The Asiatic Society of Japan
2026 Young Scholars’ Programme (YSP)
– 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. 2026 marks the
twentieth anniversary of the YSP and it will be held on Monday, 19 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, 17 August, JST. All
nominated candidates (to be first selected by a university professor or other nominator)
should submit the following:

a) A provisional title for the presentation
b) Details of the candidate’s field of research (500 words)
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 10,000 JPY, 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

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 in early September.

• For further details, please e-mail the ASJ Office at info@asjapan.org,
  and title your e-mail – 2026 Young Scholars’ Programme