Reimagining Human Labour: Prof. Edwin Michielsen’s Pioneering Research
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and significant demographic shifts, Prof. Edwin Michielsen from HKU’s Department of Japanese Studies is at the forefront of discussions surrounding the future of work. His groundbreaking research project, From Karoshi to Autonomy: Reimagining the Future of Human Labor through Literature, funded by the Toyota Foundation, combines literary analysis with on-the-ground fieldwork to explore the pressing issues surrounding labour in contemporary Japan.
Covered fermentation vats in the process of shochu production at the Goto Islands shochu brewery (Photo: Jurriaan van der Meer)
Workers at the Hamaguchi fishcake factory clean and reset machinery after a morning of producing the next batch of fishcakes. (Photo: Jurriaan van der Meer)
Onodera-san at the headquarters of the Precariat Union in Tokyo, discussing his ongoing legal dispute over unfair labor practices (Photo: Jurriaan van der Meer)
The sun sets over Farm Yama’s horse pasture on the outskirts of Pippu Village (Hokkaido), part of a small-scale ecological farm practicing non-tilling agriculture and animal care as an alternative model of work and life. (Photo: IG farm_yama) More information about Farm Yama: https://farmyama.love/en/
Hamaguchi-san inside the shop adjacent to his family-owned fishcake factory, presenting a range of fishcake products made on site. (Photo: Jurriaan van der Meer) More information about the Hamaguchi Fishcake Factory: https://www.goto-maki.net/
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