Travels - Jamie Hataway: Japan, March 2005
In March of 2005 I had the great honor of attending and presenting a paper at the 19 th World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) in Tokyo, Japan. As a second year Master's student, I was a bit overwhelmed when asked to deliver a paper, since this is a conference that plays host to some of the finest scholars in the world. However, I was not alone in my venture. I had tremendous support from my advising professor, Dr. Miriam Levering, and the other attending faculty members, Dr. Rosalind Hackett, Dr. Rachelle Jacobs, and Dr. Gilya Schmidt. The support of my fellow graduate student Sherry Williams, and friend, Mary Donovan, was also a great source of confidence.
I was exceptionally lucky to attend this particular Congress, as Japanese Buddhism is the field in which I intend to specialize. While in Tokyo, I was able to hear a number of interesting papers dealing with a variety of topics within the field of East Asian religious studies. Also, Dr. Rosalind Hackett, as the incoming President of the IAHR, was kind enough to introduce me to a number of prestigious scholars, which finally gave me the opportunity to meet and converse with those whose works have informed my research since my time as an undergraduate. I will never forget the moment when a gentleman walked up to me and, noticing my nametag, exclaimed, “You're the one doing the paper on D.T. Suzuki!” He recalled my abstract in detail and expressed his interest in my research. He was not wearing a nametag, and was distracted by an old friend of his, so our conversation lasted only a minute. However, this nameless scholar instilled in me a great sense of pride. I began to see more clearly that this meeting is predicated on the sharing of ideas and the search for knowledge. As I lay in my hotel room bed that evening, I felt incredibly lucky to be a part of such a process.
Japan, for those who have not seen it, is a breathtaking country. After studying Japanese under Dr. Jon LaCure at the University of Tennessee, I was able to converse with locals and immerse myself more completely in the culture. Despite the fact that I have studied Japanese culture for a number of years, I (and other members of the faculty) was sometimes overwhelmed by the complexities of Japanese etiquette. Our hosts were more than tolerant of our shortcomings, however, as they often adopted our social conventions to make us more comfortable.
My advising professor, Dr. Miriam Levering, acted as tour guide and teacher on many of my outings. Together we visited some of the most beautiful temples and cultural centers of Tokyo and Kamakura. I stood in front of the famous Daibutsu (great Buddha) of Kamakura, and walked through the halls of Engakuji and Hasedera, two of the great Buddhist temples of Kamakura. We also toured the famous Tokyo National Museum, where I was able to view Buddhist art from China and Japan that dated back hundreds of years. I also ventured out on my own, visiting Akihabara, Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and other famous districts of Tokyo.
Of course, the high point of my trip was the presentation of my paper. As I said to my audience, I felt like a dwarf standing among giants. Nevertheless, the presentation went well, and I received compliments and suggestions from listeners. My fellow panel members, Toshihiko Kimura, Tokiyuki Nobuhara, and Albert Welter were all very kind to me. Afterwards, many members of our faculty joined me for a wonderful dinner consisting of a variety of traditional Japanese dishes. It was truly a day to remember.
Sadly, all good things must eventually come to an end. As I sat in the airport awaiting the boarding call for my flight, I said good-bye to Japan by having one last order of tempura udon, one of my favorite Japanese dishes. As I write these words, I am reminded of the wonderful times spent in Japan, and I am eternally grateful to those members of the faculty and staff of our department that made my trip possible. I only hope that my presence there reflected well upon our department, and our University.