The Center for Japanese Studies at the Universitas Indonesia (PSJ UI) and the Faculty of Humanities at the Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI), with support from The Japan Foundation, organized an online seminar entitled “Japanese Studies in Southeast Asia”. This activity is part of the International Japanese Studies Research Workshop & Symposium (IJSRWS) 2025 series, an international academic forum dedicated to exploring the practice of Japanese studies in various Southeast Asian countries.
The first seminar series took place on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and featured two keynote speakers, Dr. Clay Eaton from the National University of Singapore who delivered a presentation entitled “Point of Contact: Japanese Studies in Singapore“, and Dr. Krittaphol Viphaveekul from Chulalongkorn University who presented ”Discontinuity and Isolation: Japanese (Area) Studies in Thailand, 1960s-2020s”. Both discussed developments and challenges in Japanese studies in their respective countries, ranging from the institutional context to the socio-political role in shaping academic discourse. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Rouli Esther from the Universitas Indonesia.
The seminar series continued on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 13.00-15.00 WIB. The event was opened by the host who welcomed all participants, speakers, and invited guests. After that, participants were invited to watch a video profile of the UI Center for Japanese Studies and the UI Faculty of Humanities to get to know the organizing institution further.
The presentation session began with the presentation of material by Dr. Clay Eaton, followed by Dr. Krittaphol Viphaveekul. Each of them delivered the material for approximately 35 minutes. After both presentations were completed, the event continued with a 20-minute question and answer session that provided an opportunity for participants to dialogue directly with the speakers.
Through this seminar, PSJ UI and FIB UI hope to strengthen academic networks between countries and facilitate the exchange of constructive ideas in the field of Japanese studies, especially in the Southeast Asian region which has its own dynamics in the development of regional studies. (Trans.RMRW)
