Sisterhood in the spotlight

Feb. 17, 2006 -- "30 Years of Sisterhood," a documentary film on the 1970s genesis of Japan's women's liberation movement, will be in the campus spotlight Feb. 28 as Washington University hosts a group of Japanese activists, filmmakers and scholars now touring the nation to promote the project.

Plans call for a special screening of the film at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 in Room 201, Crow Hall, followed by a panel discussion and reception.

Sponsored by the Visiting East Asian Professionals (VEAP) program and the Women and Gender Studies program, both in Arts & Sciences, the events are free and open to the public. For more information contact the VEAP program at 935-8772.

The documentary is the work of Japanese film directors Yamagami Chieko and Seyama Noriko, both of whom will be on campus to discuss the film, including visits to several Women and Gender Studies classrooms.

The film explores the Japanese Women's Liberation Movement, which began in the 1970s and continues today. It features recent interviews with women who were involved in the movement and includes rare video footage and photos of 1970s activism. It has been called a highly significant attempt to record this important but neglected history. The film is presented in Japanese with English subtitles.

The panel discussion will focus on the Japanese feminist movement and the making of the film. Audience participation is encouraged.

Panelists include the film's directors, activists, visiting scholars and four faculty members from Arts & Sciences: Rebecca Copeland, Ph.D., associate professor of Japanese language and literature; Linda J. Nicholson, Ph.D., the Susan E. and William P. Stiritz Distinguished Professor of Women's Studies and History; Barbara Baumgartner, Ph.D., lecturer in Women and Gender Studies; and Lori Watt, Ph.D., assistant professor of Japanese History.

Visiting scholars include Soko Miki, professor of English and Women's Studies, Kyoto Seika University, Japan; Tomomi Yamaguchi, a post-doctoral scholar from the University of Chicago; Yumi Doi, writer and filmmaker; and Satoko Urara, filmmaker.

For more information on the group's national tour, visit the blog: http://sisterhoodjapan.blogspot.com.