Timon SCREECH
- 役職/
Position - Former Visiting Professor (Professor at University of London, SOAS)
- 研究分野/
Field - Art History
Q1. Tell me about your research briefly.
A1. While at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) I have worked on my manuscript on the subject of the English East India Company in Japan, 1613-23. This will be completed before I leave Japan.I have also continued with the manuscript of the Oxford History of Japanese Art
Q2. In TUFS what are your lecture?
A2. I have taught an over-view of the arts of the Edo Period, concentrating on painting. As well as the lectures, we have had two outside visits.
Q3. Japan studies in TUFS have issued a policy to lay emphasis on the reinforcement of the Japan's ability to deliver a message to the world. What do you think is necessary for that?
A3. There is a slight problem in using foreigners for assist in 日本発言力. I have found the students very willing to listen, but not to talk. Maybe it's my fault, but in future perhaps classes should not be lectures, but should be round-table seminars.
Q4. How about TUFS and students?
A4. I have only three TUFS students in my class, of which o ne is an overseas student and one is an auditor. There are also there external people.
The students are very quiet and do not speak at all (except for the overseas sudent). I think some have a lot of trouble in understanding the course. Maybe they thought that Edo art history ought to be easy for them, and are not realizing it is not.
Q5. Compared with overseas, what is good in Japan and not good in Japan?
A5. This question is too broad to be very meaningful. I appreciate how efficient everything is, and although in Japan the system often seems unnecessarily complicated, it always works on its own terms. All the machines work (unlike in England). People are very friendly, but also very hard to talk to (I speak Japanese so it's not such a problem).