From the Ship
Deepening Dialogue: Cultural Studies Onboard with Professor Motohashi Tetsuya
Professor Motohashi Tetsuya, a specialist in postcolonialism and cultural studies, joined the 122nd Global Voyage to lead a lecture series titled “An Introduction to Cultural Studies Through Film.” Using widely known films and television works as entry points, he invited participants to examine how culture, history, and power shape everyday life.
Through discussions of titles such as Crash Landing on You, Les Misérables, and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, Professor Motohashi explored themes including national division, social upheaval, migration, and the formation of personal identity. By connecting fictional narratives to real historical contexts, he encouraged participants to reflect on global issues not as distant events but as matters that intersect with individual experience.
Rather than focusing solely on analysis, the lectures emphasized interpretation and dialogue. Participants were asked to consider how stories influence the ways people understand themselves and others, and how cultural perspectives can shift depending on one’s position in society.
A central moment of his time on board was a public dialogue connected to the voyage’s theme, “Weaving Peace Through Dialogue.” In conversation with Peace Boat staff member Nohira Shinsaku, Professor Motohashi examined what meaningful communication requires in practice. Their discussion highlighted the importance of recognizing the identity and perspective of others while remaining conscious of one’s own background, assumptions, and privileges.
Concrete examples helped translate theoretical concepts into everyday situations, from cross cultural misunderstandings to conversations about historical responsibility. Participants were encouraged to approach dialogue not as debate but as a process of listening, reflection, and mutual learning.
Many attendees described the sessions as intellectually challenging in a constructive way. The lectures provided tools for engaging with difference without retreating into stereotypes or silence, supporting the broader aim of the voyage to foster respectful exchange across cultures.
Through programs like this, Peace Boat continues to create spaces for critical thinking alongside travel, encouraging participants to engage with the world not only as observers but as thoughtful interlocutors.