What if statistics could solve a literary mystery centuries in the making? That’s exactly what Department of Asian Languages and Literature Professor Paul Atkins, along with mathematics Ph.D. students Herman Chau and Michael Zeng, set out to do. Using data analysis and machine learning, the three discussed how they used statistical analysis of hiragana usage

The “Omoro sōshi” — a rich tapestry of 1,500 songs, poems, and prayers — offers a rare glimpse into the everyday lives, landscapes, and spirit of the Ryukyu Islands’ golden age. On April 8, as part of the 2025 Washin Kai Spring Lecture, Department of Asian Languages & Literature Associate Professor Davinder Bhowmik introduced the

Ultra-Low Birth Rate in East Asia: Crisis Discourses and Collaborative Responses The purpose of the conference is to deeply consider how young women (and their female and male counterparts) across East Asia are inadvertently, in some cases, and intentionally in others, challenging socio-cultural, gender, labor, family and national-cultural norms and expectations. We will look closely

Join us on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM in Kane Hall 225 for a special evening lecture: Consolidating Constitutional Legitimacy in Japan: Concepts, Metrics, and Pathways Forward Kenneth Mori McElwain, University of Tokyo and Columbia University Amidst global challenges to established institutions, rights, and norms, the role of constitutions in preserving democratic governance

Join us Feb. 7 from 4:30-6 p.m. in Thomson Hall 317 for a presentation by Matias Chiappe Ippolito as he provides a brief history of the connections between Latin America, left-wing politics, and Japanese literature in the post-war period, highlighting writers who exemplify the development of this connection. Matias Chiappe Ippolito is a researcher and professor

Join us Feb. 21 from 3:30-5 p.m. in Thomson Hall 317 for a lecture by Ko Maeda as he explores Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and how they have achieved electoral advantage by not achieving their goals of revising the constitution. Ko Maeda is an associate professor of political science at the University of North

The UW Japan Studies Program, the campus-wide organization of faculty and units serving students studying Japan in various disciplines has been renamed the UW Center for Japanese Studies. While our mission remains the same, the new name better reflects our role as the hub for Japanese research, teaching, non-classroom programming, collaborations across the entire UW

Join us in-person to learn about research fellowship opportunities in Japan through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Funding is available for: Graduate Students Postdoctoral Scholars Professors (of any level) Researchers (of any level) JANUARY 16, 2025 Noon – 1:00 PM Thomson Hall 317

Dear faculty, staff, students, and members of our broader community, Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year! I hope your autumn quarter was smooth and productive, and that you’re as enthusiastic as we are about the upcoming winter and spring quarters. So far this academic year, we have already hosted (in-person or virtually) the author Shibasaki

The Inter- University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) in Yokohama is currently accepting applications for our 2025–2026 10- month intensive program. The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC) is the world’s leading center for the study of advanced Japanese and has provided language training to over 3,000 individuals. First established in Tokyo in