Tadashi Obara - Faculty Interview
Participant Profile
Tadashi Obara
Early Modern Mexican History, EthnohistoryGraduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2002 with a major in Spanish. In 2007, he completed a master's program at the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico. In 2011, he withdrew from the Doctoral Programs at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) in France after fulfilling his course requirements. He has held his current position since 2013.
Tadashi Obara
Early Modern Mexican History, EthnohistoryGraduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 2002 with a major in Spanish. In 2007, he completed a master's program at the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico. In 2011, he withdrew from the Doctoral Programs at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) in France after fulfilling his course requirements. He has held his current position since 2013.
It all started with studying abroad in Mexico. Once you find a big goal, I want you to cherish the momentum of immersing yourself in it and forging ahead.
Research Theme and How I Discovered It
It all started when I studied abroad in Mexico. Immediately after graduating from my undergraduate program, I went to Mexico. For the first year, I thoroughly enjoyed a vacation from life, playing soccer with local friends, going to concerts and fiestas. From the second year, I entered graduate school to study social anthropology, specializing in the history of the indigenous peoples of Mexico under Spanish colonial rule. Looking back now, I realize that every one of my daily experiences¡ªseeing people who appeared to be "indigenous" everywhere I went in Mexico City, from the bustling streets and markets to the university campus, suburban residential areas, the subway, and city buses; sometimes talking with them, or buying something from a street vendor¡ªhelped cultivate my "eye" for studying Mexican history.
The Appeal and Fascination of My Research Theme
Currently, I am researching the demographic history of the state of Chiapas in southeastern Mexico, as well as the economic role of the tribute paid by the indigenous people in this region. The most fascinating part of this research is, without a doubt, reading historical documents. I pore over handwritten documents from the 16th to the 18th centuries, and the feeling of excitement and emotion when I finally find the data I've been searching for is exceptional. The process of "cooking" this "caught fish" and compiling it into a manuscript can be arduous at times, but the true pleasure of this research is experiencing the sense of accomplishment as the accumulation of small pieces of data leads to significant results.
A Message to Students
Through your four years at ÎçÒ¹¾ç³¡, I hope you will discover what you truly want to do in life. It's fun to take detours sometimes, and having that mental space is also important. However, once you find a major goal, I want you to cherish the momentum of immersing yourself in it and forging ahead. Life is short, and time is limited. Spend your time with friends, spend your time learning, and live each day to the fullest so you have no regrets.
(Interview conducted in December 2013)
*Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.