LECTURES AND EVENTS
JST 2025.9.8, Monday
Special Lecture by His Excellency Mr. Justin Hayhurst, Ambassador of Australia to Japan
‘50 years of friendship and cooperation: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan’
This Special Lecture will be in person at the Embassy of Australia
Synopsis:
2026 will mark fifty years since Australia and Japan signed the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (the Treaty was signed on 16 June 1976 by Prime Ministers Fraser and Miki). The Treaty heralded a new stage in Australia–Japan relations, enshrining the depth of friendship, combined interest and interdependence of purpose between our two nations. The Treaty established a framework of principles to guide and strengthen future bilateral relations, focused on increasing investment, economic and political ties and people to people connections. The Treaty remains a key instrument of one of Australia’s most successful international partnerships.
Brief Biography:
His Excellency Mr. Justin Hayhurst is Australia’s Ambassador to Japan and took up the appointment in January 2023. Ambassador Hayhurst is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Deputy Secretary of the Geostrategic Group and Australia’s Senior Quad Official. Previously, Ambassador Hayhurst was First Assistant Secretary International in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Ambassador Hayhurst was First Assistant Secretary of the Foreign Policy White Paper Taskforce from 2016 to 2017 and served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, Beijing, from 2012 to 2016. From 2007 to 2009 he served as Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on North Asia, South Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq and counter-terrorism. Ambassador Hayhurst worked as a Senior Analyst at the Office of National Assessments from 2004 to 2007. He was also Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy, Manila, from 2001 to 2004. Ambassador Hayhurst joined DFAT in 1999. He has a First Class Honours Degree in History from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.
Online Lecture Programme 2025 Schedule
JST 2025 September 22nd, Monday
Mr. Paul Martin, Former Curator in the Japanese Section of the British Museum, and trustee of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK)
‘An Introduction to the Beauty of Japanese Swords’
JST 2025 October 20th, Monday - 2025 Young Scholars’ Programme
Applications are welcome, please see the information below.
Final submission date is – 18 August (Monday), midnight JS
JST 2025 November 17th, Monday
Prof. Hirotaka Takeuchi, Professor of Management Practice, Strategy Unit, Harvard Business School and Professor Emeritus of Hitotsubashi University
‘Nonaka's Knowledge Creation Theory and Its Global Impact’
JST 2025 December 15th, Monday
Dr. Ai Fukunaga, Curator, Chester Beatty Museum
‘The Chester Beatty’s Nara ehon collection’
2025 YOUNG SCHOLARS' PROGRAMME
Call for Papers
The Asiatic Society of Japan (ASJ) is Japan's oldest learned society, with its inaugural meeting in Yokohama in 1872. Inspired by the Royal Asiatic Societies of their day, ASJ's founders coordinated activities "to collect and publish information on subjects relating to Japan and other Asiatic Countries." Yet they intentionally differentiated ASJ from these affiliated societies at the outset by having established a "Society for scholarly gentlemen" rather than a society of scholars. The founders and earliest members were pillars of Japan's modernization and industrialization at the dawn of the Meiji Period. Physicians, engineers, barristers, missionaries, military officers, professors, and diplomats numbered among them, including Dr. James Hepburn, Sir Ernest Satow, Basil Hall Chamberlain, and William Aston. Today, the Society serves members of a general audience that have shared interests in Japan and the country’s myriad of connections with the world.
The Young Scholars’ Programme was initiated by the Society in 2006 at the suggestion of the Honorary Patron, HIH Princess Takamado, to give researchers at doctoral level the opportunity to present their research on Japan and/or Asia and answer questions on it in English. This year’s event will be held on Monday, 20 October. It will be held either entirely online or hybrid, so young scholars from around the world are encouraged to apply.
Requirements
The closing date for nominations this year is midnight on Monday, 18 August. All nominated candidates (to be first selected by a university professor or other nominator) should submit the following:
a) A provisional title for their presentation
b) Details of their field of research
c) A CV or brief biography
d) A formal letter of recommendation on headed notepaper from his/her academic supervisor supporting the application*
* Candidates may submit their materials directly to the Asiatic Society of Japan, via e-mail, to info@asjapan.org. However, the letter of recommendation should be submitted to info@asjapan.org by the academic supervisor (not the candidate).
Award
☆ Certificate of Recognition from the ASJ Board and HIH Princess Takamado, the Honorary Patron of the Asiatic Society of Japan
☆ Research award of 100,000 yen, courtesy of the Hugh E. Wilkinson Foundation
☆ Free ASJ membership for one year, courtesy of the Hugh E. Wilkinson Foundation
☆ Article to be submitted to the Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, the Society’s annual journal
annual journal
Results
A maximum of four young scholars (up to age 35, although consideration will be given to those up to age 40) will be selected to give a presentation for 20 minutes each. Candidates will be notified of the selection results at the beginning of September.
* For further details, please e-mail the ASJ Office at info@asjapan.org, and title your e-mail ‘2025 Young Scholars’ Programme’
