The environment surrounding Japanese Studies in recent years has changed greatly. Among East Asian Studies, where Chinese and Korean Studies are gaining power, Japanese Studies are conducted more actively in foreign countries with increasing interest in Japanese pop culture. However, it is not easy to obtain research information on Japanese social science and human science from overseas. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate next-generation overseas Japanese information specialists who are able to obtain, offer, and disseminate Japanese Studies information on social science and human science in order to develop future Japanese studies.

The International House of Japan and the National Diet Library of Japan are jointly launching the Japan Specialist Workshop "Access to the culture and the society of contemporary Japan" 2011 next year, for the purpose of assisting overseas Japanese Studies researchers and specialists such as librarians who deal with Japanese Studies information to help them improve their knowledge and their ability to collect information.

The general theme for this workshop is social science (politics, economics and law). We aim at acquisition of knowledge and technique of accessing the latest information about Japanese social science genres and also creation of a close personal network among specialists in Japanese Studies of different countries.

The following is the outline of the call for applications for the workshop.
We are expecting many applications.

Date: February 14 to 21, 2011
For: Those who are able to obtain, offer and disseminate Japanese information outside Japan including early career researchers in Japanese Studies, librarians and curators who have research and working experience in Japanese Studies.
Venue: International House of Japan, National Diet Library, etc.
Fee: Round trip airfare (with upper limit), accommodation at International House of Japan (for nine nights including breakfast) will be borne by the organizer.
Language: Japanese
Deadline: Applications must arrive at the International House of Japan Library by Thursday, September 30, 2010 by postal mail.
Joint organizers: International House of Japan, National Diet Library

Please check the guidelines for application bellow for details such as applicant eligibility, outline of workshop and application method.

Japan Specialist Workshop 2011 Call for Applications:
http://www.i-house.or.jp/en/library/activities.htm

Inquiry:
Library
International House of Japan
5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032 JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3470-3213 Fax: +81-3-3475-0424