Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact

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Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact

On “Rigorous Research, Real Impact”, seven knowledgeable Waseda University researchers active in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities casually converse with the MC about their recent, rigorously conducted research, the positive impact it has on society, and their thoughts on working in Japan at Waseda in short 15 to 30 minute episodes.

Episodes

  1. Cross-Cultural Influences in Japanese Fantasy Games (Assistant Professor Jessy Escande)

    5 DAYS AGO

    Cross-Cultural Influences in Japanese Fantasy Games (Assistant Professor Jessy Escande)

    Assistant Professor Jessy Escande (Waseda Institute for Advanced Study) converses with MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey (Waseda Institute for Advanced Study) about the vital role that cultural transfer through “cultural ferrymen” such as J.L. Borges’ Book of Imaginary Beings has played in the development of a fantasy gaming tradition that is both uniquely Japanese and truly global. In this episode, Professor Escande shares his expert understanding of Japanese video games and their intricate ties to global folklore and mythology by elaborating on how mythical creatures like the rakshasa, the Kujata, the Dullahan, and more made their way into popular culture in Japan. Link to transcript: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/82855 About the Guests: Assistant Professor Jessy Escande Dr. Jessy Escande holds a PhD in comparative literature from Osaka University and is currently an Assistant Professor at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS). At WIAS his researches the reception of foreign cultures in Japanese fantasy works, and particularly the role of games as cultural brokers. Prior to taking his position at Waseda he served as a teaching fellow and researcher at Osaka University.   MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey Dr. Robert A. Fahey is an assistant professor of political science at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include populism, polarisation, the effects of conspiracy theory belief, and Japanese politics. He is currently working on a series of large-scale surveys aimed at discovering what kinds of conspiracy beliefs are widespread in East Asian countries, and how those beliefs impact the political and social life of those nations.

    29 min
  2. Democratic Backsliding and the Role of Populism (Associate Professor Marisa Kellam)

    DEC 2

    Democratic Backsliding and the Role of Populism (Associate Professor Marisa Kellam)

    Associate Professor Marisa Kellam (Faculty of Political Science and Economics) joins MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey (Waseda Institute for Advanced Study) to talk about their mutual research interests: populism and democracy. The focus of the episode is Professor Kellam’s recently published article, “Who's to Blame for Democratic Backsliding: Populists, Presidents, or Dominant Executives?”, which she wrote together with her former Waseda PhD student. The research was based on data spanning 98 countries, 856 elected executives, and a 50-year period. Listen for tips on how they managed such a large dataset and how it produced a clear answer to the question of who is actually to blame for erosions to democracy that occur during their terms in office.  Link to transcript:  https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/82695 About the Guests: --Associate Professor Marisa Kellam-- Dr. Marisa Kellam is an associate professor at Waseda University, where she researches the quality of democracy in Latin America. Her research links institutional analysis to various governance outcomes in democracies within three lines of inquiry: political parties and coalitional politics; mass electoral behavior and party system change; and democratic accountability and media freedom. After earning a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), Dr. Kellam spent several years as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. Since moving to Tokyo in 2013, she teaches international and Japanese students in the English-based degree program of Waseda University’s School of Political Science & Economics. During her 2021-2023 sabbatical, she was a visiting scholar at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University. --MC Assistant Professor Robert Fahey-- Dr. Robert A. Fahey is an assistant professor of political science at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests include populism, polarisation, the effects of conspiracy theory belief, and Japanese politics. He is currently working on a series of large-scale surveys aimed at discovering what kinds of conspiracy beliefs are widespread in East Asian countries, and how those beliefs impact the political and social life of those nations.

    27 min
  3. Stories of Statelessness: An Auto-Ethnographical Account Part 2 (Invisible Individuals: Real Barriers; Rights, Identity, Justice)

    NOV 19

    Stories of Statelessness: An Auto-Ethnographical Account Part 2 (Invisible Individuals: Real Barriers; Rights, Identity, Justice)

    Waseda University Professor Lara Tienshi Chen (School of International Liberal Studies) serves as the guest expert again for episode two of "Rigorous Research, Real Impact". Professor Chen was raised in Yokohama, Japan and spent more than 30 years of her life categorized as “stateless”. In episode two, she introduces the advocacy work she does through her NPO Stateless Network and talks about moonlighting as a documentary filmmaker. She also explains her very difficult decision to ultimately take up Japanese citizenship. Link to the transcript here: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/82589 About the Guest: Professor Lara Tienshi Chen, School of International Liberal Studies Professor Chen obtained her PhD in International Political Economy from the University of Tsukuba. She went on to conduct research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Harvard University, and the University of Tokyo. She worked for the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka prior to joining Waseda's School of International Liberal Studies in 2013. Professor Chen is also the founder of the NPO Stateless Network and works closely with the student volunteer club Stateless Network Youth.

    17 min
  4. Stories of Statelessness: An Auto-Ethnographical Account Part 1 (From Statelessness to Advocacy, Prof. Lara Tienshi Chen)

    NOV 5

    Stories of Statelessness: An Auto-Ethnographical Account Part 1 (From Statelessness to Advocacy, Prof. Lara Tienshi Chen)

    Waseda University Professor Lara Tienshi Chen (School of International Liberal Studies) serves as the guest expert for the first two episodes of "Rigorous Research, Real Impact". Professor Chen was raised in Yokohama, Japan but spent more than 30 years of her life categorized as “stateless”. In episode one, she shares her personal experience living as a stateless person and recounts how this influenced her decision to research statelessness, culminating in her book “Stateless.” Prof. Chen then draws the line between her life experience and her current work at Waseda, where she continues to positively impact society by advocating for stateless people both in Japan and across the world. Link to the transcript here: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/82406 About the Guest: Professor Lara Tienshi Chen, School of International Liberal Studies Professor Chen obtained her PhD in International Political Economy from the University of Tsukuba. She went on to conduct research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Harvard University, and the University of Tokyo. She worked for the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka prior to joining Waseda's School of International Liberal Studies in 2013. Professor Chen is also the founder of the NPO Stateless Network and works closely with the student volunteer club Stateless Network Youth.

    16 min
  • 4 Episodes

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On “Rigorous Research, Real Impact”, seven knowledgeable Waseda University researchers active in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities casually converse with the MC about their recent, rigorously conducted research, the positive impact it has on society, and their thoughts on working in Japan at Waseda in short 15 to 30 minute episodes.

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