Paper short abstract:

This presentation shows land-use changes resulting from the introduction of an oil-dependent livelihood at In Belbel Oasis, Algeria, based on cooperative work with local people in accordance with the will of the late Professor Iwao Kobori, the Japanese human geographer.

Paper long abstract:

Iwao Kobori (1924-2010) was the first president of the Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies. He conducted much research in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, focusing on water issues in arid and semi-arid lands and emphasising Qanat systems and oases. The chief purpose of his life's work was not only to study the origin, diffusion, and future of Qanat systems worldwide but also to disseminate and preserve knowledge of this precious traditional hydro-technology for the general public and future generations (Nawata 2011).

After his death, these collections were collated at the University Museum, The University of Tokyo, in 2012. The collections are not limited to geographic samples, such as rocks and sediments; they also include samples of archaeological and ethnographic materials, along with maps and photographs (Nishiaki & Mikuni 2017). In June 2010, during his last visit to his beloved Saharan village, In Belbel, Algeria, Professor Kobori said, "we should not be satisfied with doing research for our own interest. We must make use of the results to benefit the local people by working together. I would like to thank all of the people who made this possible" (Nawata 2011).

This presentation shows land-use changes resulting from the introduction of an oil-dependent livelihood at In Belbel Oasis using scientific results and working with local people in accordance with the will of late Professor Iwao Kobori.

Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses museums as a tool for communication between past anthropological research and contemporary source communities by focusing on a case study of the Info-Forum Database for Popular Culture Collections from the Middle East in the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.

Paper long abstract:

This paper discusses museums as means of communication between past anthropological research and contemporary source communities by focusing on a case study of the Info-Forum Database for Popular Culture Collections from the Middle East in the National Museum of Ethnology (abbr. MINPAKU), Osaka, Japan.

After obtaining knowledge and power in the late 1970s, anthropologists developed a new paradigm focusing on the mutual relationship between people in the research communities and their informants. Although anthropologists subsequently attempted several approaches to achieving this paradigm and creating mutual relationships, some issues regarding how to share past anthropological field research data remain. Concerning this issue, the effects of MINPAKU are noteworthy.

MINPAKU owns more than 345,000 ethnological objects from all over the world and has communicated with the source communities. In recent years, MINPAKU launched the Info-Forum museum project to maintain continuity and ensure the creation of a forum for sharing ethnic cultural assets from a global perspective. In this project, they created an infrastructure that allows researchers and people in the source communities can discuss the owned objects in cyberspace. I focus on their efforts related to the Middle Eastern collection, including objects collected by Motoko Katakura (1937-2013). I discuss how they designed a platform that allows people in the source communities and researchers to participate in this forum and to collaborate with contemporary researchers.

Paper short abstract:

This paper examines a half century of landscape changes in an oasis region using old photographs taken by the late Dr. Motoko Katakura, who conducted field surveys in the Wadi Fatima region, Saudi Arabia, beginning in the 1960s.

Paper long abstract:

The late Dr. Motoko Katakura conducted field surveys in Wadi Fatima, Saudi Arabia, beginning in the 1960s. Old survey materials, such as photographs and sketches left by pioneer researchers, are valuable because they record landscapes that are no longer present. Field photographs taken by Dr. Katakura are also very valuable materials that record the rural landscape of Saudi Arabia over the last half a century. This paper examined the half century of landscape changes in an oasis region using old photographs taken by the late Dr. Motoko Katakura in Wadi Fatima, Saudi Arabia.

To verify the changes in the landscape of Wadi Fatima using photographs taken by Dr. Katakura, it is necessary to identify the locations depicted in the photographs. First, we tried to narrow down the sites by organising and analysing Dr. Katakura's notes and descriptions. Then, we tried to identify the sites through observations and interviews with local people in a field investigation. Through this process, the locations of more than 100 photographs have been identified. These photographs show landscape changes in the rural and urban areas of Wadi Fatima.

This study showed that field photographs taken by pioneers are very useful for verifying landscape changes. A future comparative study should verify the landscape changes using photographic material left by Dr. Katakura and other pioneering researchers.

Paper short abstract:

This paper seeks to improve the sustainability of the region by documenting traditional materials of Saudi Arabian villages using the Japanese archaeological concept "record preservation".

Paper long abstract:

Increasing social change and modernisation may soon force some Saudi Arabian villagers to switch back to traditional materials used in the past. We may soon have to rely on traditional technologies that do not depend on fossil fuels. However, the traditional tools, ornaments, and buildings are being lost, making it necessary to record these materials for the benefit of coming generations.

Japanese archaeology emphasises "record preservation", an action intended to conserve heritages semi-permanently through drawings, photographs, videos, and texts before they disappear in the backdrop of development and excavation. Record preservation requires the use of modern technology to develop accurate measurement scales and create three-dimensional images of structures. I have used this concept to document some of the traditional tools, ornaments, and buildings found in several villages in Wadi Fatima, western Saudi Arabia. Records of the same area collected 50 years ago by Motoko Katakura, a female Japanese anthropologist, are also available. Using both, I propose that we preserve traditional materials for the long term to improve local sustainability.

