“Can we build an East Asian reading community?”

Sponsors: East Asia Publishers Conference; Hosei University Institute of International Japan-Studies
Date: Friday, 16 January 2009, 13:00-18:00
Venue: Hosei University Ichigaya Campus, Boissonade Tower 26F
Conference Room A

　　

 

The co-hosted symposium, held on 16 January 2009 at Hosei University, Tokyo, aimed at establishing the concept of a “reading community” by which publishers and editors in the field of humanities in countries such as Japan, China (Hong Kong, Taiwan) and Korea transcend cultural boundaries between countries and regions. The Hosei University Institute of International Japan-Studies provided the venue and assisted in the organization. The theme was: “Can we build an East Asian reading community?”. The hall abounded with the enthusiasm of the 30-odd participants, including the speakers, from start to finish of the six-hour symposium.

The keynote address referred to the universality of reading that transcends history and borders. Following on, we heard keynote reports by speakers each from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. This included Ryusawa, Takeshi, Chief Editor of Heibonsha, who was the first to use, indeed, showed great distinction in coining, the term “reading community”. Four more participants from Korea and one each from China and Japan joined in the panel discussion during the second half of the symposium.

The four keynote reports all advanced theories based on the power of reading. Chair of Sino United Publishing of Hong Kong, Chan, Man-hung, impressed us with a report emphasizing the potential for an East Asian reading community involving a global view. He affirmed the “possibility of rebuilding a reading community common within East Asia”.

The cultures of the countries and regions in East Asia are peculiar to each. As a result of this symposium, we agree that we sensed the importance of taking shared steps to build a reading community which exists in universality, while respecting each other’s identities.

Report by: WANG Min (Professor, Hosei University Institute of International Japanese Studies)