Renato Rivera Rusca

Meiji University

International Collaboration Office

Assistant Professor

Contents i) Introduction

1) What is “Astrosociology”?

2) Examples of Astrosocial phenomena

3) The case of Japan

4) Astrosociology in Education: Meiji University Special Course

5) Developing Astrosociology as a Global Forum for Research and Discourse

0: Brief background Renato Rivera Rusca

Kyoto University : Sociology → Visual Sociology

Kyoto Seika University/Kyoto International Manga Museum → Japanese Popular Culture

Popular culture:

Art history, Animation production, “Cool Japan” Government Policy

Pop culture contents markets

The Western model

Subcultures permeate and evolve the mainstream

As a result – million-dollar live-action Dragonball movies, etc.

Mainstream

Subculture B

Subculture A

Market issues (cont.) The Japanese model

Subcultures are large and run deep; but are quite separate from the mainstream

Results – TV animation on late-night slots; geographically, too, otaku “realms” have arisen

Mainstream

Sub-culture

Sub-culture

Sub-culture

Sub-culture

Contrast between the powerful global influence of Japanese popular culture and dissonance between various aspects of Japanese society

Japan – A land of subcultures? → Needs mediators!

Lessons aim to widen the realm of influence within the students – refine the ability to interact with different areas in and outside Japan → bridge gaps

1: What is Astrosociology? Established by Professor Jim Pass, Ph D.

(Sociology)

Jim Pass definition --Astrosociology: The study of astrosocial phenomena that arise from the two-way relationship between the ecosystems of Earth and outer space

Astrosocial Phenomena: social, cultural, and behavioral patterns associated with stimuli traced to the outer space ecosystem

Astrosociology = STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) + “the human dimension”

Eg. Undetected asteroids do not involve astrosocial phenomena…

…until detected by humans!

(Jim Pass, 2004)

Mars One

Dutch enterprise to found a human colony on Mars, starting 2023

One-way trips; funded by corporate sponsors

Entire process to be televised

• Many inherent issues yet to be discussed (sovereignty, chain-of-command, etc)

• “No place for children” (Bas Lansdorp CEO – 2013/05/24)

3: The case of Japan

Japan’s relationship with outer space/History of astronauts

Social Phenomena: Space Brothers / Hayabusa

Toyohiro Akiyama

(July 22 1942 – ); TBS

journalist

Became first Japanese

astronaut in 1990.

Japan joined the Space Race not

for supremacy; but for show.

Completely separate from NASDA/JAXA.

TBS and the USSR formed the first commercially organized spaceflight in history→dramatic: realityTV

Hayabusa

• Social

phenomenon – caused a boom for JAXA

Anthropomorphization

「感情移入」 -- Japanese Empathy for “Characters”

“Space Brothers” (「宇宙兄弟」)

Combined the technicalities

of space with emotional,

human drama – which the

Japanese admire

Uplifting messages of hopes and dreams for a post-3/11 Japan

All the while being realistic and not fantasy-based, as most SF is viewed by society

Mars One

Romantic?

Creative photography

Japan Space Elevator Association: 6th Annual Space Elevator Conference February 22nd-23rd, 2014

Ryuichi Kaneko

Sci-Fi animation:

“Blue Noah” (1979)

First appearance of a space

elevator on television

The concept of the “space elevator” was popularized by Clarke in 1979 – Obayashi Corp has announced plans to build one in 2050. http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kiboexp/news/120417_research_themes.html

New publication:

Socio-cultural impacts of the Space Elevator

Clarke? Heinlein?

Science-Fiction writers → Astrosociologists!

Blending of theories in the Natural Sciences with the behavioral aspects of the Human Sciences in order to construct a narrative

So Popular Culture is a catalyst for the development of popular science, which in turn expands the future workforce in cutting-edge technology

4: Education Astrosociology at Meiji: “School of Commerce: Special

Themed Practicum” framework (商学部 特別テーマ実践科目)

Post-3-11 trauma: mistrust in government / social systems; bleak future → “Constructing the Future Society: Introduction to Astrosociology”

Connections with Cool Japan concept – creative spirit of the Japanese people

Aim: To create a generation of assertive, proactive individuals

Field trips

JAXA Tsukuba

Space Center

Student Activities:

“Space for Kids” Project

“Astrosociology at

Meiji Uni” on TWITTER: twitter.com/Astro_sociology

(895 Followers)

5: Astrosociology as a Global Forum for Research and Discourse The future of research: Multidisciplinary. Rather than

digging deeper in one direction, we must share knowledge and learn through overlaps and differences in fields and disciplines

The goal – to establish a forum for knowledge; a place to collect, store, share information and discuss

NOT “ADVOCACY” – Unbiased and without agenda

→ SYMPOSIUM: March 31st, 2013

James R. Bowers (Meiji University School of Commerce)

Tatsu Hirukawa (Meiji University School of Information and Communication)

Hiroki Okada （Kobe University Graduate School of Intercultural Studies）

Hiroaki Isobe （Kyoto University Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research）

Jim Pass （Astrosociology Research Institute）(Video presentation)

Christopher Hearsey （Astrosociology Research Institute）(Video presentation)

Yoshiyuki Tomino （Animation director/Kyoto Seika University Guest Professor）

Leiji Matsumoto （Manga artist/Young Astronauts Club Japan）(Video presentation)

Norio Saito （Jaxa Kibo Forum） Nasa Yoshioka （Space Development

Forum）

“Constructing the Future Society” Symposium

Meiji University

March 31st, 2013

Multiple perspectives represented:

Sociology

Anthropology

Science-Fiction

Education

Astrophysics

Ten-Q in Tokyo Dome City

Space Expo 2014

Finally… Future developments:

The accessibility of information has increased due to the internet and information technology – we need not only experts with the skills to navigate through it, but also further collaboration between groups

Go beyond language, beyond disciplines

“Multidisciplinary”: keyword for future society

Finally… Thank you for your attention.

Further info – Please refer to:

Twitter: @Astro_sociology

Facebook.com/ConstructingFuture

Blog: ConstructingFuture.Wordpress.org

Astrosociology Research Institute Astrosociology.org