In addition to its annual conference held in North America, the Association for Asian Studies (hereinafter, the AAS) organized the AAS in Asia Conference* once a year in the Asian Region. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Japan Foundation (JF) hosted a panel discussion and provided travel support for scholars and researchers in Japanese Studies. This initiative aimed to promote human exchange, strengthen the Japanese Studies network within the ASEAN region, and foster connections between ASEAN and other regions.

*This conference, held at Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu, welcomed more than 1,150 researchers in Asian Studies― including Japanese Studies― from over 40 countries across Asian and Oceanian regions, as well as North America, Europe, South America and Africa.

Panel discussion hosted by JF

At the panel discussion, we welcomed Professor Shigeto Sonoda from the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo; Professor Shōichi Inoue, Director-General of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken); JF Joint Fellowship fellows Dr. Maria Tana and Dr. Yunchen Tian; and Mr. Wakao Koike from the Japan Foundation, who all participated as panelists.

Under the title “Win-Win-Win Collaborations to Grow – How the Joint Fellowship Programs Create New Opportunities for Researchers, Host Institutions, and the Funder,” representatives from each institution discussed the significance of hosting fellows and fostering collaboration through the JF Joint Fellowship. Fellows shared their personal experiences, and discussions involving both the panel and the audience explored the future and challenges of Japanese Studies.

Comments from the audience included appreciation for hearing about their personal experiences from the fellows, as well as recognition of the importance of having both institutional and practical perspectives presented.

Travel Support for Scholars in ASEAN region

Travel support was provided for Japanese Studies scholars in ASEAN region. Supported scholars actively engaged in networking with other conference participants, exchanging ideas about their own research and potential future collaborations. Feedback from the supported scholars included comments such as, “It was insightful to learn about recent research trends,” and “I was able to build new connections with researchers from other countries, and we’ve decided to organize a joint panel at another academic conference.