Presented by Democratic Education Network. Supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programme "Westminster for All" led by Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Employability).
This year marks a significant milestone for social scientists, activists and practitioners of Second World War-related studies involving the UK and Japan, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. The University of Westminster is honoured to host a symposium to reflect on this historic occasion and its enduring impact on sustaining peace and development.
Join us for a day of reflection, dialogue, and learning about the legacies of the Second World War and the continued pursuit of reconciliation and peace. The symposium brings together students, academics and the public to explore memory, reconciliation, peace and international cooperation.
All are welcome. Please register.
Contact: Kyoko Murakami ([email protected])
Programme
Registration: Coffee and pastries
9.30–9.45: Welcome/opening address
- Prof Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President
- Prof Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice Chancellor
9.45–13: Part 1 – reflecting on the war in the Far East from cross-disciplinary perspectives
- Mr Kotaro Katsuki, Embassy of Japan
- Mr Fergal Keane, OBE, BBC Journalist
- Mrs Akiko Macdonald, Burma Campaign Society
- Dr Elizabeth Chappell, Affiliated Researcher, Open University
- Mrs Kazumi Kuwahara, Third generation hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor)
13-14.15: Lunch – music performance by Mrs Sakie Plunkett, koto (Japanese harp) player
14.15-15.45: Part 2 – Panel Dialogue between practitioners, students and academics for sustainable peace and a prosperous future (Chair: DEN students)
- Mrs Akiko MacDonald, BCS
- Mr Richard Day, British Kohima Veteran
- Mr Paul Corden, Lieutenant Colonel Retd, Burma Star Memorial Fund
- Mrs Kazumi Kuwahara, Third generation hibakusha, Hiroshima, Japan
- Mr George Pritchard Film producer, 4th generation of Kohima Veteran
- Mr Yusuf Kaplan, Chaplain, University of Westminster
- Dr Elizabeth Chappell, Affiliated Researcher, Open University
15.45-16: Plenary by DEN students – summary of the symposium talks and reaffirming our commitment to sustainable peace and future development
16-18: Part 3 – dialogue via the Cup of Humanity in LG08 (the room next to Portland Hall)
- What is and why do we have the tea ceremony? A Bowl of Peacefulness: Dr Sen Genshitu XV, 15th Generation Urasenke Grand Master (102 y.o.), an ex-Kamikaze pilot (a recorded video message)
- The Cup of Humanity: Kyoko Murakami
- Tea ceremony by a tea ceremony study group in the UK. The symposium participants are welcome to experience the dialogic space whilst drinking of ‘the cup of humanity’ (Okakura, 1906).
Location
Portland Hall, 4-12 Little Titchfield Street, University of Westminster, W1W 7BY
and
Online via Zoom
- Meeting ID: 817 7141 0072
- Passcode: VJday80
