Coexisting with the Body: Dialogues on the Self and Body in the 21st Century
5th session "A Discussion on Cosmetic Surgery"

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.

5th Session "A Discussion on Cosmetic Surgery"

Speaker: Prof. Naho Tanimoto（Kansai University）

Since 2003, I've conducted continuous research on cosmetic surgery, including eight questionnaire surveys (totaling 13,750 participants) and interviews with 61 doctors and clients. I've analyzed various aspects, such as the motivations for cosmetic surgery, gender differences, and the demographics of those who choose to have it.
For this presentation, I'd like to focus on the recent sharp increase in cosmetic procedures among men. My goal isn't to provide a definitive answer but to offer some talking points to help us all think about the topic together.

Date: 10:00-12:00 AM, Saturday, October 11th, 2025
Location: Zoom

Please register via Zoom.

Biography: Prof. Naho Tanimoto graduated from Osaka University's School of Human Sciences and completed her master's and doctoral degrees at the same university. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Sciences and is currently a professor at the Faculty of Informatics, Kansai University. She is also an Executive Director of the Kansai Sociological Association and a Director of the Japan Sociological Society.
Her books include The Sociology of Romance (2008, Seikyusha), The Sociology of Cosmetic Surgery and Makeup (2008, Shinyosha), and Cosmetic Surgery as Communication (2018, Kadensha). She has also co-edited The Age of the Exposition (with Yoshiaki Fukuma and Koji Nanba, 2009, Azusa Shuppan), Sociological Approaches to Media Culture (with Masashi Takai, 2009, Sekai Shiso-sha), Embodied Media/Mediatized Body (with Tetsuro Nishiyama, 2018, Fujin-sha), and Beauty Is Still Wavering (with Rie Iizuka, 2025, Koyo Shobo).

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