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Interdisciplinary Japanese Studies On Site
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DIJ Newsletter 82
Winter 2025/26
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Welcome to the Winter 2025/26 issue!
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A very busy and productive year 2025 is drawing to a close. Our researchers published three single-authored or co-edited books and more than fifty book chapters, journal articles, and outreach essays. Together with our partners, we organised or co-organised more than thirty academic events, including six DIJ Forum and twelve DIJ Study Group sessions, international workshops and conferences in Japan and abroad. We would like to thank you for your continuous support of our activities and hope you will join us again in 2026 as guests or participants in our workshops, conferences, and public events; as readers of our academic publications; and as followers of our outreach and social media activities.
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This edition of the DIJ Newsletter includes updates on our research, new publications, recent and upcoming events, Alumni news, outreach and social media activities, and a job advertisement to join our administration team in April 2026.
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If you haven't yet done so, you can subscribe to receive the DIJ Newsletter directly to your inbox here. We also welcome your feedback and email address updates via email.
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From all of us at the DIJ, we wish you a pleasant holiday season, a merry Christmas, and a good start of 2026 ー the Year of the Horse!
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Research News ・Neues aus der Forschung ・研究活動ニュース
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Photo © DIJ
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Reading Group 'Imaginaries & Modernities'
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As part of the DIJ's Knowledge Lab, this monthly reading group explores the relationship between visions of the future and processes of modernization. At its core lies the tension between multiple modernities and universalist narratives of progress. The exchange among researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds generates productive interferences: Participants do not merely read texts, but engage with them anew, together. In doing so, asymmetries in global knowledge production become visible – for instance, when Japan remains underrepresented in comparative studies or when regional expertise is structurally marginalized in disciplinary journals. Reports on each session document this collective process of inquiry.
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Forthcoming Publication ・Erscheint in Kürze ・ 近刊
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Cover © Springer
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Open Access Book on Startup Ecosystems
This forthcoming publication provides new perspectives on startup ecosystems in East Asia – a region which has over decades shaped innovation and global competition. It focuses on Japan, South Korea, and Mainland China. The study of startup ecosystems in East Asia is of relevance not only because of their size and performance, but also because they continue to differ from their counterparts in Western countries in important ways. The book systematically analyzes and compares startup ecosystems in East Asia considering their wider historical and national contexts. It is co-authored by Ying Cheng, Adam Cross, Martin Hemmert, Agata Kapturkiewicz, Masahiro Kotosaka, and DIJ's Franz Waldenberger.
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Recent journal articles, book chapters, and outreach articles by DIJ researchers:
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- Carolin Fleischer-Heininger/Kevin Schumacher-Shoji, „Einleitung", „Schwarze Löcher im Gewebe der Sprachen“: Kulturelles Übersetzen in der japanischen Literatur. Ed. C. Fleischer-Heininger, K. Schumacher-Shoji. Iudicium 2025 (DIJ Monographien), 7-19.
- Barbara Holthus/Janosch Schobin, „In Japan ist die Anthropomorphisierung von Haustieren extrem“. Barbara Holthus im Gespräch mit Janosch Schobin. Soziopolis (online, 12 November 2025).
- Harald Kümmerle, "Bridging Göttingen and Tokyo: Oral Culture and the Dynamics of Mathematical Knowledge", Felix Klein's Foreign Students. Opening Up the Way for Transnational Mathematics. Ed. D. Ciesielska, H. Heller, R. Tobies, J. Zwierzyńska. Birkhäuser Cham 2025, 275-316.
- Harald Kümmerle, „Datenströme und Raumordnung: Japans Regulierungsmodell im globalen Kontext", Zeitschrift für Digitalisierung und Recht, 4/2025, 360-388.
- Harald Kümmerle/Johannes Thumfart, "From Data Universalism to Data Particularism: Epistemologizing Digital Sovereignty Based on Germany’s and Japan’s COVID-19 Responses". Global Studies Quarterly, 5 (2025), 1-15.
- Sébastien Lechevalier/Brieuc Monfort, “Japan at the Forefront of the Economics of Aging? A Bibliometric Analysis“, The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Vol. 32 (special issue “Economics of ageing: Japan in comparative perspective”, December 2025), open access.
- Nicole M. Müller, „Japans Verlagspluralismus und seine Auswirkungen auf Praktiken der Retranslation – am Beispiel von Thomas Manns Tonio Kröger". „Schwarze Löcher im Gewebe der Sprachen“: Kulturelles Übersetzen in der japanischen Literatur. Ed. C. Fleischer-Heininger, K. Schumacher-Shoji. Iudicium 2025 (DIJ Monographien), 110-138.
- Sebastian Polak-Rottmann/Marco Capitanio/Ami Ogawa/Jorge Almazán/Satoshi Sano, "Age positive: Wie Japan dem demografischen Wandel begegnet". Die Architekt, 4, 2025, 34-41.
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DIJ News ・Aus dem DIJ・研究所ニュース
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Image © DIJ
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Join the DIJ's Administration Team
The DIJ is looking for 1-2 Japanese native speakers to support its administration in the planning and implementation of events; the procurement of contracts to Japanese companies and partners; communication with Japanese authorities, companies and cooperation partners; visa matters; and other organisational tasks and general support for the institute's team. If you are a good team player, have very good knowledge of German and English, and are confident in using office software, we look forward to receiving your application by 8 January 2026.
