Mita Philosophical Society Lecture
Event Date
Event Venue
Toward the Conceptualization of "Ikai" (Otherworlds) and "Isekai" (Different Worlds): A Taxonomy of Extraordinary Spaces in Modern Urban Legends
2022/11/01
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Date & Time | Friday, December 2, 2022, 18:10–20:10 |
Venue | Hybrid format at Keio University Mita Campus (classroom to be announced) and via Zoom |
Eligibility | Open to everyone. (The registration URL will be announced later.) |
Lecturer | Ryuhei Hirota (Part-time Lecturer, Keio University) |
Organizers | Mita Philosophical Society / Keio University Anthropology Study Group |
Lecture Abstract:
The concept of "ikai" (otherworld), found in fields such as cultural anthropology, folklore studies, and religious studies, is a relatively new one that has become widespread in the Japanese-speaking world since the 1980s. However, it has been pointed out that its conceptual definition is ambiguous, and this issue remains unresolved. Furthermore, its relationship with similar concepts, such as "takai" (the next world), used since pre-modern times, and "isekai" (different world), which has been frequently used since the end of the last century, has not been clearly defined. In this presentation, I will examine the diversity of "ikai" in "kowai hanashi" (scary stories), focusing on modern urban legends, and consider the possible scope and applicability of these concepts.