VMU Center for Asian Studies invites to a series of events dedicated to the memory of “comfort women”. The problem of “comfort women” remains relevant to this day and affects international relations in East Asia. Japan views this question as resolved, meanwhile South Korea is seeking redress and a formal apology from Japan. We would like to invite you to broaden your horizons on this topic and join the discussion by participating in a series of three events on three Fridays: October 22nd, 29th and November 5th.

On October 22nd, 14:30 in room 103 (V. Putvinskio g. 23, Kaunas) screening of the movie “Shusenjo: The Main Battleground of the Comfort Women Issue” is going to take place. The movie by a Japanese American director Miki Dezaki analyze controversial “comfort women” issue aiming to answer the question causing intense discussions – were “comfort women” paid or they were taken into slavery. What is more, director reveals the motivations and intentions of the main actors pushing to revise history in Japan. (more…)

Komaru Transportation Company together with Hiroshima University Lithuanian Center and Vytautas Magnus University Centre for Asian Studies as well as Japanology  club “Hashi” is organizing Fourth Japanese Language Speech Contest. Competition is intended for pupils and students who study Japanese language in Lithuania. Organizers of the competition aim to strengthen bilateral Lithuania-Japan relations and mutual understanding. This year’s topic invites to raise awareness about road traffic safety.

This year contest gained unique form – aiming to ensure safety during the pandemic, contestants are asked to upload recordings of their speech, which later will be evaluated by the Committee, taking into account the correctness of the speech, figurativeness, content, etc. Competing speeches have to be original and composed by participants.

You can register and submit recordings of your speeches until October 22nd, 2021., by filling the registration form.

Results of the contest will be announced on November 13th, 2021, 9:00-12:00 Lithuanian (16:00-19:00 Japanese) time. (more…)

VMU Centre for Asian Studies is inviting not to miss the opening of Dr. Arvydas Kumpis photography exhibition “Taiwan: Between Tradition and Modernity” which is going to take place on October 1^st, 13:45 at the 4^th floor gallery (V. Putvinskio g. 23, Kaunas). After the opening we are inviting all to open lecture (in English) by Alex Fratila during which he will introduce contemporary Taiwan’s societal peculiarities and cultural variety. The exhibition will take place until November 29^th in 4^th floor gallery.

Taiwan is a country of enchanting nature, charming culture, and colorful society. Due to its geopolitical location, it is more often discussed in the comments of politicians than comments of travelers, historians, or cultural figures. And that makes this land harder to know.

Physical distance complicates cognition of Taiwan – this factor is common to all East Asian countries. However, it is enough to take a little look at the features of Taiwan in order to feel the urge to visit it. We did exactly that with wife Simona. (more…)

This and next year Baltic states will celebrate multiple anniversaries commemorating the establishment of diplomatic relations with East Asian states: 100 years since the first bilateral relations and 30 years since re-establishment. On this occasion, the Centre for Asian studies is inviting researchers interested in East Asia and Baltic states to submit proposals to an international academic conference “A Century of Connections: Historical ties Between the Baltic and East Asia Regions”, which will be taking place at Vytautas Magnus University on March 4-5, 2022.

The event is dedicated to commemorating memorable historical events uniting Baltic and East Asian regions since the interwar to these days: de jure recognition of the Baltic states; interwar diplomatic communication; ties during the period of Soviet occupation; contemporary state-level, cultural and societal relations. The conference is inviting participants from various academic disciplines to share their research on the topic of ties uniting Baltic and East Asia. The organizers do not restrict academic approaches and invite speakers to give presentations in various fields of humanities and social sciences, including history, political science, economy, etc.  

Applications can be submitted until January 10^th, 2022 via e-mail: conference.asc@vdu.lt. Application forms and detailed information is provided in the attached document. The results about selected applications and conference panels will be announced on January 17^th. Priority will be given to those submitting panel proposals. Conference participation fee is 30 EUR. Presentations will be read in English. Both online and in-person participation is possible.

We would like to invite all interested in culture and politics of East Asia to listen to the public defense of students’ final thesis.

Master thesis defense of East Asia Region studies will take place on May 26th, from 13:00.

Bachelor thesis defense of East Asian Cultures and Languages will take place on June 10-11th, 10:00.

This year all defenses will take place online in virtual defense rooms. Aiming to ensure that defenses would go fluently, we ask those, interested in participating to register via e-mail: diana.jovaisiene@vdu.lt.

This month VMU Centre for Asian studies successfully concluded the project with the objective to create a Japanese language textbook for guides. The material for conversations provided in the textbook “Vienas vienas… キコエマスカ” allows to gain necessary communication skills and knowledge needed for the tourism sector in Lithuania.  This is the first Japanese language textbook for guides in Lithuania.

