Join Wellesley alumnae and friends for a two-week immersion
in the beauty and culture of Japan. As we traverse
the country, exploring its landscape and artistic diversity-from
traditional crafts, contemporary
art, garden design, architecture, and ancient rituals
- Professor T. James Kodera will be on hand to deepen
our understanding of this country's
rich cultural legacy.
Our journey will take us to Japan's
four main islands and across the Inland Sea;
along the route,
we will have the opportunity to explore temples,
teahouses, castles, craft villages, and an array
of museums. Highlights include lectures with local
experts and artists and visits to private homes
and craft workshops. Beginning in Kyoto, we will
explore Japan's historic capital city and cultural
center, visiting landmarks that have earned this
city its international renown. From there, we will
travel south on the country's famous high-speed "Bullet
Train" to Himeji Castle, one of Japan's "Three
Famous Castles," which dates back to the medieval
period and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Continuing on, the journey will take us to the
picturesque market town of Kurashiki, located on
the coast of the Inland Sea. We will enjoy a scenic
boat ride across the sea to Naoshima, an island
known for its fusion of contemporary art, architecture,
and nature. We will then travel to Shikoku, the
smallest of Japan's four main islands, to explore
its celebrated gardens and traditional thatch-roofed
houses.
Continuing south to Kyushu, the
southernmost of Japan's four main islands, we
will visit the city
of Fukuoka, which for centuries was one of Japan's
most important entry points for foreign goods and
influences from Korea, China, and the West. The
nearby towns of Arita and Imari are known as the
heart of the Japanese porcelain industry. We'll
also enjoy luxury accommodations along the way
and spend a night in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese
inn known for its incomparable hospitality and
charm.
The program will conclude in Nagasaki, rebuilt
and now renowned for its beauty and place in history
as the only city allowed to conduct trade with
outsiders during Japan's 200 years of isolation.
Join us for this rich exploration of Japan's hidden
treasures.
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T. James Kodera is a professor of religion and co-director
of the East Asian Studies program at Wellesley College. Born and raised
in Japan, he was educated at Carleton College, Yale Divinity School,
and Columbia University, where he received a Ph.D. in the historical
and comparative study of religion. Since joining the Wellesley faculty
in 1976, he has helped develop programs in Japanese, East Asian, and
Asian American studies. Professor Kodera's courses in the comparative
and historical study of religion focus on Buddhism and the religions
of East Asia. He has a special interest in contemplative and cloistered
life as it relates to activism. His religion courses contribute to offerings
in Chinese and Japanese studies. He has served twice as visiting professor
at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. He also serves on the board of
AsiaNetwork, a national organization of liberal arts colleges committed
to Asian studies. |
