From the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, a storytelling medium called kamishibai was used extensively by the Japanese government in its efforts to mobilize all imperial subjects in support of the war: young and old, women and men, soldiers and civilians, residents of the Japanese islands and residents of the colonies and occupied lands.
This presentation focuses on the kamishibai plays—each a mix of story, image, and performance—created for the purpose of winning over imperial subjects in Korea, China, and Taiwan. A key question is: what roles did emotion and entertainment value play in the mobilization propaganda deployed across the Japanese empire?
This talk is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
Date & Time:
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 12:00pm – 1:30pm PT
Location:
Room 604, Asian Centre, 1871 West Mall, Vancouver
Speaker
Sharalyn Orbaugh is professor of modern Japanese literature and popular culture, and Head of the Department of Asian Studies at UBC.
