Talking About Asia Series: Dr. John Traphagan

Dr. John Traphagan, Associate Chair and Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will be presenting a talk titled "Edgework: Risk and Rural Entrepreneurs in Japan" as part of the Talking About Asia Series. Dr. Traphagan will explore the motivations among Japanese entrepreneurs for starting small businesses in rural Japan—a context of high risk, particularly given the growing problems associated with rural depopulation and dying business districts that are evident in many parts of the region discussed here.  In addition, he will also discuss how risk takes shape in terms of social and symbolic capital for these entrepreneurs, rather than the more typical concept of risk as being associated with economic capital. This presentation will be held on September 30, 2016 at 12:00 pm in 4130 Posvar Hall.