Our department was deeply honored to host Professor Michael Lucken from the Department of Japanese Studies at the French National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) for an illuminating lecture titled "The Occupation as Postwar Intellectual History" (戦後思想史としての占領/occupation), guiding faculty and students through a profound exploration of pivotal issues in Japan's modern intellectual development. Professor Lucken began his analysis by dissecting the subtle semantic differences between the Japanese term "Senryo" (占領) and the English word "Occupation," illustrating how the postwar rule of the Allied forces was perceived through contrasting lenses by Japan and the United States. He further examined the 1943 U.S. Military Field Manual FM 27-5 alongside various reform policies implemented during the GHQ era, demonstrating how American Pragmatism profoundly influenced and reshaped the landscape of postwar Japanese thought. This lecture not only provided attendees with a critical re-evaluation of the historic GHQ era but also inspired deep reflection on the enduring impacts that this unique historical experience has left on contemporary Japanese society and philosophy.
