The Centre for Asian Studies (CAS) at Vytautas Magnus University together with the students’ clubs “Hallyu”, “Hashi” and “Wu Wei” invites Kaunas residents and city’s guests to the VMU Asian Week 2019. This year the event will take place on March 4-8 in venues of VMU and other public places in Kaunas.

VMU Asian Week is a one week-long cycle of events dedicated to East Asian countries – China, Japan and Korea. It is done through the presentation of specific aspects of culture, arts and cuisine. CAS social partners in Lithuania actively participated in the organization of this event.

Events organized last year were a great success and attracted a lot of attention from the general public and media. You can see the moments from the previous Asian Week here. (more…)

Those who have not yet been able to see the picturesque documentary about the relationship between Kaunas and Japan are welcome to the screening of the documentary “Kaunas, the City of Sugihara and Japan” on February 7th. After the screening together with the Deputy Kaunas City Mayor Mr. Simonas Kairys we will remember Kaunas work with Japan during the years. Since 2006 Mr. S. Kairys is the Head of Sugihara Group for Kaunas-Japan Relations Development. Due to this group creative projects have been initiated in Kaunas. One of them is Sugihara Week, more active cooperation with Gifu Municipality, etc.
nd Anykščiai.

The story of Kaunas – Japan bilateral relations are revealed through four personalities who prior the World War II became bridges between the two countries. It is Yukichi Fukuzawa – the first Japanese who mentioned and wrote about Kaunas in his diary. In 1862 together with the mission of 36 Japanese he traveled through Lithuania by train and went for a short stroll in Kaunas. (more…)

The staff of the Centre for Asian Studies sends the Season’s greetings to all of you and wishes you to have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! 

Year 2018 was a fruitful period for the Centre.  ASC created the documentary “Kaunas. The city of Sugihara and Japan” which premiered both in Lithuania (April 26^th) and Japan (July 28^th).  We organized 29^th international EAJRS (European Association of Japanese Recourse Specialists) conference on the topic of “(G)localizing Japanese Studies Resources”. It was the first one taking place in the Baltic States. On October 5^th we expanded our network and opened King Sejong Institute in Kaunas, strengthening cooperation between Lithuania and South Korea. Signed international agreements with Gunma University (Japan), Ochanomizu University (Japan), Korea University (South Korea) and National Taipei University of Technology (Taiwan). (more…)

October 7-14, 2018 Romanas Erminas, East Asia region studies Master‘s student has won national “MIRAI” program’s contest and visited Japan. The program is supported by the Japanese government and is dedicated to the young leaders of the future. During the program, dozens of students from various countries spent a week in Japan, where they participated in discussions, visited local and central government institutions, various campaigns, universities, got acquainted with Japan’s economic and political system, culture.

The program has given the student an opportunity to get to know more about Japan’s politics, international relations and security. Erminas deepened historical, cultural and social knowledge that he acquired during his Bachelor’s studies. 40 students from Europe countries had participated in first group of “MIRAI 2018 Politics and Security“. (more…)

During November 6-10 Murad Asgarow, East Asia Region Studies student represented Vytautas Magnus University in the 2018 Jeonju International Biennale of Korean Studies at Chonbuk National University in South Korea. The conference provided scholars with an opportunity to share their ideas and the latest achievements in Korean Studies with fellow scholars from around the world.  

During students visit to South Korea Murad not only participated in the conference but also had an opportunity to learn more about Korean history and experience its culture. Our student visited multiple museums and historical places in Jeonju, wore hanbok, etc. (more…)

On November 15 – December 15 VMU Centre for Asian Studies invites you to visit Japanese post stamps exhibition “Memorable events of the 20^th Century for Japanese people”. The exhibition displays a part of Mr. Leonas Veržbolauskas collection of Japanese post stamps. The exhibition is located in the 4^th floor gallery at the VMU Multifunctional Research and Studies Centre (V. Putvinskis st. 23).

The collection portrays the main events that occurred in Japan over the course of the 20th Century covering various aspects of the country’s life including World War I and World War II, international relations, technological advancements and trends, culture, sports, etc. This exhibition provides a unique way to learn about Japan’s history through the scope of Japanese perception.

On the 12th of November, an agreement was signed in Tokyo with the new VMU partner – Ochanomizu University (お茶の水女子大学 Ochanomizu joshi daigaku). The ceremony was attended by the University’s Rector Prof. Kimiko Murofushi, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Japan Mr. Gediminas Varvuolis and Head of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Dr. Aurelijus Zykas.

Despite being small, Ochanimizu University is one of the most prestigious Universities in Japan. Founded in 1875 as a Women’s Education School in 1949 it became the first University to provide higher education for women in Japan. University actively develops international relations and VMU became its first partner in Lithuania. It is our 22nd partner in Japan. (more…)

“Time for Asia” is back with an event that is focused on Taiwan’s aboriginal language. The lecture “Language and Cultural Revitalization and Sustainability” will be held by Prof. Apay Ai-yu Tang, Associate Professor in the Department of Indigenous Languages and Communications College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University (Hualien, Taiwan). The lecture will be held on November 5th, 12:15 PM at room 521 (K. Donelaitis st. 52). The lecture will be held in English. The event is free and open to all.

