The Society for the Study of Japonisme is pleased to announce the 2025 edition of its International Symposium, co-organized with the Ebara Hatakeyama Memorial Foundation. Under the general theme “Fair Encounters: (Great) Exhibitions and the Making of Japonisme,” the symposium aims to examine the phenomena of Japonisme from a wide range of viewpoints. This year’s symposium will have a hybrid format that allows for remote participation. For those speakers participating remotely, a pre-recorded video presentation will be required. Presentations and discussions will take place both in person and on-line with simultaneous translation into English or Japanese. Please note that we might have to make changes to our schedule or even reschedule the entire symposium.
Theme: Fair Encounters: (Great) Exhibitions and the Making of Japonisme
Expositions functioned as a hinge between Western and Japanese cultures. For example, expositions that contributed to the formation of Japonisme in the late 19th century included not only international expositions, but also domestic industrial exhibitions in Japan aimed at promoting industry and exports. Based on the wide range of existing research on Japonisme, this symposium reconsiders expositions as a central topic and examines their influence on Japonisme.
Date: Saturday, November 22nd, 2025.
Venue: Musashino Art University, Ichigaya Campus Access | Musashino Art University (musabi.ac.jp) / with a hybrid format.
Organizers: The Society for the Study of Japonisme / Ebara Hatakeyama Memorial Foundation
Language: Japanese or English (with simultaneous interpretation)
Requirements: The Society for the Study of Japonisme membership. Non-members may sign up when submitting their proposals (see the “Join Us” page on our website https://japonisme-studies.jp/join-us/ ). Your proposal will be considered once the Board of Directors approves your membership application.
Please email an abstract for a 20-minute presentation as attachment (single-page A4 document of about 400 words) to the address below by 17:00, Sunday, July 13, 2025, Japan Standard Time. Submissions will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and accepted applicants will be notified mid-August 2025. Please note that we don’t accept papers which have been published elsewhere. Accepted applicants are expected to submit a full paper by Sunday, November 9, 2025, for the purpose of simultaneous interpretation. Those participating remotely are also requested to submit a pre-recorded presentation by the same date.
Send enquiries and proposals to: japonisme.kokusai.symposium@gmail.com (The Society for the Studies of Japonisme, Directors in Charge: Hiroshi EMOTO, Yu KISHI)