Regulations

The main purpose of this society is to study, to research the transmission and the traces of infiltration of Japanese culture in modern Europe and America. Based on these studies’ results, we aim to provide deeper understandings towards the East-West exchanges, to contribute to the body of knowledge concerning Japan and the world’s cultural development.

4.2 The membership categories are as follows:
1. Regular Member
A person who is engaged in academic research on Japonisme, who is recognised by the Board of Directors as being able to contribute to the research activities of this Society. They can participate in all events of the Society. They have the right to vote in elections, the right to vote at general meetings and can be elected as members of the Board of Directors.
When applying for membership, they must obtain recommendations from two regular members or present their academic achievements, such as publications.
2. Student Member
A person who is engaged in academic research on Japonisme, who is enrolled in a university. They can participate in all events of the Society, but do not have the right to vote in elections and general meetings, and cannot be elected as members of the Board of Directors.
When applying for membership, they must obtain recommendations from two regular members or present their academic achievements, such as publications.
3. Associate Member
A person who is interested in Japonisme. They can participate in Society events, but cannot present at conferences or submit papers to the Society’s journal. In addition, they do not have the right to vote in elections, at the general meetings, and cannot be elected as members of the Board of Directors.
When applying for membership, recommendations from regular members are not required, but the application must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.
4. Supporting Members
Supporting members are individuals or organisations that make financial contributions to the Society.
Membership requires review and approval by the Board of Directors.

4.3 Change of Membership Type
Associate members may apply to change their membership status to regular members after joining.
Student members must apply to change their membership status to full member or associate member upon leaving their academic affiliation. If such an application is not made, the association may ask the student member to make the change.

The general meeting is the highest deciding institution, consisting of the society’s regular members and determining the overall management of the society. It is possible to entrust the implementation of certain fixed affairs to the board of directors.  The general meeting is organised once a year, and can only be held when more than half of the general members participate (physical, or through usage of authorisation forms). The head of each general meeting is chosen amongst the attending members.

The society committee consists of the following positions: Director (president), Chair and Assistant Director, Secretary General, Board of Directors, Auditors, Executive Committee members (staff), and Appointed Committee members.

The chair is chosen at each general meeting. They represent the society and its committee. The president’s term is 4 years, and can only be renewed once.

The board (12 persons) and auditors (2 persons) are chosen at each general meeting. The board’s term is 2 years, and cannot be renewed more than once (except for the director). When the required number of people and positions is not reached, a substitute will be elected during the following general meeting. The term of the person substituting will consist of the remainder of the term of the preceding person.

Board meetings can only take place when more than half of its members take part. However, participation through authorisation is possible. The chair leads the board meeting.

The board of directors elects a secretary general from its members. The secretary general can install secretary staff upon approval of the chair.

The honorary president, honorary members and consultants are elected by the board of directors and approved during the general meeting.

The board of directors manages the society. In order to do so, managing tasks are divided amongst the Chair and Secretary-General, the Board of Directors, the Secretary Office, Auditors, and Organising Committee Members. This division is decided during board meetings.

The chair leads the board meetings, instructs managing affairs of the society, supervises the secretaries, and holds final responsibility concerning the society’s management.

The secretary-general can act as a substitute representative of the chair, in the managing aspects decided upon by the chair.

The board is in charge of the following managing tasks:
・The management of the secretary office
・The management of the general meeting
・The management of study meetings and symposia
・The edition of the society’s journal Studies in Japonisme
・The election of the society’s award(s)
・Publication, and foreign relations
・The maintenance of the society’s management fees.
・The organisation of special projects.

The secretary office conducts the following tasks: accountancy, the procedures for members entering and leaving the society, maintaining the society’s member list, communication in and around the society, preservation of material and records.

The secretary-general operates as the head of the secretary office, under the guidance of the chair.

The auditor officers supervise the records developed by the secretary office, and report these during board meetings and general meetings.