Coexisting with the Body: Dialogues on the Self and Body in the 21st Century

Starting in July 2025, we will launch a new series titled "Coexisting with the Body: Dialogues on the Self and Body in the 21st Century." This series is co-organized by a JSPS KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research) project (Grant Number 23K12596) and the University of Tokyo Center for Philosophy (UTCP).

For this series, we will welcome speakers who are engaged in diverse research and activities broadly related to the concept of the "body" across various specialized fields, including philosophy, anthropology, sociology, medicine, psychology, fashion, theater, and music.
Through their lectures and interviews, we aim to explore questions such as "How do we engage with the alterity of our own bodies?" and "What factors define the unique perspectives on the body in contemporary society?" We also hope to foster discussions that can lead to insights for addressing the various conflicts people face regarding their bodies in modern times.

Organizer ＆ Moderator: Rie Yamada (UTCP）

Background of this project:
This project delves into the concept of the "body" from diverse perspectives. We will invite experts from various fields to share their insights, aiming to illuminate the current state and challenges surrounding "coexisting with the body" in the 21st century. We also hope to uncover clues on how to navigate the seemingly endless struggles people face with their bodies.

When you look at the title "Coexisting with the Body," it might seem puzzling. We live our lives as, with, and within the bodies we're assigned from birth. Since we can't escape being a body for even a moment until death, the term "coexistence" might feel a bit off.
However, we all experience moments when the body, which is supposedly "me," suddenly feels like a "foreign object" or "other." This happens when we have an upset stomach, try a new sport, feel intense nervousness speaking in front of a crowd, walk in new shoes, notice our clothes getting tight, or see more wrinkles and gray hairs.

While we certainly live as, with, and within our bodies, daily life is filled with experiences where "I" am detached from my body, and then the experience of reintegrating that detached body back into "myself."

This disconnect between the body and "me" can be very subtle, or it can be significant enough to profoundly impact one's life. When afflicted with an illness, for example, one might have to live with a body that continues to feel like an "other." Furthermore, practices like body adornment and modification, such as makeup, piercings, and tattoos, could be seen as intentionally creating such a disconnect.

With the advancements in modern technology, the body can now be visualized and intervened with on various levels. Additionally, as individualization in post-modern society becomes more pervasive, awareness of the body as a platform for expressing and embracing self-identity is rapidly increasing. We want to deeply explore how people deal with the disconnect from their bodies and, at times, coexist with a body that possesses alterity, taking into account the institutional, technological, and environmental influences of the 21st century.

Organized by:
JSPS KAKENHI "A Study on the Social Problematization of Tattoos and the Categorization of Tattoos as Fashion" (Principal Investigator: Rie Yamada, Grant Number 23K12596)

Co-organized by:
University of Tokyo Center for Philosophy (UTCP), Uehiro Research Division for Philosophy of Co-existence