From September 7 to 8, the Japan Studies Research Forum was held at Nanjing University Xianlin Campus. The forum was organized by the School of Foreign Studies at Nanjing University, and co-organized by the Research Center for Foreign Discourse Innovation (China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Beijing Office and the editorial office of Nanjing University Japanese Studies Review. Scholars and students in Japanese studies participated in the forum. Discussions focused on frontier topics, including area studies, Japanese linguistics and Dunhuang studies.

At the opening ceremony, He Ning, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Nanjing University, highlighted the school's efforts in promoting the development of area studies and long-term academic cooperation with the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University and other prestigious world universities. In the congratulatory message, YAMAGUCHI Hideyuki, the head of JSPS Beijing Office, shared his insights on the importance of academic exchange between the two countries.

During the keynote speech session, Professor Wang Yizhou, Director of the Institute of Area Studies at Nanjing University, discussed the relation between area studies and foreign languages and emphasized the importance of linguistics as a cornerstone in the development of area studies. Professor Pan Jun from Peking University provided an overview of the current landscape, tasks and challenges of Japanese linguistics research in China. Professor Wang Jiqing from Lanzhou University reviewed the birth of the concept of "Dunhuang Studies" and its development in both China and Japan. Professor Wang Yihong from Nanjing University examined the applicability and importance of translation education in Japanese Studies. Researcher Tang Yongliang from the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) shared his view on the development of area studies based on the intellectual history of Japan. Professor Zhu Feng from Nanjing University offered deep insights into the future of Sino-Japanese relations.

Themed sessions of the forum included history and culture, languages and literature, international relations, dialogues with authors of Japanese studies journals, and studies on international discourse innovation. Experts shared their research findings and latest advancements, facilitating interdisciplinary academic exchanges.

At the closing ceremony, Zhang Junxiang, Associate Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Nanjing University, congratulated the forum as a great success and stated that the school would work to enhance the exchange and cooperation in Japanese studies.

The forum not only pushed forward academic exchanges, but also delivered new ideas to the development of Japanese studies.

Writer: Ma Chunyu

Editor: Song Jiaxin