You are cordially invited to attend the following talk held as part of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures' new Seminar Series:
 
Where There Are Asians, There Are Rice Cookers: How 'National' Went Global via Hong Kong

by Dr. Yoshiko Nakano (Japanese Studies)

Date: 27 January 2010 (Wednesday)
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Venue: Convocation Room, Main Building

In her talk, Dr. Nakano considers the process by which the National rice cooker was first localized and then globalized, moving away from Japan-centric perspectives on how "Made in Japan" products made it big in the global marketplace, instead choosing to emphasize the collaborative approach adopted by one Japanese manufacturing giant and a Hong Kong entrepreneur. She also highlights the role Hong Kong, as a free port, played in the rice cooker's globalization and describes how the city facilitated the transnational flow of Japanese appliances to Southeast Asia, China, and North America.

Yoshiko Nakano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Japanese Studies at the University of Hong Kong where she teaches intercultural communication and media. She is the author of the recently published monograph, "Where There Are Asians, There Are Rice Cookers: How 'National' Went Global via Hong Kong" (HKU Press 2009; http://www.hkupress.org).

All are welcome. No registration is required.

For enquiries, please contact Dr Marie Berne, mberne@hku.hk.

Please find below the detailed programme for the coming semester.

SMLC Seminar Series, 2nd Semester 2010:
February 10 (Wed)  4.30-6.30 PM, Main Building Convocation Room
Louise Edwards (Modern China Studies)

February 24 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Venue to be confirmed
Wayne Cristaudo (European Studies)

March 10 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Venue to be confirmed
Izumi Nakayama (Japanese Studies)

March 24 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Venue to be confirmed
Roland Vogt (European Studies)

April 7 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Main Building Convocation Room
Paul Caringella (Stanford University)

April 21 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Main Building Convocation Room
Rocio Blasco-Garcia (Spanish Programme)

May 5 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Main Building Convocation Room
Denis Meyer (French Programme)

May 19 (Wed), 4.30-6.30 PM, Main Building Convocation Room
Mercedes Vazquez Vazquez (Spanish Programme)