Research Projects

In addition to individual research, joint research projects are planned and carried out regularly at the Institute. All projects welcome the participation of scholars in related fields from the faculties of the University of Tokyo and other universities.

The following types of research projects are currently being carried out :

Departmental and Individual Research Themes

Research themes for each department of the Institute and for the Research and Information Center for Asian Studies promote interdisciplinary area studies.
Each member of the Institute conducts highly-specialized research.

DEPARTMENT OF PAN ASIAN STUDIES

"Development of society and culture in Asian regions"

The Department of Pan Asian Studies represents a broad spectrum of humanities and social science-related research on Asia from the perspective of fields such as political economy, political science, human geography, cultural anthropology, and comparative thought. The Department of Pan Asian Studies puts an emphasis on networking with colleagues abroad, especially in Asia, as it develops collaborative schemes of research and communication in Asian Studies.

• Members

DEPARTMENT OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES (I)

"State power and socioeconomic structure in East Asia"

The Department of East Asian Studies (I) deals with the region as a whole, including China, Korea, Japan, and occasionally Vietnam, employing methodologies of the social sciences and history to understand the dynamics of the region from antiquity to the present. The Departments major research theme is pursued in close cooperation with the Department of East Asian Studies (II).

• Members

DEPARTMENT OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES (II)

"The formation and development of popular culture in East Asia"

The Department of East Asian Studies (II) is oriented towards the humanities in the fields of thought, religion, literature, and art of the region. The Departments major theme is the formation and development of popular culture.

• Members

DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES

"The intricacy of culture and civilization in the Bay of Bengal region"

The intricacy of culture and civilization in the Bay of Bengal region The Department of South Asian Studies covers the geographic region from Southeast Asia to the Indian subcontinent. The region is characterized by a very complex social formation made up of a large variety of languages and cultural traditions. Politically, most of the countries in this region experienced hundreds of years of colonial rule by Western nations. Without a knowledge of this background, it is impossible to understand the contemporary situation of this region. Accordingly, the Department has been consolidated into a research organization studying the politics, political economy, sociology and culture of the area in both the past and the present.

• Members

DEPARTMENT OF WEST ASIAN STUDIES

"The historical formation and present situation of West Asian culture"

The Department of West Asian Studies covers a geographical area stretching from Afghanistan to Turkey and Egypt, the so-called Near and Middle East, and Inner Asia. The Department attempts to understand this vast area in an interdisciplinary manner through the study of its political, economic, cultural, and social characteristics. For this purpose, in addition to the specialized work undertaken by each member of the Department, a joint research project entitled "The historical formation and present situation of West Asian culture" is being carried out.

• Members

Regular Research Projects

Regular research projects are planned and carried out by Institute members, and scholars in related fields from the University of Tokyo and other universities participate in them as well.

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Research Projects Sponsored by the Japanese Government and Various Grants