The 2003 UCLA Graduate Student Symposium on Japanese Studies will convene at UCLA on Saturday, May 3 2003 to explore the topic, "The Other Within." We are pleased to announce a call for papers written by graduate students, on challenges presented to the myth of a single, homogeneous Japanese people. Marginalized voices have been raised within Japan by the disabled, feminists, lesbians, Koreans, Ainu, “burakumin,” and followers of new religions, among others. Historically, how have such people expressed difference, or experiences of oppression or suppression? How do their voices continue to be manifested in areas such as literature, religion, art, and law? In what ways are they silenced, suppressed, ignored, or altered?

Our sponsor, the UCLA Center for Japanese Studies, provides transportation funds and lodging to graduate student presenters traveling from within North America. Applicants should submit a one- to two-page abstract in English along with their name, department, university, home address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Please send proposals by January 8, 2003.