Tsugaru Dialect: One of the most difficult dialects in Japan

[The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 Online Talk Series]

Ito (Itomichi), one of the popular films selected for the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023, is a charming coming-of-age story about a talented teenage Shamisen player. Almost all the dialogue in the film is conducted in Tsugaru-ben (Tsugaru dialect) which is known as one of the most difficult dialects and is often subtitled even in Japan.

In this webinar, in conjunction with the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023, we invite two lecturers from the University of Edinburgh: Ms Narumi-Munro, who is a native speaker of Tsugaru dialect, and Dr MacBain, a researcher who has lived in Aomori prefecture where the Tsugaru dialect is spoken. They will deliver interesting talks about linguistic diversity in Japan, the uniqueness of the Tsugaru dialect, real funny stories about everyday life with Tsugaru dialect, and a special taster lesson!

Why don’t you join us and get a feel for the uniqueness of the language?

About the speakers

Ms Fumiko Narumi-Munro  (Head of Japanese Language in Asian Studies,School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures, University of Edinburgh)

Fumiko Narumi-Munro teaches Japanese language to undergraduate students, and is the course organiser for most of the University of Edinburgh’s Japanese language courses. She is also Year Abroad coordinator for Japanese studies at the University of Edinburgh. She was born and raised in Hirosaki, Aomori, and is a native speaker of Tsugaru dialect. She also has a master’s degree in History of Art at Hirosaki University. For more information about her

Dr Abigail MacBain (Lecturer in Premodern Japanese Studies, School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures, University of Edinburgh)

Abigail MacBain is a scholar of premodern Japanese history and religion. Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh in 2022, Abigail was a Postdoctoral Research Scholar and lecturer at Columbia University, where she also completed her PhD in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures in 2021.  She also participated the JET Programme as an Assistant Language Teacher in the Tsugaru area, Aomori Prefecture in 2004-2006. For more information about her

Event Overview

Webinar title: Tsugaru Dialect: One of the most difficult dialects in Japan

Date & Time: Wednesday 22 March 2023, 18:30-20:00 GMT

Event type: Zoom webinar

                    *This online event is free to attend but registration is essential.

Registration (deadline: 20 March 2023)

Please book your ticket here.

Download an event flier here

Contact:

The Japan Foundation, London

Language Team: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp