Start With Area (from Seisen)
By Seisen Setagaya
Start With Area (from Seisen)Apr 10, 2024
The International School Kid Experience
This podcast discusses how International School Students have experienced personal differences between other cultures and people. In this discussion, students communicate about what they have experienced, heard, and seen about how International students are treated differently than other students in Japan.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Contemporary Updates
This episode is Part 2 of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Series which outlines and discusses the historical context of the continued conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This information in this episode aims to highlight some issues and points of discussion that AREA has noticed regarding the historical and current environment of the issue, including topics such as the current conditions in the Gaza Strip (and occupied Palestine), the legality of Israeli occupation under international law, and the language used in media to discuss the issue.
Find our sources and other information here.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: History and Context
The information in this episode aims to present the core events needed to gain a basic understanding of why this conflict is occurring. It is crucial to understand that the violence we are witnessing in Palestine from late 2023 did not begin overnight—it is an accumulation of decades of history.
Find our sources and other information here.
Introducing Our New Members!
AREA introduces our new members, similarly to last year! Have a quick chat with our newest student voices.
Japan: A Romanticized Dreamland
Japanese pop culture and aesthetics were and continue to be one of the strongest powers in pushing East Asia as a whole to the Western gaze. Many who have never set foot in Japan love it nonetheless, regarding the country as a polite, safe, and advanced society filled with fascinating foreign culture. But in reality, what is Japan really like?
In this episode, four atypical Japanese residents of multiple years, Dahyun, Leina, Linah, and Seoyoon of AREA return to discuss Japan as they see it. Are Japanese people really as polite as they say? What influences Japanese pop culture? Are Japanese toilets objectively the best toilets in the world?
Through nuanced yet casual and lighthearted conversations, this episode approaches Japan with an authentic perspective.
Trigger Warning: conversations about rape, pedophilia, and sexual assault
(Due to a microphone error, there is a clicking noise present through most of the audio. Apologies for the issue, and enjoy the episode!)
Racism and Pop Culture: K-Pop Edition
K-Pop has undoubtedly caught the attention of many worldwide with its musicality, powerful performances, striking visuals, and more. However, many also fail to recognize extensive issues within the industry and the audience it entertains.
In this episode, Dahyun, Leina, and Seoyoon talk about everything from hip-hop, controversy about the Lunar New Year, and even Arabic numerals, exploring the multi-dimensional nature of K-Pop.
Welcome to Season 2: A New Beginning
AREA starts the 2022~2023 school year with new leaders and new members. We introduce ourselves and discuss why we chose to continue this project, and our hopes for the year.
Social Media: Algorithms and Activism
In our newly relaunched AREA podcast Linah and Seoyoon discuss how social media is linked to activism through algorithms and user interactions.
Anti-Racism in Education Alliance
Seisen International School in Tokyo
Racism in the Arts - Part 2
Three art students return to discuss more topics of racism in the arts. We elaborate on the exclusivity and consequences of the classification and perceived hierarchy which the artistic society embodies. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Social Racism
Three seniors discuss social racism in the current world. Covering topics from Asian-American Hate crimes to the exclusivity of the modern beauty industry. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Episode 5: Racial Sensitivity in Japan
With two of our younger committee members, we discuss how racism and it's everlasting sensitivity operates in our day to day lives. We hope you enjoy the episode!
You can watch this episode on the Seisen Youtube Channel.
Episode 4: Racism in The Arts
In this episode a collection of art students come together to discuss the various implications made within their artistic interests. The episode exhibits a range of modern discours from whitewashing to orientalism. Enjoy!
Watch the episode on the Seisen Youtube Channel.
Episode 3: Privilege in Today's Modern World
In this episode we talk about the privileges we, as international students, benefit from. From the definition of privilege to its implications, this podcast explores how we take certain benefits for granted and how we perpetuate the isolation of privilege itself.
You can also view this podcast on the Seisen Youtube Channel.
Episode 2: Racism and Pop Culture
In exploring the depths of racial history, it is important to realise the interconnectedness between race and our leisure activities. In this episode we discuss the relevance of race relations in our prevalent hip hop culture and analyse the trends in popular culture.
Episode 1: Racism in Japan
The very first episode of the AREA Podcast we discuss the form racism takes in Japan. As we explore the implications of Japan's colonialist history, we also analyse the attitudes of stereotypes, homogeneity and institutionalised practices.
You can also view this podcast on the Seisen Youtube Channel.