7. Jan 2022 / 25 min

COVID-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy in Japan

In conversation with Kamila Szczepanska and Yoko Demelius. Hosted by Satoko Naito

Anti-vaccination movements pose an increasing threat to global public health, but what of vaccine hesitancy? Join us for a discussion on the effects of vaccine hesitancy in Japan during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. University of Turku’s Centre for East Asian Studies University Teacher Dr. Yoko Demelius and University Lecturer Dr. Kamila Szczepanska discuss historical, cultural, and legal factors that have led to present trends ranging from general vaccine skepticism to online and real-life anti-vaccination activism. Learn about historical developments in Japanese public health policy as well as socio-demographic factors that contribute to current attitudes. Dr. Szczepanska and Dr. Demelius also speak of the state of domestic vaccine manufacturing and Research & Development, and the significant continuing influence of anti-vaccination propaganda and misinformation campaigns from the US and Europe.

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10. Dec 2021 / 39 min

The #MeToo Movement in China and the Case of Tennis Star Peng Shuai

In conversation with Dusica Ristivojević. Hosted by: Julie Yu-Wen Chen

Several high-profile cases of sexual harassment and assault have helped the #MeToo movement in China continue to make impacts on a society that is highly controlled and surveilled. Most recently, tennis star Peng Shuai’s saga has accused former top Chinese Communist Party leader, Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. Although Peng did not say that she […]

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22. Jul 2022 / 26 min

Japanese Immigration and the Korean Minority

A conversation with Sara Park. Hosted by Duncan McCargo.

Why does Japanese immigration policy have such a bad name? What are the historical origins of tight immigration policies? Where have these policies left immigrants of Korean descent, many of whom lost their Japanese nationality in the wake of the Pacific War? Are Koreans in Japan still torn between competing loyalties to North and South […]

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