Recently, the book, “Mode et stéréotypes interculturels-Le cas des articles consacrés aux couturiers japonais dans Le Figaro et Libération (Fashion and intercultural stereotypes. The case of the articles on Japanese couturiers in Le Figaro and Libération)”, written by Dr. Kyoko Koma, research fellow of the Centre for Asian Studies, was published. More information about the book can be found at Amazon.com website.
This work presents how French newspapers represent Japanese fashion designers who create “Japanese phenomenon” in Prêt-a-porter of Paris in 1980s and their works, through the discourse analysis of French School. The author analyses how two French representative national newspapers Le Figaro and Libération, which are oppositely politicized, represent the Japanese fashion creators and their works, by means of stereotypes on Japan classified by French linguist Jean-Paul Honoré into 8 points: puissance, order, mystery, refinement, rigueur, pragmatism, past and modernity. (more…)
In March (2012), the Centre for Asian Studies successfully finished the research project “Japanology within Asian Studies in Lithuania: Historical Perspective and Present Situation”, supported by Japan Foundation. As result, the 
The Centre for Asian Studies invites everybody interested in studying Asian countries in Lithuania, to a half-day seminar on the internationalization of East Asian studies in Lithuania. The seminar will take place on May 4 (Friday) at “Kaunas” Hotel, Kaunas. During the Seminar, the project of the new MA Joint Degree Program of East Asian Studies will be presented. The participants will be informed about the expanding possibilities to study in Asian countries and about the new BA program Cultures and Languages of East Asian Countries, launched since this September. Finally, H.E. ambassador of Japan to Lithuania, Ms. Kazuko Shiraishi will deliver a lecture.
On March 31, 2012, the new Website “Asian studies in Lithuania” was launched. It is supposed to become an electronic data base where data regarding the history and present situation of Asian studies in Lithuania is collected. Here you can find the information about the personalities (scholars, travelers, educators, translators), working in the field or Asian studies, the books and dissertations on Asian countries, the academic and cultural events, the resources (library funds, art collections, textbooks, etc.) needed for studies, etc. 
Asian Studies Centre invites to a lecture Japan’s environmental politics since 1945, which will be delivered via Internet by Linas Didvalis, a doctoral candidate at International Christian University (Tokyo). Lecture will be held on March 28 (Wednesday) at the Seminar Room of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy (Gedimino 44, room 103), 13:00-14:30. The lecture is part of the MA course “Postwar Japan’s Society and Politics”. 
Head of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Dr. Aurelijus Zykas was awarded a prize at the competition of young researchers for his academic research titled “Policy of country image: experiences of Japanese public diplomacy in the 21st century”. The official awarding ceremony will take place on March 27 in Lithuanian Science Academy. Lithuanian Science Academy established the competition of best academic works in 2010. Every year there are selected 4 best academic works of Lithuanian scholars and 10 works of young researchers. Among them, only two are selected in the field of Social sciences and Humanities.
On February 17-23 VMU delegation visited three academic institutions in the Republic of China (Taiwan), where they discussed the possibilities to create a joint study program in the field of East Asian studies, as well as issues of possible student and teachers exchange, collaboration in academic research. The delegation visited the following institutions: National University of Political Science (NCCU), University of Tamkang and University of Providence. 
