March 27, 2019 Dr Aurelijus Zykas finishes his work as head of the Centre for Asian Studies, which he started in 2008, eleven years ago.

„It was extremely interesting and challenging period of life. I hope, I succeeded to continue the activities and ideas of my predecessor, Mr. Arvydas Ališauskas, who had established Japanese Studies Centre. – Dr. Aurelijus Zykas stated, – I believe, together with our team we were able to raise Asian studies in Kaunas to some higher level. Here, in Kaunas, the vivid community of Asian studies specialists was developed, and now it is dispersed in different countries of the World. I would like to express my appreciation to all the divisions of the University and our social partners. We all worked together and achieved joint aims“.

Among the achievements of the Centre for Asian Studies during the last decade, the following should be mentioned: (more…)

The Centre for Asian Studies continues “Time for Asia” events and invites you on March 4 to an open lecture given by the newly appointed South Korea’s ambassador to Lithuania H.E. Mira Sun. In the lecture Lithuania-Korea Relations and Peace Process on the Korean Peninsula the Ambassador will talk not only about Lithuania-Korea relations but also about ongoing tensions and recent attempts to achieve peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Before diplomatic career, H. E. Mira Sun was working as a human rights lawyer. She is a specialist of civil society, international relations in East Asia, resolution of historical tensions between Korea and Japan, and other areas. It will the first Ambassador’s visit to Kaunas and her first lecture given in Lithuania. H.E. Mira Sun will also participate in the opening of Asian Week and will visit the Centre for Asian Studies and King Sejong Institute Kaunas.

The lecture will be held on March 4 (Monday) from 10:00 at Putvinskio str. 23-310, Kaunas. The lecture will be in English and is free and open to all.

FB event: facebook.com/events/2268447939884531/ (more…)

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 are happy to announce a call for papers for the 5th annual international students’ conference on Asia. The conference will take place on April 9 at Vytautas Magnus University (V. Putvinskio 23, Kaunas).

If you are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, arts, economics or other areas, this event is just for you. The conference, organized by VMU East Asian Languages ​​and Cultures students, together with the Centre for Asian Studies and the Department of Cultural Studies, is a great opportunity to share your accumulated knowledge, work or research with colleagues in this field and not only, to gain experience and improve your public speaking skills, or even get some inspirations. (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.

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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…)

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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…)