Report

On August 25, 2025, the Tobunken Seminar, "Japonya'da Sohbet-i Osmaniye-8" took place at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia. This seminar series has been organized to promote scholarly exchange by bringing together young researchers in Japan and leading international scholars in the field of Ottoman history. For the eighth meeting, we have invited Professor Betül İpşirli Argıt (Marmara University / IASA visiting researcher), a renowned specialist of the Ottoman imperial court, to discuss the presentations by two doctoral students.

Saito Mori discussed the functions of the Cairo citadel, the center of the Ottoman rule in Egypt. Nami Murata analyzed the legislative process behind the Ottoman passport laws of 1911 and 1918. Professor İpşirli Argıt provided comments on these two papers from diverse perspectives, including primary sources and analytical approaches.

In addition to the presenters, discussant, and moderator, one other participant attended in person.

Event Details

Date and time: August 25, 2025 (Mon), 1:30pm-3pm
 
Venue: Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, Second Conference Room (302)

Program:
Saito Mori (Waseda University)
New Insights into the Mamluk-Ottoman Transition:  Palace Space, Urbanised Landscapes, and Social Communications in and around the Cairo Citadel

Nami Murata (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
Contesting ‘Personal Liberty’: Freedom of Movement in Parliamentary Debates on the 1911 and 1918 Ottoman Passport Law
 
Discussant: Betül İpşirli Argıt (Marmara University / IASA)
 
Moderator: Jun Akiba (IASA)
 

*This seminar is supported by JSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan.