Report on the Bhutan Seminar Series 2022 (Oct.& Nov.2022)

2023年4月20日更新

Beginning in FY2021, the Global Collaboration Center is hosting regional research-based seminars to (1) learn about the Kingdom of Bhutan, which is located in South Asia, and (2) examine development policies and the situation of the country and region in light of these issues. Each seminar includes a film screening, a brief commentary by the presenter, and a question-and-answer session. This year’s seminar is also an approved project of the “Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year 2022” by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

11th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2022 (2022.10.8)

The 11th seminar screened a story about a lives of cats and people in various regions of Bhutan. Ms. Kaoru Aoki, a local coordinator, provided commentary and explanation about the photographing. She then shared information by answering questions from the participants on naming of cats in Bhutan, reasons for keeping cats, the pet food situation, regional disparities, the widening gap between rich and poor, changes in tourism policies, and the policies regarding the COVID-19.

About 45 people attended the seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “We tend to have an image of Bhutan as a happy country, but today I was glad to recognise that life in Bhutan is diverse,” “I was able to have a good understanding of the situations behind the scenes, as well as information that would only have been able to those who were actually part of the making of the film. Commentator, Ms. Aoki's witty explanation were fun, easy to understand, and very meaningful.”

Description of Punaka in the screening
Description of Phobjikha in the screening

12th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2022 (2022.10.22)

The 12th seminar focused on people. We looked at the culture and lifestyle of Bhutan. The history of the places shown was discussed at the commentary session. Participants asked questions about the requirement to wear national dress in public places, languages used in school education, the names of the Bhutanese people and Bhutan's tourism policy.

About 45 people attended the seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “I was surprised to learn that Bhutanese wear western style clothes on holidays and “ gho” or “ kira” , traditional clothes, on work and important days. I didn't realize that traditional clothes are for work,” “I learned that things we take for granted in Japan are not commonplace in Bhutan. I was impressed that there is still a culture of not having surnames and wearing clothes.”

About Paro
Center of Paro City

13th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2022 (2022.11.12)

The 13th seminar focused on Thimphu, Bhutan's largest 'metropolis'. After a commentary by Ms. Ugyen Chodey Noguchi, student at University of Fukui, the participants shared information and exchanged opinions about tourism policy, the food service situation, anti-smoking policy, the links between Fukui and Bhutan, nuns and other issues.

About 35 people attended the seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “Although the video was a bit dated, it was good to be able to compare it with Ms. Noguchi's comments about 'current' Bhutan. It was also interesting to learn that they can only get nationality if their parents are Bhutanese, which is the information that is not found elsewhere,” “Just looking at Bhutan's towns and cities, I felt that life in Bhutan reminded me of Japan's Showa period, but when I learned some of the parts, such as the spread of smartphones and other devices, Bhutan seemed more developed than Japan, which made me want to visit Bhutan even more.”

About Thimphu
Commentary by Ms. Noguchi (Introduction to Buddhist paintings)

14th Seminar in the Bhutan Seminar Series 2022 (2022.11.19)

The 14th seminar focused on Paro, the 'gateway' to Bhutan, home to the country's only international airport. After a commentary by Ms. Hitomi Harada, a member of the Japan-Bhutan Friendship Association, the participants shared information and exchanged opinions on religion and politics, religion and environmental issues, depopulation, brain drain abroad, the declining birth rate, measures for national unity, and the content of the Constitution.

About 45 people attended the seminar. Here are some of the participants’ comments: “I was intrested by the relationship between religion and politics, and religion and environmental protection,” “I was grateful that Lecturer Hirayama pointed out unclear points in the narration of the film, such as, “ Paro, the second largest city in Bhutan," and "Tibetan Buddhism is the national religion,” and that he provided a detailed explanation for them.”

Image from the seminar
Commentary by Ms. Harada (Introduction of Mural）