Silver Lining S1: East Asia in the Pandemic

In this episode, Columbia PhD candidate Abigail MacBain, explores the origins of buddhism in Japan, how it was used as a tool in extending state authority, and what buddhism is like in the regime today.

Stephen Choi, a PhD candidate at Columbia University, explores with us the historical evolution of Japanese children's literature: how the notion of children came about in modern Japan and how the literature for children had turned from nationalistic themes towards individualism in post-war Japan. We also talked about the use of gendered language in Japan and its influence on children's literature.

In this episode, Isaac Tan, Columbia PhD candidate in East Asian History, takes a close look at the formation of modern Japan in the interwar period. We discuss the country's history with eugenics, and how blood types continue to be used as an indicator of personality traits.

In this episode, Charles Chang, PhD and Assistant Professor of Environment and Urban Studies at Duke Kunshan explores the relationship between Chinese Internet users and their government. We discuss how skepticism towards government information compares in China and the U.S., how Chinese Internet users self-censor or use coded language to get around restrictions, and how movements for Internet transparency and privacy are evolving in China today.

In our second episode, we talk with Peter Moody - a Columbia doctoral student in Korean history - about the ideological use of music in North Korea, sports diplomacy between North and South Korea, and North Korea during the pandemic.