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Photo © private
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Visiting Researcher Yuko Nagasawa
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In December, Yuko Nagasawa stays at the DIJ as visiting researcher to conduct research on the role of the German Catholic St. Ottilien missionary order in occupied Korea and its contribution to the cultural policy formation of the Japanese Government-General of Korea from 1910 to 1945. Yuko Nagasawa is a historian of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, specializing in foreign policy during Japanese colonial rule, the division of the Korean Peninsula, and the Korean War.
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Photo © private
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Introducing Our Intern Johannes Muff
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Photo © DIJ
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Die Maus (the Mouse), popular protagonist of the long-running German children's TV series "Die Sendung mit der Maus" (The Show with the Mouse) paid an official visit to the DIJ in December. An internationally renowned expert in education and science communication, it also attended the DIJ Christmas party and entertained the young and adult guests alike. Die Maus is 17 years older than the DIJ and has been active since 1971. It was its first visit to the DIJ and due to popular demand Die Maus may join us again next year.
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Upcoming Events ・Kommende Veranstaltungen・今後のイベント
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Photo © Paul J. Kramer
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Workshop on Machizukuri in Rural Japan
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On 23 January 2026, the hybrid bilingual Hita Workshop: Machizukuri Initiatives and Adaptive Governance in a Rural Japanese City will examine local initiatives in response to the current challenges facing regional Japan, exemplified by the city of Hita in Ōita Prefecture. It combines the perspectives of two scholars (Timo Thelen, Kanazawa University; Paul J. Kramer LMU Munich) and a practitioner from the field (Masahiko Nishioka, Hita Place). The speakers will illustrate different revitalization approaches, displaying the merits and limitations of tourist-based machizukuri, or “town-making” activities. The workshop is organised and moderated by DIJ's Sebastian Polak-Rottmann.
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Preview to more upcoming DIJ events in the first quarter of 2026 (subject to change):
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- DIJ Study Group "The political economy of U.S. military bases and it’s its impact on Japan’s local economy" (Chatchada Kumlungpat, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies), 15 January 2026, DIJ and online.
- DIJ Workshop "Statistics as a tool for nation state control? Looking at Japan and Germany in Modern Times", 16 January 2026, DIJ.
- DIJ-UPV-JF Conference "Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific Imaginaries", 29-30 January 2026, National Museum of the Philippines (Iloilo).
- DIJ Workshop "Kulturvermittlung 2.0", 6 February 2026, DIJ.
- MWS-ARI Conference "Indo-Pacific", 9-12 February 2026, NUS Singapore.
- DIJ-Nichibunken Symposium "Animal Welfare", 14 February 2026, Nichibunken Kyoto and online.
- DIJ-RWTH Workshop "Digital Capitalism and Varieties of Science", 12-13 March 2026, DIJ and online.
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Past Events ・Vergangene Veranstaltungen・最近のイベント
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Photo © DIJ
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Photo © DIJ
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Library News ・ Aus der Bibliothek ・ 図書室ニュース
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Photo © DIJ
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DIJ at Special Library Expo
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In October, DIJ librarian Megumi Ono represented our library at the Library Fair & Forum held in Yokohama. The panel exhibition “Special Libraries You Can Use”, for which we provided a panel and pamphlets, saw a record 126 libraries participate this year. The fair combined online and in-person formats, attracting over 14.000 participants including researchers, students, vendors, and library professionals. "I hope that showcasing the unique features of our institution and library will help researchers build networks", Ono says. It was the first time the DIJ Library participated in this panel exhibition.
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DIJ in the Media ・ In den Medien・メディアで知るDIJ
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Screenshot © Nikkei
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DIJ Expertise in International Media
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Social Media ・Soziale Medien・ソーシャルメディア
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Screenshot © DIJ
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Join 1.500 DIJ Followers on LinkedIn
In March 2026, the next issue of the DIJ Newsletter will provide you with fresh updates from our institute. If you don't want to wait until spring, we invite you to join our currently 1.517 followers of the DIJ's social media account on LinkedIn. This way you will be the first to receive announcements of upcoming events, new publications, other activities of our institute and its researchers, job and fellowship advertisements. Follow us here!
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Alumni News ・Unsere Ehemaligen ・DIJ 同窓会
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Photo © DIJ
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DIJ Alumni Meeting at Vienna Conference
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This year's DIJ Alumni meeting took place at the VSJF conference in Vienna in November. Jasmin Rückert (2023-24), Harald Conrad (1998, 2000-07), Ralf Windhab (2024), Sonja Ganseforth (2017-22), Hanno Jentzsch (2016-20), Florian Grosser (2025), Frank Rövekamp (1996-97), Steve R. Entrich (2013) as well as DIJ advisory board member Ina Hein caught up with current DIJ members Barbara Holthus and Isaac Gagné. More DIJ Alumni meetings coming up in 2026!
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If you are part of the growing group of DIJ alumni and have recently published a book, received your PhD, or have any other news to share with us, please contact us via email.
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