As the number of Japanese tourists arriving in Lithuania is growing, the need of Japanese-speaking guides is growing alongside. Currently two existing Japanese-Lithuanian dictionaries, especially online dictionary jishokun.lt are very useful for Lithuanians working with the tourist groups. (more…)

Admission to master’s programs has started in Vytautas Magnus University. Therefore, Centre for Asian Studies would like to invite those who are interested in China, Japan or Korea to apply for the East Asia region Studies program. Applications are accepted until June 1, 2021 (for non-EU citizens) and July 1, 2021 (for EU citizens).

Citizens of selected countries can apply for Lithuania’s national scholarships that cover full tuition.

East Asia region studies (EARS) postgraduate program is the first and the only one graduate program in Lithuania and Baltic States that offers English courses in the field of East Asian contemporary politics and society. The program has been running since 2007 and is constructed on an interdisciplinary / multidisciplinary basis of regional knowledge. (more…)

This week we received a report on the evaluation of East Asian Cultures and Languages (RASK) bachelor’s program prepared by the commission of international experts. The evaluation presented favorable conclusions – all areas of the program received high evaluations, including the objectives of the program, process of studies, qualification of lecturers and material base of University. Considering this, the RASK program received accreditation for the longest possible period – 7 years.

In the report experts provided recommendations on how to improve the quality of the study program. The program committee will consider all proposals and actively seek to maintain a high level of East Asian studies at Vytautas Magnus University. (more…)

The staff of the Centre for Asian Studies sends warm Season‘s greetings and wishes you to have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

2020 was truly exceptional, we had to learn to work online, limit and give up physical contact. Even though this year was tough, we remain full of energy and hopeful that new year will allow us to return to usual life.

After some break we come back with another “Time for Asia” event. This time it is a remote meeting with Ina Marčiulionytė who was Lithuania’s ambassador to China from 2015 to 2020. The meeting will take place online on October 22nd (Thursday), 14:30 and will be conducted in Lithuanian language. 

ATTENTION! Registration is mandatory. Log-in to event will be emailed to those who filled the registration form: https://forms.gle/JS7qmh56ysZ5JnD99  (more…)

We are sharing the invitation to submit abstracts for the 4th annual Student academic Conference, focusing on Asia. The conference will be held on April 24, 11:00-14:00, V. Putvinskio 23-310 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

This event, which has become an integral part of VMU Asian Week, is organized by VMU Regional Studies Asian specialization students and VMU Center for Asian Studies together with the Department of Cultural Studies. As every year, students from various fields whose work and research touch on the topic of Asia are welcome, both from the humanities, social sciences, arts and other disciplines. (more…)

The National Taiwan Library announced “Guidelines to the National Taiwan Library Fellowship for International Visiting Scholars and Students”.
The library provides Fellowship for experts and scholars to pursue their academic goals in Taiwan studies or Southeast Asia studies. Please click here to read more.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Lithuanian.

It is time for all who are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, economics, politics and more to come together for what has become an annual student research conference, organised by the VMU East Asia Cultures and Languages students.
This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge, work and research with colleagues in the field, to try and improve your public speaking skills, to gain experience and to listen to presentations by like-minded people. (more…)

Sorry, this entry is only available in Lithuanian.

Are you interested in politics of Japan? Maybe you are interested in economy of China? Maybe you are fascinated in Korean art and traditions? It does not matter in which field you are interested in, as long as it is related to East Asia we have a very interesting proposition to you. (more…)

VMU Department of International Relations informs about ongoing studies exchange and internship contests as well as “Erasmus Days’21” which are going to take place on February 17th, 18th, and 19th, during which students will be able to learn more about exchange opportunities. (more…)

Beijing Normal University entrusts the European Federation of Overseas Chinese and Chinese Associations to recruit 100 candidates for MBA and MPA studies (conducted fully in English) from all over the world. Appropriate students are welcome to sign up. (more…)

Applications for scholarships for studies in China in 2021-2022 are open. Persons who are nationals of Lithuania, EU or persons from the third countries having the right to live in Lithuania are welcome to apply.

Applications may be submitted by representatives of various fields of Lithuanian science and studies institutions/ representatives of science fields – Bachelor, Masters and PhD students. (more…)

The Government of Japan has announced a competition for financing studies in Japan according to Japonology study program. Estimated studies duration one year from October 2021.

Those who wish to apply for the scholarship must be BA students (from second course), have sufficient knowledge of Japanese language and a good study results. (more…)