IJS Lecture: Kohei Saito, “The Revival of Japanese Marxism in the 21st Century”

The Institute for Japanese Studies, Department of Geography, Institute for Japanese Studies, and Umwelt Center present:

Kohei Saito
University of Tokyo

Abstract: Japan was once at the forefront of Marxian research. However, the overall research environment in Japan, not just Marxian studies, has recently faced significant challenges, leading to a decline in global standings across many fields, including the natural sciences. Consequently, the decline in Marxian research, which once greatly influenced the humanities and social sciences in Japan, has become particularly noticeable. Despite this, there is now a revival of Japanese Marxism. To understand this resurgence, I'll focus on two important schools of thought: the Uno School and the Kuruma School. The unique interpretations put forward by Kozo Uno and Samezo Kuruma, who were both active after WWII, continue to inspire later generations.

Kōhei Saitō is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D. from Humboldt University in Berlin. He works on ecology and political economy from a Marxist perspective. His recent best-selling book, Capital in the Anthropocene, has been credited with sparking a resurgence of interest in Marxist thought throughout Japan.