July 17, 2001

To: Office of International Programs

From: Ida K. Rigby

Hiroko Johnson

Re: Travel Grant to Japan: Part A: Scouting the sites for 2002.

The grant was for Part II of our project proposal for 2000-2001. The goals of our travel, as outlined in the proposal were to scout locations for the Japan Study Tour in 2001, with a focus on East/West contacts and to explore exchange possibilities with Japanese art universities. The scouting was very productive, both in places discovered that would definitely be worth including and finding that a few places (Nagasaki and Kurashiki), although important in terms of the theme, simply did not have enough remaining to warrant the train time to get there.

In the week of scouting (June 6 – June 13) we visited Nikko, Himeji Castle, Kuraqshiki, Nagasaki, Arita, Hakata and Hiroshima. Nikko, Himeji Castle, and Hiroshima definitely should be included in future study tours. The shrine complex of Shogun’s mausoleum at Nikko is extremely important historically and very different architecturally and in geographical (mountainous) setting from sites we visited with students this year. Himeji Castle offers a spectacular example of wooden architecture and a sense for the samurai culture. Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Peace Museum are locations, the experience of which can make people world citizens. It is a negative example of East/West contacts, but one that transforms the visitor.

In Kurashiki, unfortunately, the remaining buildings have simply been too much commercialized to afford the historical experience we desire. Nagasaki is in the process of rebuilding the Dejima Island area after the old records; this is where the Dutch lived in isolated while Japan was closed to trade with other European nations. When that restoration and other historical work are completed, we will consider including it on a study tour. In Nagasaki we visited the Glover Gardens historical village, the Oura Church (from the 19^th century), the rebuilt 19^th century Catholic Church and A-bomb memorial, the Peace Park and Museum and the Siebold House, as well as what remains of the old geisha quarter. All of these, indifferent ways contain remnants of early East/West contact. We also visited Nagasaki Weslyan College, a school founded by missionaries in 1881 as part of the modernization process after Japan opened to broadaer contact with the West.

On our return to Tokyo, we visited the Arita ceramics school and kiln to explore exchanges with the school, and visited numerous kilns in Arita and Nabeshima, some of which contributed to East/West contacts by exporting ceramics to Europe and influencing European tastes. We then stayed in the ceramics center of Hakata before returning to Tokyo.

Dr. Rigby left Japan June 13; Dr. Johnson remained to explore exchange with Japanese art universities, in fulfillment of the second goal of this grant.