A lecture, “The Korean Wave in Japan,” will be presented at the University of Missouri–St. Louis from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 in 331 Social Sciences & Business Building on campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Laura Miller, the Ei’ichi Shibusawa-Seigo Arai Endowed Professor of Japanese Studies and professor of anthropology at UMSL, will present the lecture, which will delve into Japan’s interest in all things South Korean.

Given the history between the two nations, many observers are astonished at the positive shift in Japanese attitudes toward Korea that were engendered primarily through K-Drama, Korean television dramas. Although critics often dismissed it as nothing more than middle-aged female excitement over the handsome actor Baie Yong-Joon, the popularity of South Korean cultural products defies easy generalization. This presentation will review some of the most notable aspects of the Korean Wave, tracking both the economic impact as well as areas of cultural fallout and influence. It will include short media clips.

Miller has published widely on Japanese popular culture and language, including topics such as the wizard boom, girls’ slang and print club photos. She is the author of “Beauty Up: Exploring Contemporary Japanese Body Aesthetics and co-editor of “Bad Girls of Japan.”

Along with UMSL, this lecture is co-sponsored by the Ei’ichi Shibusawa Arai Professorship in Japanese Studies and the Japan America Student Association.

A parking permit is required for all visitors to

More information:
isit http://www.cfis-umsl.com
314-516-7299

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Kylie Shafferkoetter

Kylie Shafferkoetter