The Fieldwork Ethics and Positionality of Tsuneichi Miyamoto : A Pioneer of Border Island Studies in Japan

摘要: Tsuneichi Miyamoto (1907-1981) studied the folklore and “forgotten” history of rural Japan under influence Kunio Yanagita Keizo Shibusawa. considered introduced himself as a farmer an island in Seto Inland Sea, was welcomed with enthusiasm by people 4,000 communities he visited. He very different from his contemporary fieldworkers fieldwork ethics, methodology participant observation, positionality scholar-farmer-social activist. The author this article had chance to meet be guided 1976, experienced similar dilemmas social activism, during stay on Yaeyama Islands. As predicted Miyamoto, border islands (in case Tsushima Yonaguni), ancient cultural traits may still discovered because islanders have often hid their friendly relationships trade partners living other side border. Ethical Codes for Fieldwork its Prehistory This aims shed light upon ethical issues relating anthropological/ethnological special reference islands. It focuses (19071981), one most prolific academic writers Japan. During lifetime, visited communities, about third total villages Japan, 300 out 400 inhabited established personal ties those villagers. earliest Japanese academia publish examples inconveniences caused local conduct researchers carrying fieldwork. at time when problems ethics were more or less ignored. second purpose paper is discuss being both scholar activist, which made him pioneer applied anthropology will then describe some recent trials mine create participatory inhabitants Japan’s Finally, it tests Miyamoto’s hypothesis survival Society Applied Anthropology (SfAA), formed 1941, establish code 1949. Carla Pezzia describes evolution code: (1) In 1940s  Yuji Ankei Professor Area Studies, Faculty Intercultural Yamaguchi Prefectural University, Yamaguchi, 1 “SfAA President’s letter,” Newsletter Anthropology, November 11:4 (2000): 2. http://www.sfaa.net/newsletter/nov00nl.pdf Eurasia Border Review 20 did not attempt change culture society; (2) However, early 1960s began recognise that “rocking boat” necessary work; (3) 1983 revised again necessity practitioners data ownership. Current guidelines SfAA suggest members responsibilities peoples they study work with. U.S. government-sponsored secret research Latin America (the Camelot Project 1964) Vietnam War pushed American Association (AAA) first anthropological title Principles Professional Responsibility 1969. Fluehr-Lobban provides short professionalism within focusing changes taken place AAA. notable included need informed consent 1983, whereas AAA add until 1998. spite all these endeavors over last forty years, professional associations U.S., argued lack power regulate sanction who infringe codes. societies studies draw up codes 2000s, half century later than SfAA. For example, Cultural (JACA) (formerly known Ethnology) agreed 2008. These are much too simplified vague, seem tell almost nothing meaningful members. Folklore (FSJ) appeared 2010, societies, detailed pragmatic JACA Sociological also has preamble self-reflection members, 2 Pezzia, 2012, “Rocking Boat: Our Ethics.” http://sfaanews.sfaa.net/2012/08/01/rockingthe-boat-our-professional-ethics/ 3 Code Ethics http://www.aaanet.org/issues/policy-advocacy/Code-ofEthics.cfm 4 Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, “Ethics Professionalism: A Issues Anthropology,” Profession Anthropology: Dialogue New Era, ed. (Philadelphia: University Pennsylvania Press, 1991), 15-35. 5 “Ethical Responsibilities,” http://www.sfaa.net/sfaaethic.html 6 John R. Campbell, “The ‘Problem’ Contemporary Anthropological Research,” Matters 12:1 (2010): Note 7. http://www.anthropologymatters.com/index.php?journal=anth_matters&page= article&op=viewArticle&path[]=186&path[]=306 7 8 Its 3, “We must do any deed regarded harassment”. (2005) different: “Article 5. Members subject harassment such sexual harassment.” 9 says, “It been pointed folkloric actions excessing norms deeds lead loss trust research.” harassment, compared previous note, our activities education, we never discriminate oppress individuals groups regardless race, gender, age, thoughts, preferences, descent, religion, status, profession, handicaps, familial situation. And strictly avoid various harassments http://www.fsjnet.jp /about_us/ethics.html