul, Turkey): SUGIMURA Toh (Ryukoku University), MURANO Hiroshi (Tokai University), SEKI Yoshifusa (Tokai University), KOBAYASHI Kazue (Waseda University).
- Fieldwork for "The Cultural History of Textiles" (Gujarat and Madras, India): SEKIMOTO Teruo, FUKASAWA Katsumi, YANAGI Munemoto, and ABE Katsuhiko.
Scholars invited to Japan
- This year, Group 5-A will invite specialists to speak on art and architectural history. Group 5-B will co-host, with Unit 6, the international workshop "The Potentials of Research on Persian Documents." Group 5-C is planning a research seminar on comparative studies, that will include foreign participants. The overseas researchers to be invited are: Bernard O'KANE (American University of Cairo, Islamic art and architectural historian) and Mansur SEFATGOL (Tehran University, historian of modern Iran).
Unit 5: From the Group Leaders
(Group 5-A) This group explores the development and transmission of culture within the Islamic world, and the relationship between such movements and society. Our research will focus on art, craft, architecture, academics, and knowledge: fields that are intimately linked with both religious and secular life in the Islamic world. Our research occupies an unusual place in Islamic Area Studies due to the inclusion of oral culture and of artifacts, as well as written sources, into its scope. To best deal with this rich variety of both expression and media, our research teams invite the participation of specialists on relevant regions and academic specializations, in addition to that of scholars in the fields specified. (MASUYA Tomoko)
(Group 5-B) We will investigate each region in its different aspects: not only as a political nation and a geographical entity, but also as one defined by such factors as economics, language, religion, and technology. With respect to these factors, we will examine interactions, exchanges, and conflicts that have occurred historically among regions. Specifically, we will focus on port cities, since they serve as sites of inter-regional interaction, and on the human networks that link different regions together. An international workshop is planned for the third year. (HANEDA Masashi)
(Group 5-C) We chose three regions (the Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia) as subjects of comparative study, avoiding the common dichotomy of the West vs. Asia to enable the issues to take new forms and dimensions. This is also an effort to discover, simultaneously, regional features and universal cultural criteria; the Islamic factor, we would suggest, should be studied in view of these universal criteria. (MIURA Toru)
Unit 6 Source Materials for the Study of Islamic Civilization
The Toyo Bunko (The Oriental Library)
Leader: HAYASHI Kayoko
Islamic Area Studies Unit 6 Research Office
The Toyo Bunko (The Oriental Library)
2-28-21 Honkomagome
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0012, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3942-0121 (ext. 237) Fax: +81-3-3942-0258
e-mail: IAS6@toyo-bunko.or.jp
Unit 6: Research Themes and Activities
In 1999 Unit 6 will conduct activities based on the following themes:
1) Collection of materials related to Islam in early modern times and creation of a database:
As we did in 1997 and 1998, we will continue to systematically collect materials related to Islam in early modern times. Although our current collection consists mainly of books, we will actively acquire microfilms and electronic publications. We will create bibliographical data and a database using the characters of each language and we will make it available on CD-ROMs as well as on the Internet.
2) Historiographical research on historical materials related to the Islamic world:
In order to gain a deeper understanding of historical materials related to the Islamic world and to use these materials more effectively, we will conduct the following research seminars and international workshops:
- Research seminars on Ottoman archival documents: We will conduct several research seminars on historiographical analyses of Ottoman documents throughout the year, led by TAKAMATSU Yoichi. Linked to these seminars will be joint research related to temettuat registers of the 19th century, led by EGAWA Hikari.
- Research seminars on Persian documents: We will conduct several research seminars throughout the year led by KONDO Nobuaki. These seminars will form the basis for the international workshop below.
- Historical research seminars on Arabic manuscripts: We will conduct bi-weekly reading circle research seminars on Abbasid works, led by TANIGUCHI Junichi.
We also plan to sponsor an international workshop with Unit 5 entitled "The Potentials of Research on Persian Documents" in December of 1999.
3) Research related to the use of computers for Islamic Area Studies
The efficient use of computers is necessary for the effective use of historical materials and the creation of a bibliographical database. The variety of languages necessary for Middle Eastern studies, however, has delayed the use of computers in this field. We will collect the information necessary to solve this problem and at the same time, support the creation of a database.
Unit 6: International Exchange
Scholars invited to Japan
- Mahir AYDIN (Istanbul University) will participate in a research seminar on Ottoman archival documents and to conduct joint research on temettuat registers. July 1999.
- Christoph WERNER (University of Bamberg) and B. BABADJANOV (Uzbek Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oriental Studies) will participate in the "The Potentials of Research on Persian Documents." December 1999.
Unit 6: From the Group Leader
This unit will conduct studies on the historical materials of the Middle East, especially of the Ottoman Empire and the Iranian world. Several seminars and workshops will be held, and we will publish the results of these workshops in a timely fashion. Also, we will attempt to solve the technical problems of multilingual use and make useful bibliographical and textual databases of historical materials. These databases may lay a new foundation for all IAS project activities. (HAYASHI Kayoko)