Democratic backsliding in liberal democracies, along with the rising influence of authoritarian regimes, has been linked to the ideas of German legal theorist Carl Schmitt. Far-right intellectuals in Europe, Russian imperialist ideologues, and figures associated with the Trump administration in the United States explicitly reference the “crown jurist of the Third Reich.” In East Asia, Schmitt’s reception has been notably active—particularly in China. Schmittian concepts such as Großraum (great space), previously rejected due to their compatibility with Japan’s former “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,” now serve other geopolitical ambitions. Yet, the status and normative implications of Schmitt’s ideas, especially when deployed against the international liberal order, remain unclear. Do they truly constitute a coherent alternative model? This presentation examines the relationship between Schmitt’s conception of legal theory and its application to politics today. Details and registration here

The resilience and popularity of “non-rational” ritual practices performed for “rational” reasons represent an important window into key sociological and anthropological themes surrounding urbanization and modernization. Specifically, the widespread presence of sacred sites like small streetside shrines tucked into urban spaces call us to reexamine theoretical assumptions regarding the meanings of “magical” rites. Based on fieldwork in Japan and Hong Kong, this talk discusses preliminary reflections on our collaborative research project which looks at this set of issues through the lens of contemporary German theory of social practices (Bartmanski) and American anthropological frameworks (Gagné). It seeks to provide new perspectives on the theoretical and practical implications of the resilience of practices and rituals of magical control in modern societies. Details and registration here

On November 11, 2024, the Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to the anti-nuclear weapons movement Nihon Hidankyō. This decision not only acknowledged the movement’s ongoing commitment, shaped by its members’ traumatic experiences of ‘Hiroshima’ and ‘Nagasaki’. It was also an attempt to shape the present and imaginatively construct possible livable futures. Likewise, written history is often considered a fiction that primarily contributes to the formation, stabilization, and self-assertion of nation-states. In Japan, dominant historical narratives, such as Japanese victimization, have been foundational since the post-war period. The participants in the workshop Revisiting the Asia-Pacific War in Japan: Cultural Artifacts and Intellectual Discourse, organised by DIJ researcher Carolin Fleischer-Heininger, will explore how these narratives are being selectively contested by cultural artifacts and counter discourses. This event is part of the Max Weber Foundation series The Ends of War. International Perspectives on World War II. Details and registration here

Disturbances in microbiomes both at human and ecosystemic levels are resulting in serious health and environmental crises. Science and Technology Studies is beginning to analyze how fermented foods and fermentation are becoming a part of the commodified wellness market and a space of critical reflection on modern antibiotic relations. Using the case of tsukemono or Japanese pickles, the modern antibiotic turn and its contemporary probiotic modulation will be analyzed using both historical and ethnographic data. The case of tsukemono offers insights into the challenges of the Anthropocene and its impacts on microbiome that take stock of existing linguistic and cultural heritage. The event will be held in English, admission is free. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session and a small reception. Details and registration here

From the late Meiji era, the development of a China-based press network functional to the national interest became an integral part of Japan’s imperial agenda. After the defeat of Russia in the 1904-05 war, the Northeast, compared to other regions, offered to Japanese initiative more favorable conditions to achieve a dominant position in the media landscape. One of the most successful enterprises was the government-sponsored Shengjing Shibao, which became the largest newspaper in Fengtian (Shenyang). As a tool of foreign policy, however, press management suffered from the lack of unified decision-making among different agencies. This talk will present a case study to analyse Japanese imperial press policy as representative of the polycentric character of strategic planning in imperial Japan. Details and registration here