The present geopolitical landscapes are shifting, with global powers realigning their strategies. The Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), a concept proposed by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, aims at promoting peace and prosperity in the region, particularly in the fields of fundamental values, economic prosperity, and peace and stability. Southeast Asia has been one center of this strategy with a particular focus on maritime security and safety. The conference Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific Imaginaries takes an interdisciplinary approach to study FOIP strategies. It features two DIJ panels, including research papers by David M. Malitz (“Japanese-Indian Relations and the Imaginations of an Indo-Pacific Region”) and Dolf-Alexander Neuhaus (“Developmental Imaginaries: Japan’s Educational Aid Programs and the Shaping of the Indo-Pacific Order”). The conference is co-hosted by University of the Philippines – Visayas, the Japan Foundation Manila, and the DIJ and takes place 29–30 January 2026 at the National Museum of the Philippines, Iloilo.