Saturday, December 13, 2025 13:30-17:00
Sunday, December 14, 2025 10:30-16:45
Venue
Seminar Room 4, National Museum of Ethnology
Language
Japanese and English (Simultaneous interpretation available)
Eligibility
Open to all (no registration required) *Participants in this conference should inform staff at any staffed ticket window at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park gates that they are visiting the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) and receive a pass.
Australian Studies Association of Japan, Japanese Society for Oceanic Studies
Special Support
Australian National University Japan – Zenadth Kes Project, Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council
Contact
E-mail：koicalevu★minpaku.ac.jp *Please change ★ to @
*This is an in-person only event.
Overview
For the Japanese, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) in northern Australia is a special place. During the prewar period, it was a popular destination for Japanese pearl-shell divers. Historically, it was also host to a large Japanese population. Even today, the relationship between the two countries continues through the Kenjinkai (association of people from the same prefecture) and sister city agreements. After the war, in 1975, a comprehensive research expedition was conducted by a Japanese team, Torres Strait Kenkyukai (Torres Strait research group), led by Ohshima George and others. This expedition was the second of its kind since the Cambridge University Torres Strait expedition of the 19th century. The Japanese team visited Zenadth Kes several times and published a 700-page report. The team also produced thousands of photographs, hundreds of maps, and sound recordings of traditional music. The connection between Japan and Zenadth Kes has been sustained through personal exchanges and research activities for a long time.
This symposium commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Tress Strait Kenkyukai (Research Association). The symposium will present research findings collaboratively developed by Zenadth Kes, Australia, and Japan. These findings will re-examine the Torres Strait Expedition and its contemporary significance. Discussions will cover the background of Tress Strait research and how materials left by the expedition are being utilized in contemporary Zenadth Kes.
Program
Day 1: December 13, 2025
I Opening
13:30-13:40
Opening Remarks
Welcome Address, Seki Yuji (Director-General, National Museum of Ethnology)
II Introduction: Intersection of the Two Projects
13:40-14:00
About the Minpaku Info-Museum Project and Ohshima George Collections, Niwa Norio (National Museum of Ethnology)
14:00-14:20
About the ANU Japan Zenadth Kes Project, Ned David (Gur A Baradharaw Kod Torres Strait Sea and Land Council), Julie Lahn (Australian National University), Annick Thomassin (Australian National University), Samantha Faulkner (Australian National University), Jacinta Baragud (Australian National University)
14:20-14:45
Break
III From Zenadth Kes
14:45-15:05
The Torres Strait Kenkyukai Archive: Engaging Concepts of Value and Culture to Assess Research Legacy, Julie Lahn (Australian National University)
15:05-15:25
Engaging Digital Storytelling Methods to Return Japanese Research Materials to Torres Strait Islander Communities, Annick Thomassin (Australian National University)
15:25-15:55
Torres Strait Islander Perspectives on the Yabu’uchi-Ohshima Torres Strait Expeditions and Research Materials, Samantha Faulkner (Australian National University), Jacinta Baragud (Australian National University) and Kinau Akiba (Australian National University)
15:55-16:15
Questions and Comments
Day 2: December 14, 2025
IV From Japan
10:30-10:50
Ohshima George’s Journey to the Torres Strait: Reflections from the Intersection of Research History and Family History, Niwa Norio (National Museum of Ethnology)
10:50-11:10
Perspectives on Australian Studies from the ‘frontier’, Kamada Mayumi (Nagoya University of Commerce & Business)
11:10-11:30
Exploration Clubs at Japanese Universities, Iida Taku (National Museum of Ethnology)
11:30-11:50
In the Footsteps of the Yabuuchi-Oshima Expedition: Conducting Fieldwork in Torres Strait as a Japanese Researcher, 50 Years Later, Kimura Ayane (Osaka University of Economics and Law)
11:50-12:10
Questions and Comments
12:10-14:00
Lunch Break
V Recollections and Comments
14:00-14:15
Michael Passi (Australian National University)
14:15-14:30
Sara Kitaoji (Translator/Editor)
14:30-14:45
Madoka Steingart (Psychotherapy Matters Inc)
14:45-15:05
Comments, Yamanouchi Yuriko (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
15:05-15:25
Break
VI General Discussion
15:25-16:35
(All the participants)
16:35-16:45
Closing Remarks, Fukuoka Shota (Deputy Director-General, National Museum of Ethnology)
