Source: Screenshot courtesy of the author. Figure 1: Detail of Apple Maps representation of an area in Kamakura, Japan. Where is it from, and how and why does it hold such radically opposed meanings in this post-globalization age? This essay will examine the swastika’s history and usage, particularly as it applies to contemporary Japan. swastikas? Scattered all over the screen? Does the city hide a secret past related to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party? Obviously not, but the presence of these “Nazi symbols” begs better questions: What is perhaps the most reviled graphical symbol in the world doing on a map-and in Japan of all places? Furthermore, what possible connection could there be to an ancient Asian religion of peace and harmony? As the title of this essay suggests, the swastika is a symbol with many meanings holy in many Eastern traditions, it inspires visceral loathing in the West. Zooming in on the map (Figure 1), the first images to greet your eyes are. Safely ensconced in the Starbucks at Shibuya crossing, you open Apple Maps to plot a day of sightseeing in nearby Kamakura, a locale famed for its rich history and deep connection to Buddhism. Imagine your surprise as a recent arrival to Tokyo, among the world’s most futuristic and globalized cities. Source: © Paul Brown / Alamy Stock Photo. Re-envisioning Asia: Contestations and Struggles in the Visual Artsĭownload PDF Gold Buddhist swastika symbol on the Sensō-ji Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo, Japan.Distinguished Service to the Association for Asian Studies Award.Distinguished Contributions to Asian Studies Award.Striving for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Asian Studies: Humanities Grants for Asian Studies Scholars. ![]() Gosling-Lim Postdoctoral Fellowship in Southeast Asian Studies.Cultivating the Humanities & Social Sciences Initiative Grants.Key Issues in Asian Studies Book Series.Connect, Collaborate, Contribute: AAS Membership Recruitment Drive.AAS Takes Action to Build Diversity & Equity in Asian Studies.AAS Community Forum Log In and Participate.
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