国際共同利用・共同研究拠点関連

Background:
The ARC-iJAC project Ukiyo-e, illustrated books, albums and painted books in Madrid Collections emerged as an initiative of Asia Research Group (GIA), attached to the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain, which has been collaborating with the Art Research Center (ARC) for about two years and thanks to which significant progress has been made in the analysis and cataloging of ukiyo-e albums and books that are part of the collections of the Complutense University Library and that have remained almost unknown and, in some cases, in a poor state of preservation.
Involved in this project have been the professors Pilar Cabañas, Matilde Arias, Aitana Merino, and Ana Trujillo with the new incorporation of the researcher Alba Finol.

Click here for the Japanese collection of the UCM:
→ARC Ukiyo-e Portal Database
→ARC Early Japanese Books Portal Database

Could you please tell us about your motivation and the purpose of conducting the ARC-iJAC research project on the ukiyo-e, illustrated books, and albums in Madrid collections?

What encouraged us to initiate this project was to give value to the collections of the Complutense Library. Due to a lack of resources, these books and ukiyo-e had remained uncatalogued in the university's collections.

This project has enabled us to study them in-depth and make them known, not only in the Spanish context as part of the heritage of our institution, but also internationally, since the ARC database is a platform of great diffusion for specialists in Japanese art from all over the world. We are delighted with this possibility. Moreover, thanks to this collaboration, being in a space of great specialists, we can compare our knowledge and expand it.

What is distinctive about the Madrid collections?

In Madrid, there are no large collections of Japanese art or a historical tradition of its study. In the absence of major collectors, this material is a unique example within the panorama of Spanish collecting. Through these pieces, we can study the motivations and interests of the Spanish artistic market of the time, determined by its particular historical context, both economic and cultural.

Although they are not numerous, they are interesting examples of costumes, kabuki plays, and other themes that make us wonder about how they were perceived at the time in the Spanish context. Given the importance of their authors, they also represent a re-evaluation of the heritage of Japanese art in Spain.

How has the ARC-iJAC supported you in realizing this project and which research objectives have you been able to achieve?

The collaboration with the ARC-iJAC has been fundamental in the work of cataloging these works, solving our doubts whenever we have had them, especially in the transcription of texts and in the cataloging of themes and artists, as well as in certain specificities related to the art history of Japanese antique books and ukiyo-e.

You have recently launched an online exhibition on shini-e. Can you tell us more about it?

The virtual exhibition of SHINI-E, hosted on the website of the Complutense Library of Madrid, was an initiative on our part to publicize our project. We decided to focus on a specific aspect of the collection that would be attractive to users, and it seemed to us that the shini-e genre was little known to the general public.

The preparation of this exhibition involved presenting the public with specific information, not only about shini-e but also about more general aspects related to shini-e. Some of the merits achieved have been the opportunity to study specific aspects of each print - not only technical data collected in the print;something that already appears in the ARC database -but also information about the characters depicted.The transcription of the texts that appear in the images is perhaps the most valuable information obtained through this process. This allowed us to translate them into Spanish, including linguistic decisions that we understand will be useful for future students and researchers of the collection.

Likewise, the presentation is made in a way intended to be clear, and useful, even for those uninitiated in the Japanese language. Another specific aspect is that each image shown is accompanied by a link that directs the user to the ARC database to access detailed information that appears in neither the interface of the Complutense Library collection nor in the virtual exhibition. In these cards, we have tried to include texts in English to facilitate communication with those users who are not familiar with either the Japanese or Spanish languages, although these are isolated cases and not the entire collection.

How do you feel about the execution of the ARC-iJAC project? Have you come across any particular challenges?

Thanks to the implementation of this project, detailed cataloging of part of the library's holdings has been carried out. This research has led to new discoveries within the collection itself, such as the existence of poems, characters, and kabuki plays not yet studied in the Spanish scene. It has also meant a clear dissemination of information that has generated interest among the general public and students of Japanese art. All this makes clear the importance of the ARC database as a working tool for researchers who want to specialize in Japanese prints.

As for the challenges, although the albums were already digitized, when we checked the original material we could see that some of the albums were in a poor state of conservation, uncolored, and out of order. The lack of institutional funds for the project also contributed to the limitations in achieving and meeting deadlines.

How did you first connect with the Art Research Center (ARC) at Ritsumeikan University? How did you hear about the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC)?

It was through the collaboration scholarships offered on their web page. It seemed like just what we were looking for. In addition, the database is also well-known among specialists in Japanese art in Spain, so we were delighted to have been able to collaborate with the ARC-iJAC.

In our experience, collaboration with Japanese institutions has always been great. We have always learned a lot from them, and this was no exception.

Is there anything else you would like to comment on or highlight, for example, regarding the direction of future collaboration?

It is an honor for us to be part of this immense project, considering our small contribution. We are excited and look forward to moving forward in the future.

