January 2026 AKADEMIA Forum events

The January events of the "AKADEMIA Forum," a project led by students and faculty of the Faculty of Letters, were held.

CINEFORUM: "The Woman in the Wardrobe" by Ruby Phelan On Wednesday, January 14, the AKADEMIA Forum Team, in collaboration with UK-based activist, writer, and director Ruby Phelan, successfully hosted the first cineforum of 2026 at Soka University (Global Square, AE653). The event welcomed 30 participants both online and in person.

The screening featured Ruby Phelan’s short film "The Woman in the Wardrobe", which explores the lived experiences of women in conflict zones in the Middle East. Following the screening, participants engaged in a meaningful discussion with the director, including a Q&A session focused on women’s rights in times of conflict, reproductive health, and peacebuilding efforts.

In an era marked by geopolitical instability and growing activist movements, this event highlighted the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly good health and well-being, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice, and strong institutions. The stories shared through the film reminded us of the resilience and strength of women in conflict zones - and of the ongoing work required to build a more just and peaceful world.

WEBINAR: Scholasticide and the Resilience of Higher Education in Palestine On Saturday, January 17, another meaningful online event took place. The webinar, titled “Scholasticide and the Resilience of Higher Education Institutions in Palestine,” was co-organized with Palestine, Our Warm Home (Japan), the Right to Education Campaign, Birzeit University (Palestine), and the International Art Academies for Palestine (IAA4P).

Following the January 6, 2026 storming of Birzeit University by Israeli occupation forces - when live fire was used and toxic tear gas was deployed against a civilian educational institution and its students - the webinar became a crucial opportunity to engage directly with educators and members of the Birzeit University community.

The four speakers addressed the concept of scholasticide and discussed the resilience of higher education institutions in Palestine, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The event offered participants a deeper understanding of the ongoing struggle faced by the Palestinian people and highlighted existing gaps in activist movements and global efforts. The right to quality education stood at the forefront of the discussion and remains essential to future peace and justice initiatives.

Professor

Fisker-Nielsen Anne Mette

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Specialized Field

Social Anthropology of Contemporary Japan; Anthropology of Religion and Politics; Anthropology of Gender;  Anthropology of Cosmopolitanism; Komeito and Soka Gakkai; Anthropology of Climate Change.

Research theme

Gender in Contemporary Japan; Contemporary Soka Gakkai; Climate Change and Youth Climate Action in Japan, Carnivorism and Youth Consumer Identities in Japan.