During the lecture Prof. A. Ai-yu Tang will analyze the indigenous language, it’s shifts and changes which are influenced by the internal problems arising in Taiwan, such as the identity and ethnicity of the population. The professor will provide an overview on the indigenous language policy and planning, as well as the attempts on the reversal of the critical shifts. (more…)

We would like to invite you to the screenings of the VMU Centre for Asian Studies documentary “Kaunas, the City of Sugihara and Japan” on October 18-19th, 2018. The screenings will be taking place in Druskininkai, Kurkliai – the birthplace of Steponas Kairys and Anykščiai.

The story of Kaunas – Japan bilateral relations are revealed through four personalities who prior the World War II became bridges between the two countries. It is Yukichi Fukuzawa – the first Japanese who mentioned and wrote about Kaunas in his diary. In 1862 together with the mission of 36 Japanese he traveled through Lithuania by train and went for a short stroll in Kaunas. The author of first Lithuanian books about Japan – Steponas Kairys. In 1905 he was amazed by a small distant country which managed to defeat ten times bigger Russia and inspired Lithuanians to seek independence. Even after visiting Japan for a few times, journalist and traveler Matas Šalčius decided to reach this country from Kaunas once again… on a bike. And finally, diplomat Chiune Sugihara united both countries in 1940 with his heroic act. (more…)

On September 12-15 already the 29th EAJRS (European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists) conference was held at Vytautas Magnus University. Thanks to our benevolent participants of the conference, Asian Books Space expanded even more and received over more than 20 different books in Bulgarian, English and Japanese languages!

We are extremely thankful to Japan Publications Trading, Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture – Japan Library, Shogakukan, Sofia university and professors Feng Haiying, Merete Pedersen and Peter Kornicki for such a valuable gift. You can find these books in Asian Books Space! (more…)

University of East Anglia (UEA) is organizing Japan Orientation Summer School from 29 June to 13 July 2019. “Japan Orientation” is a two week summer school program held at University of East Anglia in the city of Norwich, UK, in collaboration with the Toshiba Interational Foundation (TIFO). This program is designed for university students who are specializing in Japanese Studies or interested in the study of Japan. (more…)

Students are invited to participate in a competition for one semester or one academic year long[1] exchange studies at non-EU countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students have to submit completed online application form (Outgoing – Application for Bilateral and Erasmus Study Exchange (non-EU countries)) until for Japanese universities 17^th of February, 2019; other universities till 25^th of February, 2019. (more…)

Embassy of Japan in Lithuania will present opportunities to study in Japan for Lithuanian citizens. Special attention will be given to Japanese Government Scholarships (MEXT) proveded to Lithuanian citizens. Students that have studies in Japan will share their experiences. 

Date: February 6th, 2019 (Wednesday).
Time: 4:45-6:00 PM. (more…)

In order to promote Chinese and Lithuanian cultural communication, enrich campus cultural activities and encourage students’ enthusiasm in learning Chinese, “The 1^st Chinese Character Creative Design Poster Competition in Lithuania” will be sponsored by Confucius Institute at Vilnius University in February, 2019. The solicitation of designing works will start on February 1, 2019. (more…)

The Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) invites researches to apply for “2020 Research Fellowship Program”. Fields of research such as natural science, engineering and medicine are considered with first priorities. 

Applicants are free to select host institutions (universities, national research institutions or the (more…)

Showa Women‘s University (Tokyo, Japan) invites female undergraduate and graduate university students to participate in the 3 week summer program. The program is designed for students who are interested in Japan, but not yet studies Japanese.

During your stay in Japan together with Japanese (more…)

The EU Centre together with the Jean Monnet Network on Challenges to Multiculturalism and Multilateralism are organizing a 2-week Summer Programme in Singapore and Maastricht in June 15-29, 2019. 

The Summer Programme will provide an opportunity to learn more about the EU and ASEAN, looking at their (more…)

The EU-Japan Centre is calling for expert report proposals for its “About Japan” section in their website. With this call the Centre wants to expand its range of covered subjects and earlier reports. In addition, experts are invited to submit any ideas or suggestions of Japan-related topics in their domain of expertise and/or of interest for EU industry (especially EU SMEs). (more…)

Kansai Gaidai University (Japan) is pleased to inform you that application for the Asian Studies Summer Program 2019 is now open.

Six-week program offers the combination of Japanese language course with lecture course in Asian Studies, which will lay a foundation for understanding Japan and its people. Field trips and student-organized activities will add interesting hands-on experiences to students’ learning. (more…)

VMU students are invited to participate in competition for traineeship at non-EU countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students have to submit completed online application form (Application form for traineeship in non-EU/EEE countries) until 16^th of December 2018. (more…)