Activities carried out as a result of the collaboration with the ARC-iJAC during FY 2023:

- Virtual exhibition of SHINI-E, hosted on the website of the Complutense Library of Madrid, was an initiative on our part to publicize our project. Focused on the shini-e genre. (https://patrimoniodigital.ucm.es/s/shinie-en/page/welcome)

- Complu-Asia Seminar: Museums in Asia. With two lectures on: digital archives // our collaboration with the ARC-iJAC (https://f965c820-9ad9-444b-8c5c-fbd24bc1b6fb.filesusr.com/ugd/c52cf2_d87c32a19d334acfa7183dd43c82d393.pdf)

- Revista de museología: Spanish publication with upcoming issue dedicated to Japanese art collections and museums both in Japan and internationally, again paying special attention to the digital humanities (https://www.museologia.net/)

- International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC) & "Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures"-Project, Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University FY2023 Annual Report Meeting: "Ukiyo-e, illustrated books, albums and painted books in Madrid Collections" conference (Aitana Merino)

The 13th Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities was held on Saturday, March 23, 2024 by the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities, co-organized by the Kansai Division of the Japan Art Documentation Society and the Kansai Division of the Japan Society of Information and Knowledge in cooperation with the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.

This event also served as a conference for young researchers of the ARC-iJAC.

About the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities:

Along with the rapid development of the digital and information environment in recent years, we are seeing more and more cross-disciplinary research in academic fields with an awareness of "information" and "digital". This trend is gaining momentum in higher education and research activities as well, and educational programs and course activities related to this trend are being enhanced.

The need for opportunities for academic exchange among undergraduate and graduate students and young researchers studying in such programs under new research themes in line with the times is ever increasing.

For this reason, the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities was established in 2011 as a place for presentation and exchange, with a focus on graduate students and young researchers interested in information and knowledge research in arts, culture, and other related fields in mind. 11 research meetings have been held to date.

This meeting is positioned as a place where participants can mutually discover new research themes and methods through human exchange in different fields, and we also welcome exploratory and adventurous presentations that are slightly different from conventional conference presentations.

■ Date: March 23 (Sat), 2024, from 13:00 JST
■ Hybrid format:
Venue: Ritsumeikan University Osaka Umeda Campus
Osaka Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-4 Komatsubarachō, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0018 (https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/osakaumedacampus/access/)
Online: Via ZOOM

Organizer: The Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities

Facilitators: Ryo Akama (Ritsumeikan University), Mamiko Sakata (Doshisha University), Naoki Takubo (Kindai University), Takehiko Murakawa (Wakayama University)

Co-organizers: The Kansai Division of the Art Documentation Society and the Kansai Division of the Japan Society of Information and Knowledge

In cooperation with: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.

　JSIK 情報知識学会

On March 25, 2024, the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University, and the Research Center for Chinese Cultural Metaverse in Taiwan (CCMTW), National Chengchi University will be holding the International Joint Workshop Practices and Challenges of Integrating GIS, VR, Metaversein Digital Humanities Research.

This workshop will be held in English in a hybrid format.

Date and Time: March 25 (Mon), 2024, 10:00-16:50 (JST) / 9:00-15:50 (TST)

Please click →here for program.

Program

The 13th Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities will be held online on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

We are now accepting →registrations to join the event as a participant. This event also serves as a conference for young researchers of the ARC-iJAC.

About the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities:

Along with the rapid development of the digital and information environment in recent years, we are seeing more and more cross-disciplinary research in academic fields with an awareness of "information" and "digital". This trend is gaining momentum in higher education and research activities as well, and educational programs and course activities related to this trend are being enhanced.

The need for opportunities for academic exchange among undergraduate and graduate students and young researchers studying in such programs under new research themes in line with the times is ever increasing.

For this reason, the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities was established in 2011 as a place for presentation and exchange, with a focus on graduate students and young researchers interested in information and knowledge research in arts, culture, and other related fields in mind. 11 research meetings have been held to date.

This meeting is positioned as a place where participants can mutually discover new research themes and methods through human exchange in different fields, and we also welcome exploratory and adventurous presentations that are slightly different from conventional conference presentations.

■ Date: March 23 (Sat), 2024, from 13:00 JST
■ Hybrid format:
Venue: Ritsumeikan University Osaka Umeda Campus
Osaka Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-4 Komatsubarachō, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0018 (https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/osakaumedacampus/access/)
Online: Via ZOOM

Organizer: The Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities

Facilitators: Ryo Akama (Ritsumeikan University), Mamiko Sakata (Doshisha University), Naoki Takubo (Kindai University), Takehiko Murakawa (Wakayama University)

Co-organizers: The Kansai Division of the Art Documentation Society and the Kansai Division of the Japan Society of Information and Knowledge

In cooperation with: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.

■ Registration method:

Please register via the <registration form for participants>. (Deadline: Wednesday, March 20, 2024)

※ There is no participation fee.

※A get-together is planned to be held after the research presentations (face-to-face only). We would like to make it a place for exchange beyond the boundaries of universities and research fields, so please feel free to join us. The venue, participation fee, etc. will be announced shortly.

　JSIK 情報知識学会

On February 20, 2024, a Digital Archiving Workshop was held by the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University, and the College of Humanities, SOAS University of London, as part of the visit of Prof. Ryo Akama, Director of the ARC, to London.

The workshop comes after the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ritsumeikan University (RU), Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), and SOAS University of London in December 2023, which includes expanding the cooperation in joint research into the area of Digital Humanities (DH).

The Digital Archiving Workshop, attended by faculty members, library staff, and students of SOAS University of London, began with a general introduction to the ARC and its international research activities in Digital Humanities, followed by a case study examined by Dr. Ellis Tinios (Honorary Lecturer, University of Leeds & ARC Collaborative Researcher) on 'Transforming Research in Early Japanese Books through the ARC Research Space,' and a lecture by Prof. Akama on 'The ARC Research Space--Aiming at Perfecting a Comprehensive Digital Research Space for Japanese Arts & Culture.'

The workshop then moved on to a section focusing on practical techniques. Prof. Akama demonstrated and explained digitization methods for Japanese materials based on the woodblock prints and old Japanese books in the collection of the SOAS Library. Audience members were given the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in digitizing these materials.

On February 21, 2024, Prof. Akama gave a public lecture organized by the SOAS Japan Research Centre (JRC) entitled 'The End of Actor Prints (役者絵): How did the Meiji Era's Actor Prints Disappear?'

We are pleased to announce the Call for Manuscript Submissions for the Art Research Center's journal ART RESEARCH vol. 25-1, 25-2, 25-3.

As an academic journal specializing in arts and culture, the purpose of ART RESEARCH is to widely publicize the results of the research projects and activities conducted by the Art Research Center (ARC), Ritsumeikan University, and its partner institutions and collaborative researchers.

Since its establishment in 1998, the Art Research Center (ARC) has been selected for several national grants as a center of excellence for research in culture, art, and information science. In FY2019, the center assumed the role as the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art & Culture (ARC-iJAC) upon its accreditation by the MEXT as an International Joint Usage/Research Center. The ARC is highly regarded as a leading hub for the digital archiving of Japanese art and culture.

Our online journal will be published several times a year, and at the end of the fiscal year, a print booklet compiling all contributions will be distributed, as we hope to increase the submission opportunities for researchers.

We look forward to receiving your manuscript.

The 13th Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities will be held online on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

We are now accepting →registrations to join the event as a participant. This event also serves as a conference for young researchers of the ARC-iJAC.

About the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities:

Along with the rapid development of the digital and information environment in recent years, we are seeing more and more cross-disciplinary research in academic fields with an awareness of "information" and "digital". This trend is gaining momentum in higher education and research activities as well, and educational programs and course activities related to this trend are being enhanced.

The need for opportunities for academic exchange among undergraduate and graduate students and young researchers studying in such programs under new research themes in line with the times is ever increasing.

For this reason, the Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities was established in 2011 as a place for presentation and exchange, with a focus on graduate students and young researchers interested in information and knowledge research in arts, culture, and other related fields in mind. 11 research meetings have been held to date.

This meeting is positioned as a place where participants can mutually discover new research themes and methods through human exchange in different fields, and we also welcome exploratory and adventurous presentations that are slightly different from conventional conference presentations.

■ Date: March 23 (Sat), 2024, from 13:00 JST
■ Hybrid format:
Venue: Ritsumeikan University Osaka Umeda Campus
Osaka Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-4 Komatsubarachō, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0018 (https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/osakaumedacampus/access/)
Online: Via ZOOM

Organizer: The Forum for Knowledge, Arts, and Culture in Digital Humanities

Facilitators: Ryo Akama (Ritsumeikan University), Mamiko Sakata (Doshisha University), Naoki Takubo (Kindai University), Takehiko Murakawa (Wakayama University)

Co-organizers: The Kansai Division of the Art Documentation Society and the Kansai Division of the Japan Society of Information and Knowledge

In cooperation with: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC), Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University.

■ Registration method:

Please register via the <registration form for participants>. (Deadline: Wednesday, March 20, 2024)

※ There is no participation fee.

※A get-together is planned to be held after the research presentations (face-to-face only). We would like to make it a place for exchange beyond the boundaries of universities and research fields, so please feel free to join us. The venue, participation fee, etc. will be announced shortly.

　JSIK 情報知識学会

Day 1: Friday, February 23, 11:00 -17:40 JST (tentative)
Day 2: Saturday, February 24, 10:30:00 -17:00 JST (tentative)

Hybrid event (ARC & online via Zoom)

Presentations marked with ★ are available via YouTube live stream.

Organised by: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC) & Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures "Program for Supporting Research Center Formation", Ritsumeikan University

Click here for the program.

Day 1: Friday, February 23, 11:00 -17:40 JST (tentative)
Day 2: Saturday, February 24, 10:30:00 -17:00 JST (tentative)

Hybrid event (ARC & online via Zoom)

Presentations marked with ★ are available via YouTube live stream.

Organised by: International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art and Culture (ARC-iJAC) & Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures "Program for Supporting Research Center Formation", Ritsumeikan University

Click here for the program.