Agenda

13 Gen 2026 11:00

Student Pro-Palestinian Activism in Japan: a Game Changer?

Online

Student Pro-Palestinian Activism in Japan: a Game Changer?

Saul J. Takahashi
Visiting Professor of Legal Studies at New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Senior Non-resident Fellow at the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies, University Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: Political activism in Japanese universities has waned since its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, thanks to government repression and a rightward shift in society in general. Economic stagnation and neoliberal reforms have also played a part, with tuition fees skyrocketing as wages remain stagnant. Students have been forced to take loans and work multiple jobs to continue their education, in effect preventing them from becoming politically active. This situation has changed dramatically since October 2023, as large numbers of citizens have taken to the streets in protest of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. In contrast to the one-off events of previous years, protests have been sustained, and have also continued in locations outside of the major cities. There appears to have been an awakening amongst the student population, who have been at the forefront of the protests. At the same time, there is little in the ways of organizational structure or leadership; rather, protests have been organized largely by loose, fluid networks, through social media. In addition, as things stand now, pro-Palestinian activism has not expanded to other issues. Time will tell whether the activism will continue.   

Bio: Saul J. Takahashi is an international human rights and humanitarian lawyer, and his main research interests include human rights in Palestine, third world approaches to international law, and Islamophobia in Japan and Europe.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (CET)
The lecture will be held in English, online on GMeet.

Online registration is available until January 12 2026 at 8 p.m. (CET) through this link
You will receive a participation link on January 12 after 9 p.m. (CET). If you do not receive the link, please send an email to gesshin@unive.it

Organized by Dario Vitale, Student Association GESSHIN, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

For information:
Instagram: gesshin_cafoscari 
Facebook: Gesshin – Associazione studentesca Università Ca’ Foscari 
Youtube: GESSHIN Ca' Foscari University
E-mail: gesshin@unive.it

This initiative has been financed through Ca Foscari University’s funds for student activities.

Organizzatore

Department of Asian and North African Studies; Student Association GESSHIN, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Allegati

Poster 2541 KB

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