PSu Magazine Winter 2002

It's a girl for the Japanese royal family. What does this mean for the future? Adds Ruoff, "The sense of nationhood in Japan is distinctly modern," with its largely peasant population "only vaguely aware the emperor even existed" before 1868. The remaking of today's monarchy began with Japan's defeat in the war. Many questions still swirl around war– time Emperor Hirohito's role in the con– flict. As the constitutional commander in chief did he push the expansion of the empire, or, as some have said, was he simply overwhelmed by the militarists in his cabinet? Before and during the war, Hirohito was often shown in full military regalia, reviewing the imperial troops. After the war he was never again seen in a military uniform. Officially anyway, he was also no longer considered a living deity "descended from the clouds." T he transformation into the "peo– ple's monarchy" continued with Hirohito's son Akihito. His mar– riage in 1959 to now Empress Michiko was a first in two ways. The marriage was the first not to be pre-arranged. And, Michiko was a "commoner" from outside the royal family. The couple continued with their quiet but powerful tradition– busting by rearing son Naruhito them– selves, traveling abroad, and appearing often in public. Naruhito's wife, Crown Princess Masuko, the new mother, was Harvard educated and the first princess to have a career-as a diplomat. More change is afoot, says Ruoff, but what that will be is anyone's guess. The new princess likely will receive a broad modern education, perhaps overseas, he says. The Imperial Household Agency, the secretive organization that handles the image of and access to the royal family, By Steve Dodge may draw on real tradition-the past empresses-to make a woman on the throne more palatable to conservatives. "They may reweave and enlarge the thread of this tradition," he says, "the imperial house has done this type of thing over and over." eanwhile, Ruoff is enjoying the attention the book and the birth of the princess have brought him and the new Center for Japanese Studies at PSU, which he heads. Time, ABC, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and several other interna– tional news organizations have tapped his expertise. With 10 specialists on Japan, the center is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. "It's more than 90 per– cent of the colleges in the U.S. have and we have some of the leading scholars." Ruoff credits a high school teacher, a former professor of Chinese studies, for sparking his interest in Asia and Japan. Later, as a Harvard undergraduate, he took a course on Japan and began study– ing the language. It was, however, Colum– bia University professor of Japanese history, Carol Gluck, Ruoff's teacher and mentor there, who really impacted his career. "She is by far the biggest influ– ence on me. She is so brilliant and pushes her students to their limits." Now Ruoff, as teachers do, is attempt– ing to pass on the spark to his students. They say he is remarkably approachable, even funny in a historian kind of way. One student reports he does a very good imitation of Charles de Gaulle liberating Paris. □ (Steve Dodge, a Portland freelance writer, wrote the article "One-fifth of Humanity" in the fall 2001 PSU Magazine.) Publishing of Ruoff's book was rushed to coincide with the new birth. Japan at Portland State The Center for Japanese Studies, which just opened in fall 2001, is a prime exam– ple of PSU's widespread "University with no walls" tradition. Headed by Ken Ruoff, noted Japanese monarchy expert and assistant professor of history, the center was form~d with the active involvement of the Japan America Society of Oregon, the Japanese Consulate, the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, and Portland businessmen Bruce Brenn, George Azumano, and Sam Naito. Brenn, who chairs the center's advi– sory board, is a retired Nike Japan execu– tive and personal friend of current Emperor Akihito. Cross-cultural studies are increasingly important in a world that seems to be growing smaller, he says, adding that such programs promote understanding at both ends. "It is important for young people and the business community to be more in tune with what is going on." To that end, the center sponsors a lec– ture series featuring prominent Japan scholars, faculty, and student exchanges with prestigious Japanese colleges, Hokkaido and Waseda universities, and community events such as a month-long program in February marking the 60th anniversary of the internment of Japan– ese-Americans. Other events (details at www.cjs.pdx.edu) include a May exhibit and lecture series at the Portland Art Museum and a Mochitsuki Celebration of the Japanese New Year, February 3. WINTER 2002 PSU MAGAZI E 19