For a report published by Associated Press, DIJ sociologist Barbara Holthus explained how socialization, collectivism, and the concept of meiwaku, or not wanting to pose an inconvenience to others, contribute to the phenomenon of Japanese soccer fans cleaning up after sports games. “If you grew up with a certain way of how things are being done, you apply that to even cleaning up a stadium afterwards.” Barbara was also interviewed by German radio station Deutschlandfunk Kultur for a feature on Japanese women’s fights against stereotypes (in German). Commenting on changes and continuities in Japanese society regarding gender equality and equal opportunities, she explained that “men in Japan still tend to marry below their social class”. The radio feature also quotes insights on traditional gender roles and recent political developments in Japan from DIJ alumnus Vincent B. Lesch.

In Japan stehen 14 Prozent aller Wohngebäude leer. Bis 2030 könnte es sogar ein Drittel sein, und auch Europa droht dieses Problem. DIJ-Anthropologe Sebastian Polak-Rottmann erklärt in der Frankfurter Rundschau, warum Japan besonders stark betroffen ist und wie Menschen im ländlichen und städtischen Japan mit dem “akiya mondai” umgehen: „Der wesentliche Punkt ist, dass diese Häuser in der Regel mit der Zeit verfallen. Sie sind ein Symptom von Wanderungsbewegungen, auch von einer gewissen Unattraktivität des ländlichen Raums für viele Leute.“ Seine Expertise zu Auswirkungen des demographischen Wandels auf zwischenmenschliche Verbindungen vor allem im ländlichen Japan wurde auch zitiert in Artikeln in der Augsburger Allgemeinen und den Salzburger Nachrichten. 

On December 19th, DIJ Principal Researcher David M. Malitz was invited to join a roundtable discussion with Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Japanese academics at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo. As the head of the research cluster Japan in Transregional Perspective, David conducts research on Japan-Southeast Asia relations. The discussion covered regional developments, Japan-Thailand relations, and potential future cooperation between the two countries. Thailand is a key economic partner of Japan, hosting approximately 6,000 Japanese companies and over 70,000 Japanese nationals. In November 2022, bilateral relations were elevated to the status of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The year 2027 will mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Thailand.

For German media Deutsche Welle (DW) and Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Franz Waldenberger and Sebastian Polak-Rottmann have contributed their expertise in the fields of Japan’s economy and society, respectively. In a DW online article on Japan’s monetary policy, Franz Waldenberger explained that while the Japanese government was highly indebted, the economy as a whole was “rich”.  Japan’s share of net foreign assets as percentage of GDP was “among the highest in the world”, he said. “I call it ‘rich country, poor government'”. In a German-language DLF radio feature on the problem of Japan’s abandoned houses (akiya mondai), Sebastian Polak-Rottmann commented on abandoned houses are “a symptom of demographic change and of migration” that could be observed both in rural and in urban areas. Since empty houses in rural areas often had strong family ties for their owners, many did not want to sell them, he explained.

“Japan’s digital policy is consensus-driven, differing from both Western and Chinese approaches”, says DIJ researcher Harald Kümmerle in a recent interview with Nikkei X-Tech, an online news portal of Japanese newspaper Nikkei Shinbun. Building on a widely recognised classification of global digital governance into three ideal types – market-driven (US), state-driven (China), and rights-driven (EU) – Kümmerle proposes Japan’s consensus-driven model as a distinct fourth type. This model, he argues, is characterized by soft regulation and administrative guidance rather than formal rule-making. This provides both opportunities and challenges. As Harald notes in the interview, “If Japan can expand its circle of partners among Indo-Pacific nations in the field of economic security, it may be able to mediate between the EU and the US.” The article (in Japanese) is available here.

Das Deutsche Institut für Japanstudien wünscht erholsame und frohe Festtage und einen guten Start in ein erfolgreiches Jahr des Pferdes!

The German Institute for Japanese Studies wishes you a happy holiday season and a successful Year of the Horse!

ドイツ日本研究所一同、皆様のご多幸と来るべき新年が成功の年になることを祈念いたします。

Werden Sie Teil des DIJ-Teams in unserer Verwaltung! Die ausgeschriebenen Stellen umfassen insbesondere folgende Aufgaben: Veranstaltungsorganisation und -durchführung (Eventmanagement); Unterstützung bei Beschaffung und Vergabe von Aufträgen an japanische Unternehmen und Partner; Unterstützung bei der Personalverwaltung, bei japanischen Bankvorgängen und Visaangelegenheiten; Kommunikation mit japanischen Behörden, Unternehmen, Kooperationspartnern; Pflege und Verwaltung des Inventars; Gästebetreuung und Sekretariatsaufgaben (Empfang, Telefon, Post etc.); allgemeine organisatorische Aufgaben zur Unterstützung des Instituts. Wenn Sie muttersprachliche Japanischkenntnisse sowie sehr gute Kenntnisse der deutschen und englischen Sprache haben sowie sicher sind im Umgang mit Bürosoftware, freuen wir uns auf Ihre Bewerbung bis zum 8. Januar 2026. Die vollständige Ausschreibung finden Sie hier auf Deutsch und auf Japanisch.

We invite applications for mobility fellowships in the research node “Global Indo-Pacific: Connecting Histories and Futures” for research stays at any partner institution from one to two months between April and October 2026. The node presently includes researchers from five MWS institutes (DIJ Tokyo, GHI London, MWF Delhi, GHI Paris, GHI Washington), the Asia Research Institute (ARI) at the National University of Singapore and the Institute for Asian and African Studies at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Centered at ARI, it conducts research within the three modules “History, Heritage and Civilization”, “Knowledge, Networks and Institutions”, and “Earth, Energy and Water”. The mobility fellowships support self-chosen innovative research projects with links to one of the node’s module themes. This call for applications aims at strengthening and expanding networks within and beyond the research node. Application deadline: December 14, 2025. Details here