Call for new participants in the Tabihikitsuke Online Reading Group

[Nadia Kanagawa]

Dear all,

It’s now been two and a half years since we announced the virtual reading group focused on Masamoto-kō Tabihikitsuke (政基公旅引付), the diary Kujō Masamoto (1445-1516) kept while he was residing in Izumi Province,1501-1504. We continue to hold twice-monthly, informal meetings with a regular group of participants who bring in expertise in disciplines ranging from history to religion, literature, linguistics, art history, performance, and law and specializations from ancient to Edo Japan. In the background of our bimonthly meetings, we are also working with the Japan Past & Present web developers on an update to the JPP project page that will include the annotated translations we have completed so far, as well as guides, resources, and essays that offer additional insight into Masamoto’s world. 

While we look forward to sharing that work with you all in the months ahead, we wanted to issue another open call for participants. The goal of the meetings is to read, transcribe, translate, and discuss selections from the text, and we welcome anyone interested in joining, regardless of familiarity with Sengoku diaries. If you were not able to join in the past but would like to start now, please do not hesitate!

The reading group meets twice monthly on Sundays - the next meeting is on September 26:

1:00pm - 3:00pm PT (Los Angeles)  

4:00pm - 6:00pm ET (New York)  

9:00pm - 11:00pm BST (London)

5:00am - 7:00am JT (Tokyo) - next day   

If you are interested in participating, we have created an application form, which can be accessed at: https://forms.gle/Zbn4F7XUXRQReUAeA. Participation in the group will remain rolling, but for organizing purposes the deadline to sign up to join the next session is Friday September 19, 2025. 

Anyone with an interest in learning about and training in the reading of these materials is encouraged to participate. We understand that not everyone will be able to be at every session, but our aim is to create a consistent group that can support those who may be working on diary materials for the first time, so we encourage those who feel they can attend regularly to apply.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to me at p...@japanpastandpresent.org. 

Best,

Nadia Kanagawa, Paula Curtis, and Lee Butler