Reading Images, Visualizing Texts: Teaching Visual Analysis through Manga

This paper explains several techniques I use to help students develop visual analysis skills in my Japanese Visual Culture class. The in-class exercises outlined here teach students to examine the media they love—manga—through the lens of context, both historical and visual. By challenging students to closely read images and various forms of media, this pedagogy works to help students expand their understanding of Japanese popular culture while also integrating universal design for learning into the classroom. This gives visually oriented students a chance to participate more fully through privileging the visual over the textual for part of the class. Finally, the pedagogical exercises discussed can be done with manga whether on paper or online, bridging the oft – perceived divide between digital and analog experiences in the classroom

Marketing Japan: Manga as Japan’s New Ambassador

If one is rolling through any major bookstore in the U.S. today one will encounter a prominently placed set of shelves labeled “Graphic Novels.” This is a relatively recent phenomenon. Fifteen years ago, most comic books were sold in specialty stores in the U.S.. but since the turn of the century, comics have made a resurgence. This trend has been fueled by new marketing tactics such as the use of the term “graphic novel” in order to combat the connotations of geeky adolescent boys, and by the promotion of a succession of Hollywood blockbusters based on traditional American comics—X Men, Batman, Spiderman, Iron man, the Hulk, the Shadow, Watchmen, etc, and the end is not yet in sight. However, as you start to peruse the “Graphic Novel” section of your local bookstore you will notice that roughly three quarters of the shelf space is devoted to manga (Japanese comics). Manga sales in the US have escalated in the past decade, from $60 million in 2002 to$200 million in 2007. In fact, the explosive popularity of manga along with the cross-promotion of American comics through Hollywood are the driving forces behind the increasing prominence of graphic novels in the United States overall

Meiji Restoration vacation: heritage tourism in contemporary Kyoto

Kyoto has become synonymous with heritage tourism on a mass scale. Most accounts emphasize the role of Kyoto as the ancient capital, the arts and crafts that developed in the service of the court, and the wealth of temples and shrines. Yet, this article analyses the ways that Japanese historical events from the Bakumatsu era are represented, packaged, and consumed in contemporary Kyoto. Through a case study of two sites dedicated to the life and death of Sakamoto Ryōma, it is argued that the nostalgia exemplified in these sites is not one of pre-modern heritage, but the emergence of modern Japan. The sites examined here commemorate and commodify an important national moment, one that combines the bravado of samurai culture with the import of modern ideals. Through a pastiche of artefacts and experiences these sites recreate Ryōma’s story for a contemporary audience, lauding the turn to modernity through Ryōma as the quintessential young hero who embodied new global values. Thus, with Ryōma at the fore, this paper analyses the ways that heritage sites mobilize specific moments in history to construct tourist sites and visitor experiences, and how those places take on new meanings within the context of contemporary Japan

Meiji at 150 Podcast, Episode 095, Dr. Jennifer Prough (Valparaiso University)

In this episode, Dr. Prough guides a tour of historical sites in Kyoto associated with Sakamoto Ryōma, stopping along the way to discuss Ryōma’s role in the Restoration, the historical memory of Ryōma, the repackaging of Ryōma’s story for tourists, and the role of tourism in shaping Kyoto’s urban identity as a city of traditional culture and history, for better or worse.Arts, Faculty ofHistory, Department ofNon UBCUnreviewedFacult

Feasibility of a Web-Based Intervention to Prevent Perinatal Depression and Promote Human Milk Feeding: Randomized Pilot Trial

BackgroundMothers who identify as Black or African American are more likely to report depressed moods in late pregnancy and early postpartum and have the lowest rates of human milk feeding compared with all other racial groups in the United States. Internet interventions offer the potential to extend preventative and supportive services as they address key barriers, particularly for those navigating the complex and vulnerable early postpartum period. However, there is limited evidence on the feasibility of such interventions for preventing perinatal mental health disorders and improving human milk feeding outcomes in Black mothers. ObjectiveThis pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and preliminary findings of a web-based cognitive behavioral therapy–based internet intervention, with and without human milk feeding education and support, to prevent perinatal depression and promote human milk feeding in Black mothers. MethodsParticipants were Black-identifying individuals between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy with human milk feeding intention and mild to moderate depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire scores 5-14). Participants were randomized to either Sunnyside, a 6-week cognitive behavioral therapy–based web-based intervention, or Sunnyside Plus, which included additional education and support to promote human milk feeding. Assessments occurred at baseline, third trimester (end of antenatal treatment), 6 weeks postpartum (end of postpartum treatment), and 12 weeks postpartum. The primary focus of this randomized pilot trial was the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of mental health and human milk feeding. ResultsA total of 22 tertiary-educated participants were randomized. The mean number of log-ins was 7.3 (SD 5.3) for Sunnyside and 13.8 (SD 10.5) for Sunnyside Plus. Scores of depression and anxiety measures remained below the clinical threshold for referral to treatment in both groups. All the participants initiated human milk feeding (18/18, 100%). Most participants reported at least some human milk feeding at both 6 and 12 weeks postpartum (6/7, 86%; 11/11, 100%, or 10/10, 100%, for Sunnyside and Sunnyside Plus, respectively). ConclusionsThe results suggest that tertiary-educated Black mothers at risk for perinatal depression and who intended to human milk feed were receptive to and satisfied with a web-based cognitive behavioral therapy–based internet intervention, with and without human milk feeding education and support. Preliminary findings indicate that both Sunnyside and Sunnyside Plus interventions have the potential to affect symptoms of depression, anxiety, and human milk feeding outcomes. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04128202; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0412820

Human mesenchymal stem cells reduce the severity of acute lung injury in a sheep model of bacterial pneumonia

Background Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (hMSCs) improve survival in mouse models of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and reduce pulmonary oedema in a perfused human lung preparation injured with Escherichia coli bacteria. We hypothesised that clinical grade hMSCs would reduce the severity of acute lung injury (ALI) and would be safe in a sheep model of ARDS. Methods Adult sheep (30-40 kg) were surgically prepared. After 5 days of recovery, ALI was induced with cotton smoke insufflation, followed by instillation of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.51011 CFU) into both lungs under isoflurane anaesthesia. Following the injury, sheep were ventilated, resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution and studied for 24 h. The sheep were randomly allocated to receive one of the following treatments intravenously over 1 h in one of the following groups: (1) control, PlasmaLyte A, n=8; (2) lower dose hMSCs, 5106 hMSCs/kg, n=7; and (3) higher-dose hMSCs, 10106 hMSCs/kg, n=4. Results By 24 h, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly improved in both hMSC treatment groups compared with the control group (control group: PaO2/FiO2 of 9715 mm Hg; lower dose: 28855 mm Hg (p=0.003); higher dose: 3272 mm Hg ( p=0.003)). The median lung water content was lower in the higher-dose hMSCtreated group compared with the control group (higher dose: 5.0 g wet/g dry [IQR 4.9-5.8] vs control: 6.7 g wet/g dry [IQR 6.4-7.5] ( p=0.01)). The hMSCs had no adverse effects. Conclusions Human MSCs were well tolerated and improved oxygenation and decreased pulmonary oedema in a sheep model of severe ARDS.9999