Naohiko İmajo, who is pursuing his doctoral studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and was accepted by the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute for Sufi Studies for field research in Turkey, presented his thesis work titled “Peace and Contradictions in the Embrace of the Hünkar: Belief Status and Human Relations in Nevşehir's Hacıbektaş District.” İmajo's presentation attracted significant attention.
The panel held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi South Campus was attended by Prof. Dr. Elif Erhan, Director of the Institute for Sufi Studies, and Institute for Sufi Studies Faculty Members Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, Asst. Prof. Dr. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar, Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, Asst. Prof. Dr. H. Dilek Güldütuna, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Omneya Ayad. Head of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Department of Sociology, Prof. Dr. Barış Erdoğan, and Department of History Research Assistant Buğra Can Bayçifci contributed to the panel with their questions.
İmajo's Dream, Extending from Tokyo to Nevşehir, Came True with Üsküdar Üniversitesi
Naohiko İmajo, a doctoral student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, was accepted by the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute for Sufi Studies in 2021 for a one-year period to conduct field research in the Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir as part of his doctoral studies. Having reached the end of his field research as of November 2022, Naohiko İmajo gave a presentation titled “Peace and Contradictions in the Embrace of the Hünkar: Belief Status and Human Relations in Nevşehir's Hacıbektaş District” at the Institute for Sufi Studies on November 4, 2022, to present a summary report.
The Focus of the Study Was the Culture Centered Around the Historical Personality of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli
Doctoral student Naohiko İmajo, before his report presentation, performed some "nefes" (hymns) and "deyiş" (folk songs) with his bağlama (a stringed instrument), adapting to the oral and saz-accompanied culture as an important part of the Alevi-Bektashi tradition, and as a reflection of his interest and remarkable talent. Naohiko İmajo stated that his field study focused on the Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli museum and tomb located in the Hacıbektaş district, and the culture shaped around the historical personality of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli. Naohiko İmajo underlined that for understanding Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, works that emerged from his pen or are attributed to him, especially the work titled Maḳâlât, need to be examined. He also stated that he would return to Tokyo having completed his field studies as of November 20, and expressed his gratitude to Üsküdar Üniversitesi for the opportunities provided to him during this period.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Holds a Central Position in Turkey for International Researchers
Naohiko İmajo concluded his presentation by stating that Üsküdar Üniversitesi, with the works of its Institute for Sufi Studies that highlight Turkish Sufi culture sources and its studies in the field of Islamic Studies, has quickly gained a central position in Turkey for both new generation Japanese researchers and researchers from other countries.
The Presentation Took Place Face-to-Face and Online
Students of the Institute for Sufi Studies participated in the presentation both face-to-face and online (remotely).
At the end of the presentation, mutual evaluations were made by the faculty members of the Institute for Sufi Studies, and guidance was provided based on these findings.
Photo: Mukadder Güneş / ÜHA
Photo: Betül Kahkuloğlu / ÜHA