Events and Activities
New book chapter and article by Harald Kümmerle on Mathematical Knowledge and Digital Sovereignty
Two new studies by DIJ researcher Harald Kümmerle were recently published. His book chapter “Bridging Göttingen and Tokyo: Oral Culture and the Dynamics of Mathematical Knowledge”, published in Felix Klein’s Foreign Students. Opening Up the Way for Transnational Mathematics (Birkhäuser Cham 2025), examines the reception of Felix Klein’s school of mathematical productivity in Japan, particularly at Tokyo Imperial University, whose central position within Japan contrasts with Göttingen University’s peripheral position within Germany. The study focuses on the work of two Japanese mathematicians, Tsuruichi Hayashi and Takuji Yoshiye. Harald’s article “Datenströme und Raumordnung. Japans Regulierungsmodell im globalen Kontext” (Data flows and spatial order. Japan’s regulatory model in a global context), published in German in the Zeitschrift für Digitalisierung und Recht (4/2025), studies how data flows are embedded in geographical and economic orders and constitute spaces themselves. Focusing on developments in Japan, the article shows that data flows are not only technical or regulatory objects, but space-constituting phenomena in which Japan’s consensus-oriented regulatory model appears as a relevant factor in global order-making.
DIJ Expertise on Japanese Economy and Society in German Media
For German media Deutsche Welle (DW) and Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Franz Waldenberger and Sebastian Polak-Rottmann have contributed their expertise in the fields of Japan’s economy and society, respectively. In a DW online article on Japan’s monetary policy, Franz Waldenberger explained that while the Japanese government was highly indebted, the economy as a whole was “rich”. Japan’s share of net foreign assets as percentage of GDP was “among the highest in the world”, he said. “I call it ‘rich country, poor government'”. In a German-language DLF radio feature on the problem of Japan’s abandoned houses (akiya mondai), Sebastian Polak-Rottmann commented on abandoned houses are “a symptom of demographic change and of migration” that could be observed both in rural and in urban areas. Since empty houses in rural areas often had strong family ties for their owners, many did not want to sell them, he explained.
Open access article co-authored by Harald Kümmerle studies use of digital technologies by Germany and Japan
How have Germany and Japan used digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic? From the perspective of two divergent epistemologies of data, the open access article “From Data Universalism to Data Particularism: Epistemologizing Digital Sovereignty Based on Germany’s and Japan’s COVID-19 Responses” (Global Studies Quarterly, Vol. 5, Issue 3) by DIJ’s Harald Kümmerle and (Brussels) compares both countries’ use of data and their responses to the pandemic. Observing that Japan outperformed Germany in terms of selected key metrics at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the article argues that data particularism, as exemplified in Japan’s COVID-19 response, can be a valuable strategy to address the epistemic and political shortcomings of data universalism. In particular, the authors argue that in the context of the broader debate about digital sovereignty, data particularism is attractive for traditional manufacturing powers, such as Japan and Germany, that are rich in context-specific data but dependent on US and Chinese Big Tech.
Vortrag von Carolin Fleischer-Heininger zu Behinderung in japanischer Gegenwartsliteratur
Im Jahr 2023 gewann der Roman „Hunchback“ von Ichikawa Saou den renommierten Akutagawa-Preis, jetzt liegt er in deutscher Übersetzung vor. Aus diesem Anlass veranstaltet das Japanische Kulturinstitut Köln zusammen mit dem Arbeitsbereich Soziologie und Politik der Rehabilitation, Disability Studies der Universität Köln den literaturwissenschaftlichen Abend “Das Thema der Behinderung in japanischer und deutschsprachiger Gegenwartsliteratur: Von Ichikawa Saous „Hunchback“ zu Christoph Kellers „Jeder Krüppel ein Superheld“. Die zwei Vortragenden sprechen prägnante Beispiele der japanischen und deutschen Gegenwartsliteratur an, die Fragen rund um Autonomie, Sexualität und gesellschaftliche Barrieren aufwerfen. Zu Japan spricht DIJ-Literaturwissenschaftlerin Carolin Fleischer-Heininger („Ichikawa Saous korrektives Porträt einer Körperbehinderung im Kontext japanischer Gegenwartsliteratur“). Im Anschluss an die Vorträge lädt die Übersetzerin von „Hunchback“, Katja Busson, die Vortragenden zu einem moderierten Gespräch ein. Der Veranstaltung findet am 27. Januar an der Universität Köln statt. Es wird eine Verdolmetschung in Deutsche Gebärdensprache angeboten.
Hybrid Workshop on Machizukuri and Adaptive Governance in Hita
This hybrid bilingual workshop focuses on local initiatives in response to the current challenges facing regional Japan, exemplified by the city of Hita in Ōita Prefecture. The event combines the perspectives of two scholars on this area in Northern Kyushu and one practitioner from the field. It addresses aspects of local resilience in times of disruption and postgrowth. The speakers illustrate two different revitalization approaches, displaying the merits and limitations of tourist-based machizukuri, or “town-making” activities. The aim of the workshop is to critically engage in a discussion about adaptation processes in rural Japan. Investigating the same region from three different angles promises a more nuanced understanding of social dynamics and societal change. After the three presentations, a panel discussion including Q&A will conclude the event. Details and registration here
Harald Kümmerle interviewed about Japanese digital strategy
“Japan’s digital policy is consensus-driven, differing from both Western and Chinese approaches”, says DIJ researcher Harald Kümmerle in a recent interview with Nikkei X-Tech, an online news portal of Japanese newspaper Nikkei Shinbun. Building on a widely recognised classification of global digital governance into three ideal types – market-driven (US), state-driven (China), and rights-driven (EU) – Kümmerle proposes Japan’s consensus-driven model as a distinct fourth type. This model, he argues, is characterized by soft regulation and administrative guidance rather than formal rule-making. This provides both opportunities and challenges. As Harald notes in the interview, “If Japan can expand its circle of partners among Indo-Pacific nations in the field of economic security, it may be able to mediate between the EU and the US.” The article (in Japanese) is available here.
Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the New Year
Das Deutsche Institut für Japanstudien wünscht erholsame und frohe Festtage und einen guten Start in ein erfolgreiches Jahr des Pferdes!
The German Institute for Japanese Studies wishes you a happy holiday season and a successful Year of the Horse!
ドイツ日本研究所一同、皆様のご多幸と来るべき新年が成功の年になることを祈念いたします。
Stellenausschreibung Verwaltungsmitarbeiter/Verwaltungsmitarbeiterinnen (m/w/d)
Werden Sie Teil des DIJ-Teams in unserer Verwaltung! Die ausgeschriebenen Stellen umfassen insbesondere folgende Aufgaben: Veranstaltungsorganisation und -durchführung (Eventmanagement); Unterstützung bei Beschaffung und Vergabe von Aufträgen an japanische Unternehmen und Partner; Unterstützung bei der Personalverwaltung, bei japanischen Bankvorgängen und Visaangelegenheiten; Kommunikation mit japanischen Behörden, Unternehmen, Kooperationspartnern; Pflege und Verwaltung des Inventars; Gästebetreuung und Sekretariatsaufgaben (Empfang, Telefon, Post etc.); allgemeine organisatorische Aufgaben zur Unterstützung des Instituts. Wenn Sie muttersprachliche Japanischkenntnisse sowie sehr gute Kenntnisse der deutschen und englischen Sprache haben sowie sicher sind im Umgang mit Bürosoftware, freuen wir uns auf Ihre Bewerbung bis zum 8. Januar 2026. Die vollständige Ausschreibung finden Sie hier auf Deutsch und auf Japanisch.
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