[The Power of Words] Interview with Masahiko Abe, a professor at Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, UTokyo

Prof Abe is actively involved in a wide range of activities, including appearances in various media and writing, as well as research and education. He looked back at episodes from the production process of “The Power of Words” and shared his thoughts.

When I was first approached with the idea of creating a MOOC course, I had heard of it but knew little about it. I remember feeling as though there was much I didn’t know, including the existence of various platforms. Quite different from the usual course creation process, the preparation phase for a MOOC, including the production of materials, was meticulously planned.

At first, I thought it would be about four 30-minute classes, but as we developed the structure, ideas kept flowing in, like, “What about this? That could be interesting, too.” As a result, the course turned out to be significantly longer than I had anticipated. Reading the script on-site was straightforward for me; however, I believe the filming staff faced challenges in organising certain aspects, such as capturing scenes of students in class.

A trip to Zushi for filming was planned, but due to various circumstances, it did not materialise, which was unfortunate. Nevertheless, the overall location shoot was truly enjoyable, including interviews with poet Mutsuo Takahashi, a haiku meeting hosted, and readings and workshops led by Ms. Minami Oba. I remember that the filming in the lecture building during the middle of winter was particularly cold—colder even than outside—and we could see our breath.

The filming was fun, with a theatrical atmosphere. Preparation took about two hours, which I think was quite challenging for the filming crew. However, thanks to the various ideas and efforts of all the staff, we were able to complete it smoothly. The finished video is excellent, especially the camera work during the reading scenes; the discussion scene with Ms. Oba was particularly beautiful.

When the course was finally completed, I experienced a familiar sense of worry, just as I do whenever I publish a book or paper. I found myself pondering, “Could I have expressed this better?” I felt more anxious than pleased about the completion itself.

The course's target audience comprises high school and university students, and I hope it effectively reaches them. However, it was great that we could introduce it during information sessions for graduate school entrance exams. The website (the edX course page) had just been completed, so I introduced it there and promoted the fact that anyone can watch it for free if they register. The promotional effectiveness of the MOOC remains uncertain, but at least the number of applicants has increased.

I caught COVID over the New Year and had to cancel classes on short notice. During that period, I had the students watch "The Power of Words," which had a structure similar to my usual classes and made it easier for them to write reports. I felt that I had invested considerable effort in the video production, so it didn’t feel like I was slacking off, which was a relief (laughs).

Reflecting on my experience after completing the course, I realised that the MOOC team exceeded my initial expectations. I particularly enjoyed the remarkable segment on competitive karuta and the section on anime. I believe the competitive karuta segment will resonate well with students, so I will incorporate it into my classes as much as possible.

We also had the opportunity to discuss topics beyond MOOCs, including Professor Abe's ongoing writing series, "Chichitachi no Koto (About my Fathers)," which we hope to share with everyone on another occasion. We would like to express our gratitude to Professor Abe for taking the time to speak with us and to all those who have read this to the end.

You can watch the course video by creating an account. For instructions on how to do so, please refer to this link.