The increasing number of foreign migrants is transforming Japan into an immigrant society, highlighting the importance of educational opportunities to learn about local communities and their diverse populations. To promote multicultural conviviality, it is essential to provide learning experiences that raise awareness and deepen understanding of the diverse cultures embedded within society.
In response to this need, I designed an action research study on a place-based media workshop using digital storytelling. Held in 2023 in Osaka's Korea Town, the workshop engaged 12 university students majoring in intercultural studies. Digital storytelling, developed in California in the 1990s as an artistic initiative, is a media practice involving short, slide-based videos combining photographs and voiceover. It has been adopted worldwide by researchers and educators as a reflective practice, focusing on first-person narratives that express personal perspectives and inner thoughts rather than objective reports. To foster stronger interaction between participants and local people, this workshop was specifically redesigned based on the concept of "narrative relay," where participants create their own narratives in response to others' narratives.
Students created self-stories inspired by talks with a local guide and a museum staff, as well as by the look and atmosphere of the town. These stories included lost place names that evoke cultural identity and coexistence challenges that resonate with issues in Okinawa. Through this workshop, they expressed the insights and learning they gained by participating. This action research not only facilitated personal reflection but also encouraged active engagement and a deeper understanding of diverse cultural perspectives.

Authors:
Yuko Tsuchiya, Momoyama Gakuin University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Yuko Tsuchiya is an associate professor in Faculty of International Studies and Liberal Arts, Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew's) University. Her research includes the theory and practice of creative media literacy and media diversity.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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