This symposium explores new approaches to Japanese culture, society, and literature by examining Tohoku (northeastern) Japan in a global context. Often seen as a remote and conservative countryside, Tohoku has, in fact, been a site of transnational exchange for centuries, with its people actively shaping and sharing knowledge beyond Japan’s borders. We highlight Tohoku not as a forgotten region but as one that challenges conventional views of Japanese culture and society, past and present. This includes the tales of Tohoku women and travellers – what can their firsthand experiences tell us?

With a focus on the grassroots voices of Tohoku people, this symposium examines how their stories prompt us to rethink our sources, methods, and concepts in the study of Japan and beyond. The event concludes with a film screening featuring voices from Tohoku.