VMU Centre for Asian Studies invites you to the premiere of a new documentary “Kaunas. The city of Sugihara and Japan”. The premiere will be taking place on April 26, 5:30 P.M. in Kaunas cinema centre’s “Romuva” temporary hall, Kęstučio st. 62 (entrance through the inner yard).

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 (more…)

The Centre for Asian Studies continues “Time for Asia” events and invites you to learn more about China’s role in international affairs and relationship with both neighboring and distant powers. The lecture “China’s Relations with (Re-)Emerging Powers and Regions” will be held by dr. Konstantinas Andrijauskas, Associate Professor of Asian Studies and International Politics from Vilnius University. As a visiting scholar he worked at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and most recently Columbia university. Dr. Andrijauskas is the author of a number of publications on Asian politics, including his 2016 book “The Clash between China, India and Russia in Eurasia’s Civilizational Spaces”.

The lecture will be held on March 15 from 17:00 at Gedimino 44-202, Kaunas. The event is free and open to all. (more…)

We are now accepting registrations and proposals for presentations for the 28th EAJRS conference to be held in Kaunas 12-15 September 2018, organized by Centre for Asian Studies of Vytautas Magnus University. The partners of the event are Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Global Japan Office and VMU Library.

If you plan to attend, please complete the registration form and return it to eajrs@eajrs.net.

Proposals for presentations should be returned by 15 May 2018.

Download the registration form here.

The central topic this year is “(G)localizing Japanese Studies Resources”, whereby special (more…)

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…)

During the Vilnius Book Fair on Thursday, February 22^nd, 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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)