PRO-pose.

What "Professional Positions"
do GSAL grads move on to?

I will spend my whole life searching after Buddhism / University lecturer, Jon Morris I will spend my whole life searching after Buddhism / University lecturer, Jon Morris

Returning the favor by providing opportunities

At present Jon Morris is teaching at the Department of Intercultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Komazawa Women's University. "I help my students acquire the skills necessary in global business practices, starting with communication strategies in English (which include group work, such as workshops). I also teach the history of Japanese culture in English, covering topics like food culture, consumer culture, and daily life."
Dr. Morris' polite, correct Japanese seems to reflect his personality. He explains that working as a lecturer reinforced his belief in certain principles.
"It is all about 'providing opportunities'. I learned these words and this way of thinking from Professor Satō Hiroo when I was studying at the Graduate School of Arts and Letters. Our teachers opened so many roads ahead of us - so what kind of possibilities and opportunities can I now offer my own students? I always teach my classes with this question in mind. It is also my way of returning the favor to Professor Satō."

Tohoku University and Sendai as a favorable environment

Dr. Morris was born and raised in North Yorkshire, England. In his late teens he developed an interest in politics and became an assistant of the local Member of Parliament. Later he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Bristol.
“Before long I became entranced by Buddhism. Besides, I was passionate about judo and karate, and it occurred to me that if I went to Japan, I would be able to simultaneously teach English and judo and delve into Buddhism.”
As a JET Programme participant, Dr. Morris spent his first years in Japan working as an assistant language teacher in various high schools in Shimane. Meanwhile, his interest in Japanese and East Asian culture grew even stronger.
“After the term of my contract ended, I went back to England and entered SOAS, University of London. But as I continued to study Buddhism, a realization came that if I wanted to seriously research Kūkai (also known as Kōbō-Daishi), the Three Mountains of Dewa, or sokushinbutsu, the best place to go would be Tohoku University. So I decided to return to Japan.”
Dr. Morris calls this chain of events his ‘way back to Japan”. He finally arrived at his destination in 2006, as a research student.

“In addition to excellent education, the Faculty of Arts and Letters provided its library and a collection of materials and research papers of the highest quality. I was very happy to find myself in such a wonderful environment.”

 

Teaching the wonders of Buddhism to Japanese students

Dr. Morris went back to Japan and pursued an even deeper inquiry into Buddhism as a research student. It was during his nine years at the graduate school that he met his future wife, an exchange student from Inner Mongolia.
“We got married and had our first child in Sendai. If Tohoku University was a magnificent environment for a researcher, then Sendai was an ideal environment to build a family and a household. Both environments played key roles in my life.”
English remains the main subject of Dr. Morris’ lectures. But, as to be expected, he dreams of teaching Buddhism in the future.
“I want to study Buddhism for the rest of my life. I believe it is my mission to show its appeal to as many students as possible.”
Dr. Morris contends that his own life has been rich with opportunities. In a characteristically Japanese way, he feels compelled to return this favor under the principles he learned from Professor Satō and still holds dear. He will continue to provide opportunities to his students, creating new chances for them to learn and grow.

MORRIS Jonモリス・ジョン

Graduated from the Department of History of Japanese Thought, Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Tohoku University, in March, 2015.
Employed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Title of the doctoral thesis: 「The Bodily Incorruptibility of Holy Men and Women in Premodern Japan and Europe (腐敗せざる遺体−前近代日本と欧州における聖人の遺体をめぐって)」(his main research topics are the passing of Kōbō-Daishi, sokushinbutsu practices, and comparative religion)