Paper short abstract:

This presentation discusses changes in the diversity of women's traditional clothing in Wadi Fatima Oasis, Saudi Arabia, considering the results of field surveys conducted between 2015 and 2019 and using photographs taken by Dr. Katakura approximately 50 years ago.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation discusses changes in the diversity of women's traditional clothing in Wadi Fatima Oasis, Saudi Arabia, considering the results of field surveys conducted between 2015 and 2019 and using photographs taken by Dr. Katakura approximately 50 years ago.

The survey started by identifying individuals in photographs taken by Dr. Katakura. I interviewed the subjects' descendants to confirm the names of each type of clothing. I also asked how the clothing was worn, on what occasions, and by whom and when the clothing was made. Then, I borrowed some traditional clothing from people to measure it and to record details, such as cuts, stitches, and embroidery. As a result, I recognized differences in the names of similar costumes, even within the same tribe.

I will also discuss "the braided string" of silver thread, which is a characteristic decorative part of face coverings. In the third survey, I found the village where these braids were made. I met a woman who used to make the braids and thereby learned about the braiding industry.

From this research, it is clear that traditional ethnic clothing has almost disappeared from everyday life.

Paper short abstract:

This paper examined changes in the daily lives and social relationships of women living in Wadi Fatima, Saudi Arabia, by identifying the women in pictures taken half a century ago by the late Japanese anthropologist, Motoko Katakura.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines how to identify the names and relatives of the women in pictures taken half a century ago by the late anthropologist Motoko Katakura, who conducted continuous field work in Wadi Fatima, an oasis in Saudi Arabia, from 1968 through follow-up research of her field work.

The value of old photographs as research material is increasing. While methods of identifying the subjects of old photographs have advanced using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, no major progress has been made in comparing and examining the photographic materials in cooperation with the subjects themselves and their families, relatives, and communities.

The dissertations and literary materials left by Motoko Katakura included many personal episodes that used the subjects' names and photo captions in context. Since many scenes in her pictures included other people who happened to be beside the subject person, it is still possible to extract information on the relationships among individuals. After identifying the subjects in a field survey during 2018-2019, I obtained information on names, family relationships, and social relationships of the women who were the main subjects as well as others who happened to be with them, even those of subjects who were not in the pictures.

This work involves the possibility of extending the identification of individuals to construct life histories of families and relatives. This process shows an alternative perspective leading to a new methodology as part of field science conducted through on-site surveys.

Paper short abstract:

This presentation examines changes in farmers' livelihoods in Kayrabad, southern Iran, by re-studying human geographic materials of the late Morio Ono.

Paper long abstract:

Professor Morio Ono (1925-2001) was an influential Japanese scholar, particularly in the field of rural studies in Iran. Under his leadership, generations of Japanese social scientists doing fieldwork in far-flung rural areas were trained in humanist epistemology and interactionist methodology (Ferdowsi 2011).

He worked mainly in Kayrabad, a village in southern Iran, from the early 1960s to the late 1990s, collecting field data of rural sociological and human geographical interest. His main publication is the book "Twenty-Five Year Drama of Iranian Farmers" (1990, translated into Persian as Ḵayrābād-nāma, Tehran University Press, 1996).

His first-hand datasets, including field notes, maps, documents, and photographs, are documented in the Catalogue of Human Geography Materials in the Morio Ono Collection (Hara, Nanri & Nishiaki 2017; Hara & Nanri 2017, 2018). We also re-studied his field data and extended field sites to oases in southern Iran and revealed economic, social, and cultural changes among farmers, pastoralists, and urban dwellers (Hara 2016; Goto, Hara & Nanri 2015; Hara ed. 2009).

In this presentation, we discuss the academic value of long-term fixed-point observation with the results of follow-up studies in arid land oases in Iran.

Paper short abstract:

The presentation examines 50 years of livelihood and landscape changes experienced by people living in arid land oases in the Middle East by comparing ethnographic datasets of photographs and maps collected by geographers/anthropologists with the results of follow-up studies 50 years later.

Paper long abstract:

The presentation examines 50 years of livelihood and landscape changes experienced by inhabitants of arid land oases in the Middle East by comparing ethnographic datasets collected by scientists with the results of follow-up studies 50 years later.

In the late 1960s, three Japanese human geographers/cultural anthropologists started field surveys in oases in Algeria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Their data and ethnographic collections are valuable and unprecedented for tracing changes in livelihood and landscape, especially in arid lands where spatiotemporal variations in natural and social environments are extremely high.

The three ethnographic datasets are studies of: In Belbel oasis, Sahara Desert, Algeria, by Iwao Kobori, 1968-2010 (Nawata 2011); the Kayrabad villages, Iran, by Morio Ono, 1964-2007 (Hara 2016); and Wadi Fatima oasis, Saudi Arabia by Motoko Katakura, 1968-2003 (Nawata ed. 2019). Contemporary researchers have conducted follow-up research at all three locations, which included identifying locations and individuals in the photographs, illustrating land-use patterns by analysing satellite images, and tracing the revival of costumes and changes in jewellery among women.

The presenters compare: the value of photographs taken 50 years ago and digital preservation and consensus-building methods; detecting land-use pattern changes in arid land oases before and after the introduction of an oil-dependent livelihood; and personal life histories in the context of building new relationships with local people for the future, with a view to better collaboration between human geographers, cultural anthropologists and local people.