2nd Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture: “Fiction and Fictionality in Japanese Culture: Shishōsetsu (I-Novel) and “Otaku” Culture” (Heidelberg – 2/22)

The lecture titled “Fiction and Fictionality in Japanese Culture: – Shishōsetsu (I-Novel) and “Otaku” Culture” was held by Prof. Ōura Yasusuke (Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University) on February 22, 2017. It was the first lecture of the Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture series taking place in Heidelberg. Over 20 people including exchange students and faculty members came to this event.

At the beginning of the event, Prof. Harald Fuess (Heidelberg Center for Transcultural Studies) welcomed the presenters and the audience and spoke about the exchange and cooperation between both Heidelberg University and Kyoto University. This was followed by the lecture in which Prof. Ōura talked about “Fiction” as a characteristic of shishosetsu (I-novels) and about story consumption and secondary literary production as a characteristic of “Otaku culture”. Although both traits have specific Japanese aspects in common, they are ideologically opposed from one another. Prof. Ōura tried to find a common denominator by analytically comparing both with numerous examples in his lecture.

After sharing his thoughts about the question on how I-novels and Otaku culture are connected, Prof. Árokay commented on the topic and led the discussion with the audience.

The lecture by Prof. Oura	The audience attending the 2nd Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture