Theatre Nohgaku’s “Blue Moon Over Memphis” – A Noh about Elvis Presley

In an age where fame itself has become the ultimate goal, Blue Moon over Memphis examines how popular culture crafts its idols and then swiftly discards them. One of America’s first celebrity casualties; Elvis’s enduring legacy now lies somewhere between tragic hero and eternal punchline. As critically acclaimed writer Deborah Brevoort’s words return human dignity to his spirit, Richard Emmert’s composition evokes a mournful reminiscence that will let you hear old music with new ears. American playwright Deborah Brevoort wrote the original play in 1993 following a traditional noh structure though meant to be performed by Western actors largely in a naturalistic style. Richard Emmert began working with Brevoort to adapt the play for a full noh presentational style by Theatre Nohgaku. The adapted text was completed in 2010 and Emmert has since completed much of the composition. ✽ Saturday, March 11 at 2:00pm | CenterStage, ’62 Center Lecture-Demo, Be Here Now: A primer on watching and enjoying noh ✽ Thursday, March 9, 4PM | CenterStage, ’62 Center With the generous support from the Japanese Program Tompkins Fund, Asian Studies, the Lecture Committee, the Oakley Center for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the departments of Theatre and Dance, the programs in Comparative Literature, American Studies and Global Studies, and the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. This project has received support from the Japan Foundation New York. Continue reading »

The Origin of Japanese Cuisine in World War II

One of the leading scholars on Japanese food culture/history, Eric Rath, will make a class visit to JAPN223 Japanese Food Culture in a Global Context. In addition, he will give a public talk on Japan’s cuisines. ✽ Schapiro 129 | April 13 , 4:15 pm Sponsored by Japanese Program Tompkins Fund, Asian Studies Department, the Lecture Committee, and Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Continue reading »

2017 Linen Summer Grants for Study in Asia (Deadline: March 1, 2017)

Supported by an endowment for Asian Studies established by family and friends in memory of James A. Linen III, Class of 1934, the Department of Asian Studies offers a limited number of grants to assist Williams College undergraduates in traveling to Asia during the summer for educational purposes. For the purposes of these grants, “Asia” refers to South, Southeast, and East Asia, defined as those parts of the continent east of the Khyber Pass and south and east of the Tian Shan Mountains and the Gobi Desert. The Linen Grant Selection Committee will give highest priority to funding proposals that contribute to developing a student’s scholarship in a serious and well-focused way. Proposals might include conducting research for an honor’s thesis; pursuing other kinds of independent research projects under the supervision of a member of the Asian Studies faculty; or participating in an intensive language training program (at the third-year level or higher, except in very unusual circumstances). Continue reading »

2017 Taiwan Ministry of Education Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship (HES) (Deadline: Aug. 31, 2018)

Through the generosity of the Taiwan Ministry of Education and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO), the Department of Asian Studies at Williams College has been awarded a scholarship for one Williams student to study Mandarin language in Taiwan during 2017-18. As explained in a letter received from TECO, “this scholarship is being awarded to your esteemed college in the hopes of fostering a strong friendship between Williams College and Taiwan and furthering our mutual academic goals of cross-cultural understanding and exchange.” The scholarship allows Williams students to study Mandarin language in Taiwan at a university-affiliated language training center of the student’s choice for a period of three, six, nine months or one full year beginning from September 1, 2017, ending by August 31, 2018. The scholarship consists of NT 25,000 per month (approximately US $781 at the current exchange rate), out of which the student will pay tuition and living expenses. With careful budgeting, the scholarship amount should be sufficient to cover about ten hours a week of tuition as well as moderate housing and meal costs, but applicants should note that airfare and miscellaneous expenses are not included. Continue reading »

Celebrating Japanese Culture at The Clark

The Clark will be hosting several events celebrating Japanese Culture in honor of our latest exhibition Japanese Impressions: Color Woodblock Prints from the Rodbell Family Collection that I thought your students or staff might be interested in attending some of these events. Continue reading »

Race to the Top: The Rise of China and Prospects for India

Speaker: Jacob Kurien, Professor of International Economics, Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, Nanjing, China ✣ Thursday, February 9 | 8:00-9:30 P.M. | Griffin 6 All students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community are welcome! Sponsored by the Department of Asian Studies Continue reading »

Williams Japan Club!!

The Williams Japan Club was founded in 2016 by two alumnae, Sara Kang ’14 and Jessy LeClair ’10 with support from Larry Greenberg ’85. It is a community for graduates living and working in Japan, and for others interested in Japanese language, culture, and related careers. The goal is to create opportunities for fun, friendships, networking, and sharing of wisdom and resources. On August 6, 2016, twenty-three members gathered in Tokyo and enjoyed lively discussion over delicious okonomiyaki. Continue reading »

Asian Studies Ice Cream Social

Tuesday, October 25, Hollander 040, 7 – 8 PM This is your chance to come and meet faculty and students in the Department of Asian Studies! Come and find out more about courses offered by the department for WSP and Spring 2017. There will be delicious ice cream from… Continue reading »