Open lectures about China

Time for Asia events start the spring semester with two open lectures about China. We are honored to present you Prof. Gao Fei from China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU). He previously held positions of Director of Study Center of China Diplomacy, Director of Research Office of CFAU, Deputy Secretary General of China National Association for International Studies (CNAIS), and Fulbright Visiting Scholar in George Washington University. Currently Prof. Gao is working as Assistant President and Academic Dean of CFAU. During his academic career he has published numerous books, articles and papers on China’s diplomacy and foreign policy.

During the visit, Prof. Gao Fei will give two open lectures: (more…)

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During the Vilnius Book Fair on Thursday, February 22nd, at 2:00 P.M., in the Conference Hall 1.2, a discussion with Dr Aurelijus Zykas “Lead by Soft Power. Image, World and Japan” (moderated by Richardas Jonaitis). The event will be opened by the Ambassador of Japan in Lithuania, H.E. Toyoei Shigeeda.

During the event the newest Dr A. Zykas’ monograph “Lead by Soft Power: Communication of Country’s Image and Japan” will be presented, which will be available for the purchase at VMU booth Nr. 3.11.

The practice of managing the image of the country raises a lot of dilemmas, therefore, it has both advocates and enemies. Lithuania is not an exception. On one hand, media is resentful that Lithuania abroad is portrayed as a poor country or the homeland of Hannibal Lecter. (more…)

VMU Asian Week 2018

The Centre for Asian Studies (CAS) at Vytautas Magnus University together with the students’ clubs “Hashi”, “Wu Wei” and “Hallyu” invites you to the annual event VMU Asian Week 2018. The event will take place on March 5-9 in various venues of VMU and other public places of Kaunas.

VMU Asian Week is a one week-long cycle of events dedicated to East Asia. The event is aimed to introduce general public with the East Asia region through the presentation of culture, languages, martial arts, cuisine. Events organized last time were a great success and attracted a lot of attention from general public and media. (more…)

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This January a representative of the Centre for Asian Studies dr. Linas Didvalis visited the University of Leeds. The goal of the visit was to learn about the structure of East Asian study programs, to discus research activities, and possibility to start student exchanges. Dr. Didvalis met staff representatives from the School of Politics and International Studies, the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, and the School of Sociology and Social Policy. In addition of valuable exchange of experience and good practices, the visit resulted in agreement to start arranging academic staff and student exchange between the two universities in the field of East Asia region studies. (more…)

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Recently, Ms. Madoka Sugihara, grand-daughter of Chiune Sugihara, granted the permission to Vytautas Magnus University’s Centre for Asian Studies to publish historical document Nr. 220 issued by Prof. Dr. Mažylis Private Hospital (currently Mažylis Maternity Hospital) which testifies the birth of Haruki, the third son of Ch. Sugihara. The record which has been found in Kaunas Regional State Archives not only testifies that Sugihara’s son was born in Kaunas, but also provides new information.

The document states that Ms. Yukiko Sugihara arrived to the hospital on May 28th, 1:30 P.M. after (more…)

Erasmus+ teaching visit

This December VMU lector and chief coordinator of the Centre for Asian Studies dr. Linas Didvalis was visiting University of Ljubljana in Slovenia based on Erasmus+ Teaching Visit program. This opportunity allowed to visit faculties of arts and social sciences, learn more about the status of Asian studies, meet academic staff and discuss future cooperation. Dr. Didvalis also gave three lectures to both BA and MA students: about environmental movements in Japan, challenges in East Asian international relations and China’s impact on international development policies. (more…)

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On November 28 – December 9, filming has been taking place in different locations of Japan, as a part of the ongoing project of VMU Centre for Asian Studies (CAS). During the intensive program the Head of the CAS Dr Aurelijus Zykas, together with Kristijonas Jakubsonas, a lecturer from the VMU Department of Public Communication have visited 10 cities in Japan, where they met with the scholars and public figures, and filmed important locations, objects and documents.

‘Ten days, ten cities, fourteen interviews and countless exciting moments,- the project (more…)

On December 6th Japanese business and education representatives visited VMU and during the meeting with University’s representatives discussed possible cooperation. Among the guests there were “Fukuyama Transporting Co.” President and C.E.O. Shigehiro Komaru, Executive and Vice President of Hiroshima University Toshiyuki Sato, Shibuya Ikueikai Foundation managing director Hidemitsu Murata and representative from the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania.   (more…)

During October 4-11, Alanta Kaminskaitė, a fourth-year Bachelor’s Degree Program in East Asian Cultures and Languages 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. (more…)

On November 23rd in VMU Small Hall (S. Daukantas st. 28) the Center for Asian Studies together with the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania invites you to the screening of the movie about Chiune Sugihara “Persona Non Grata”. Movie starts at 6:00 P.M. The event is free and open to everyone.

Chiune Sugihara was a Japanese Vice-Consul in Lithuania who lived in Kaunas (in a “Sugihara House” historical building) during the period of 1939 – 1940. While residing there, he saved thousands of Jewish people by issuing transit visas though Japan allowing them to flee from the holocaust and Nazi occupation. (more…)