Millán-Martín, Alberto - Appointed in AY2016

My research theme is translated textbooks within the educational system of the early Meiji period. The education that the new Meiji government sought to provide in new schools to enlighten the general public also had the objective of introducing the political and economic systems of Western countries. Consequently, a large number of textbooks from the world's developed nations were brought to Japan, and some were translated into Japanese. By comparing and contrasting the original texts with their translations while examining the historical context, it gradually becomes clear how cultural exchange with foreign countries has promoted social progress. It is also possible to consider the limits of that exchange and progress. My initial interest in the field of translation studies (translation theory and history) likely stems from growing up in a multilingual society where Spanish and Catalan are spoken, and from actively learning English and French from a young age. Furthermore, my interest in the modern educational history of Japan was sparked when, as a child, I learned about Yukichi Fukuzawa through Japanese anime and was impressed by the fact that he, an educator, was depicted on the highest denomination banknote.

We live with translation every day. Not all the knowledge we receive in our education is generated within our own culture, and news that travels around the world reaches us after being translated in some form. The movies we watch and the books we read, if created in multiple languages, have all been translated by someone under certain conditions. This act of translation always has a specific purpose and follows a particular translation policy. In other words, the knowledge, news, movies, and books that reach us are passed through the filter of "translation" and arrive in a form that can be far removed from the original. I believe the appeal of translation studies lies in the fact that researching what this filter is and how it affects our understanding of the world is also a way of understanding a part of history, culture, and humanity itself.

Keio University is the "school" that built the modern nation of Japan. Just as a national system is built, an individual's life is also built "while learning" various things. For both nations and people, understanding the world is what is most necessary to avoid going astray in times of crisis. I hope you will use your four years at Keio University as a time to learn about the nature of human society, how to live your life, how to interact with others, and how to conduct business. However, please do not forget that there are various forms of "learning." And let's keep in mind that university is only a preparation for the "school" of life.

(Interview conducted in January 2017)