Commemorative Symposium in Honor of Professor Allan Grapard (1944–2025)

[Ellen Van Goethem]

 

Textualized Mountains, Walkers of Emptiness, and Divine Protocols

 

The IMAP & IDOC in Japanese Humanities at Kyushu University and the Shinto Studies Chair, University of California, Santa Barbara are honored to announce a commemorative symposium celebrating the scholarly contributions, mentorship, and legacy of the late Professor Allan Grapard (1944–2025).

 

Co-organized by Ellen Van Goethem (Kyushu University) and visiting scholar Fabio Rambelli (UCSB), the event will bring together colleagues, former students, and other scholars whose work was strongly influenced by Prof. Grapard to not only revisit his achievements but also advance the critical dialogues he initiated.

 

Prof. Allan Grapard was a trailblazer in the study of Japanese religions, opening up new approaches and focusing attention on little-studied subjects. His work on sacred space, Shugendō, and Buddhist–Shinto amalgamation has changed the field in multiple ways. Prof. Grapard loved Kyushu, and some of his most representative writings are dedicated to this part of Japan.

 

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Time: 9:30am–18:00
Location: Kyushu University, Ito Campus, East Zone, room E-102
Format: In person

 

Program

9:15–9:30      Greetings: ELLEN VAN GOETHEM (Professor, Kyushu University)

9:30–10:00    BILL POWELL (Emeritus, University of California, Santa Barbara)   
                          (Zoom from California)

10:00–10:30  JAMES ROBSON (Professor, Harvard University) 

10:30–11:00  Coffee Break

11:00–11:30  JOHN LOBREGLIO (Editor, The Eastern Buddhist)

11:30–12:00  TAKAMI INOUE (Retired Professor, Otani University)

12:00–14:00  Lunch Break

14:00–14:30  FABIO RAMBELLI (Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara)

14:30–15:00  CALEB CARTER (Associate Professor, Kyushu University)

15:00–15:30  ANDREA CASTIGLIONI (Associate Professor, Nagoya City University)

15:30–16:00  Coffee Break

16:00–16:30  CARINA ROTH (Senior Lecturer, University of Geneva)
                          (Zoom from Europe)

16:30–17:00  BERNARD FAURE (Professor Emeritus, Columbia University)
                          (Zoom from Europe)

17:00–18:00  GENERAL DISCUSSION 

Dr. Ellen Van Goethem
Professor

Japanese History and History of Ideas
Kyushu University, Faculty of Humanities

 
Nagaoka, Japan's Forgotten Capital