Video Available: Roundtable Discussion on "Building Global Networks to Address the Challenges Facing Japan Studies."

Chair:
Patrik Ström, European Institute of Japanese Studies, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden

 

Beata Bochorodycz, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland

Christopher Hayes, University of Chester, United Kingdom

Stephanie Santschi, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Stanford University, United States

 

As Japan studies faces an increasingly precarious institutional landscape, how can we collectively secure its future relevance and sustainability?

 

Scholars and practitioners with deep, context-rich knowledge and experience of Japan contribute essential insights to the global discourse—insights that go far beyond superficial summaries available online. Their expertise anchors international collaboration, enterprise, and diplomacy in a nuanced understanding of Japan’s cultural, historical, and economic contexts.

 

Yet the sustainability of this knowledge base is increasingly in question. Over recent decades, area studies—including Japan studies—have been overshadowed by a shift toward discipline-centered research and institutional prioritization of STEM, business, and broad interdisciplinary initiatives. Even where Japan studies persists, it is often absorbed into other departments or programs, diluting its distinct scholarly voice.

 

While new institutional and interdisciplinary trends do offer fresh avenues for Japan-focused scholarship, they also risk inflicting lasting harm. Despite persistent student interest, funding cuts have led to the closure of Japan studies centers and a decline in tenure-track opportunities. As a result, emerging scholars are increasingly discouraged from pursuing careers in the field, threatening the future of Japan-related expertise and cross-cultural dialogue.

 

Securing the future of Japan studies requires more than simply bemoaning the loss of institutional frameworks that we had once viewed as unassailable—it calls for a reimagining of the field’s relevance within today's shifting academic and geopolitical landscape. This roundtable brings together scholars and practitioners from across disciplinary and institutional boundaries to explore next-generation career paths, cross-sector collaboration, and concrete strategies for institutional support. Together, we will work toward a renewed and resilient vision for the future of Japan studies.