How long have you been working in Boston?
I came to the U.S. for the first time at the age of 12, with my mother who was an
American literature professor and spent a year at the University of Pennsylvania as a
Fulbright Scholar. In total, I have lived in the U.S. for 38 years, 26 of which were
spent in Boston. I first lived here for one year as a graduate student between 1995-96, and
another year as a predoctoral fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
at Harvard University (my current workplace) between 1999-2000. I then served as an
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Tufts University (2000-04), before becoming
the Associate (and eventually Executive) Director of the Program on U.S.-Japan
Relations.
[Fujihira with Program Senior Advisor Susan Pharr, UC Berkeley Professor Steven Vogel,
and Program Director Christina Davis (front row, left to right)]
What does your organization do?
The Program on U.S.-Japan Relations at Harvard University advances social science
research and teaching on U.S.-Japan relations and contemporary Japan from
comparative and global perspectives. Together with the Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of
Japanese Studies, the Program is one of the two research institutions at Harvard
dedicated to the study of Japan, and we collaborate on many projects.
We select around 16 affiliates (postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars, and practitioner
associates) to spend an academic year working with faculty and students at Harvard.
Their research topics have ranged from trade policy, digital transformation (DX), green
transformation (GX), post-WWII political history, and others. The Program is a
wonderful opportunity for aspiring young professionals and scholars, to deepen their
expertise in a specialized area, audit courses at Harvard, and work with faculty and
students dedicated to the study of contemporary Japan. Please consider applying to our
Program!
We sponsor weekly Monday lunchtime seminars (hybrid), to promote dialogue amongst
visiting researchers, students, and faculty in the greater Boston area. All are welcome to
attend, either in-person or online! We also organize the Japanese Politics Online
Seminar Series (JPOSS) to discuss advanced political science research on Japanese
politics, the annual Distinguished Visitor lectureship, workshops among affiliates, and an
annual symposium in Tokyo, in collaboration with Keizai Koho Center and Keidanren.
Our researchers’ working papers and publications are available on our website, and
recordings of our recent seminars are posted on our YouTube channel and SoundCloud.
If you haven’t signed up to receive our weekly e-newsletter, please do!
[Fujihira with Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow]
What are the benefits and challenges of working in America?
Multiculturalism defines the American experience. This is a country of heretics—those
who had the urge to (or had no other choice but to) escape from their home countries. I
love meeting people who come from different countries around the world, and sharing
stories of our arrivals, struggles, and growth in this country. I also made a deliberate
choice to live in the U.S., as I admire research and teaching in U.S. universities.
At the same time, racism, nativism, and backlash against immigrants constitute an
important part of America’s political traditions. Contemporary attacks against institutions
of higher education and against DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs are
deeply troubling. During the early years of COVID-19, I experienced public incidents of
racist verbal abuse. Over the years, I have learned to have a balanced perspective on
the pros and cons of living in this country (or Japan, or any other country), and am
committed to making whatever positive contributions I can make here.
[Program outing to Tanglewood with visiting scholars]
What is your favorite thing about Boston?
Please don’t tell anyone, but I am a New York Yankees fan (laughs)… because I spent
my 20s in New York and New Jersey. Boston is an extraordinary city, and everything
here is world class—food, music, museums, sports, historic sites, and so much more.
It’s great to see the popularity of Japanese cuisines here—sushi, ramen, izakaya,
bakeries, omakase etc. I love taking our visitors to Tanglewood, apple picking, Red Sox
games, and other activities. It is hard to pick one thing about Boston, but I enjoy having
four seasons, and walks and bike rides along the Charles River.
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