ACE Japan : Japan Association for Cultural Exchange
http://www.acejapan.or.jp/
ACE Japan : Japan Association for Cultural Exchange was established by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to promote international understanding through cultural exchange. This website provides information on the Association's activities and programmes; the Japanese version of the site provides much more detail and more links than the English version.
The English-language version is divided into the following sections: Film Program (promotion of Japanese films abroad and foreign films in Japan); Education for International Understanding; Providing Information on Art (with a link to the website of the Art Catalog Library, which collects art exhibition catalogues); Publishing (books published by the Association); and Cooperation to Facilitate Cultural Exchange (projects managed by the Association for the Japan Foundation, including a link to the Japanese Literature Publishing Project website).
The Japanese version of the site also has a section on hiring meeting rooms at the Association's headquarters, as well as more detail in the other sections. For example, the Education for International Understanding section has detailed information on its programmes in both Japanese and English; and the Film Program section includes a link to the Japan Community Cinema Center website.
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Asahi shimbun
http://www.asahi.com/
This is the website of the Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun. The English version presents articles from the newspaper in the following sections: news (domestic); politics; world (international news); business; op-ed (opinions and editorials); arts; and lifestyle. The Let's Study section includes bilingual versions of the daily Vox Populi, Vox Dei (Tensei Jingo) column and opinions and editorials, which could provide useful teaching and self-study materials. The Japanese version is more comprehensive, including sport and science news and with additional feature sections, such as: education; health; books; fashion; food and cooking. It also has online dictionaries and a search function for maps of addresses in Japan.
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Asia, Pacific and Africa collections: British library
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/
The Web Site "Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections: British Library" provides information on the extensive and world-renowned collections housed in the British Library. This site is an excellent resource for undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers interested in the countries and cultures of Asia, the Pacific, and Africa and describes itself as "the finest single resource for Asian studies in the world". The holdings are extremely varied and cover: India Office records (including materials on the East India Company); private papers; sources for family history; electronic resources; prints, drawings, and photographs (over 30,000 items); and Asians in Britain.
Individual collections are listed and described in more detail by language, media, geography, and collection name. The site is easy to navigate and provides a brief overview of the collections, which also include books in Western languages published in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. Internal links to other sections of the British Library enable the user to gain a comprehensive view of the Library's holdings, for example to the Sound Archive Listening and Viewing Service; Asian business, art and media in Britain; and British Library Newspapers.
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Asiatic Society of Japan (ASJ)
http://asjapan.org/
The Asiatic Society of Japan (ASJ), is a long-established learned society aimed at non-specialists interested in all aspects of Japanese history, society, and culture. The society holds monthly lectures given by academics and other specialists, and summaries of these talks from 1994 onwards are archived on the site, along with brief biographies of the speakers. The society's annual reports are also available here, as well as a brief outline of the benefits to members. Links to other Asiatic Societies are also provided.
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BAJS (British Association for Japanese Studies)
http://www.bajs.org.uk
The website of the British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS) provides information on this organisation's aims and activities, such as conferences and other events. Of particular interest are the sections devoted to: funding opportunities; the Association's journal 'Japan Forum', which includes contents lists for the issues since 2000; and the Japan Studies postgraduate network. However, at the time of cataloguing, the latest postgraduate newsletter was several years out of date, so this section is clearly not as regularly maintained as the rest of the site. The News, Events, Job Opportunities section includes advertisements for academic posts and information on Japan-related exhibitions and other events. Details of prizes awarded to academics and students by the Association and by 'Japan Forum' are available via the main site and the page relating to the journal. Membership details and a downloadable application form are provided. There are also links to the Canon Foundation in Europe and to the Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies.
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Bookstores in Tokyo
http://www.leepers.us/evelyn/bookshops/jp-tokyo.htm
This website does just what it says in the title: it provides information on Bookstores in Tokyo. What it lacks in design (a basic typewriter-type font with no images), it makes up for in comprehensive, detailed and up-to-date information in English on the locations and subject specialisms of bookshops, not just in Tokyo and its suburbs, but also in Yokohama, Kawasaki, Tsukuba and Saitama. Shops offering mail, fax and online services are included. Entries for specific shops can be accessed by geographical area or subject (the latter includes books in specific languages). As well as addresses and phone numbers, many entries have detailed directions that will be particularly useful to those who do not read Japanese signs (for example: 'Basement of building with big red triangle in front'). There is also information on buying and publishing books in Japan and a glossary of Japanese publishing terms.
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Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
http://www.daiwa-foundation.org.uk/
This is the official website of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, a UK charity promoting links between the UK and Japan. Details of grants and scholarships awarded by the Foundation are provided here and will be of particular interest to academics and students. The Foundation awards grants in all areas of the arts and humanities to projects that involve interaction between the two countries and increased mutual understanding. Events organized by the Foundation are held throughout the year, and forthcoming events are advertised on the site. The events are aimed at academics and the wider public and include: seminars; exhibitions; and book launches. These take place mainly at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House in London, and bookings can be requested via the site. Texts and slides of the presentations made at some recent events can be downloaded from the site. The site is mainly in English, but a much more limited Japanese version is also available.
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Dejima comes back to life
http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/dejima/
Dejima Comes Back to Life is an online introduction to this historical site, the artificial island in Nagasaki bay that was Japan's only point of contact with Europe for over 200 years. The site is divided into several sections. The first covers the island's history, from the arrival of the Portuguese in 1543 through trade with the Dutch East India Company to the end of Dejima when Japan opened up to the West in the mid-19th century. The section called A Treasure Chest of Knowledge gives background on the construction of the island and its inhabitants. The Tour of Buildings and Historic Sites describes the reconstructions and remaining original elements, and Birth of a New Dejima describes the restoration process. Details of access to the island are also provided. The site is available in parallel English and Japanese versions and provides a good overview for students rather than the level of detail required by serious researchers on this topic.
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German Institute for Japanese Studies
http://www.dijtokyo.org/
The German Institute for Japanese Studies (Deutsche Institut für Japanstudien) is an academic research institute established in Tokyo in 1988 for the study of contemporary Japan. Its scope covers the humanities, social sciences and economics. Its website provides information on the Institute's history, research, staff, publications, events, library, and scholarships. It also has a very useful trilingual (English, German, Japanese) glossary of demographic terminology, part of the Institute's recent major research initiative on demographic change in Japan. The site is largely accessible in German, English and Japanese versions, but some parts are only in German. These include two of the Internet (online) resources: the Bandō collection (materials from the Bandō prisoner-of-war camp in Tokushima prefecture); and a database of special collections in Japanese university libraries. However, the Institute's online library catalogue can be searched in any of the three languages.
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Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
http://www.gbsf.org.uk/
The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 1985 by the Japanese entrepreneur Ryōichi Sasakawa to promote relations between the UK and Japan by encouraging mutual knowledge and understanding of each other's cultures and societies. Its website provides: information on the activities supported; grant application criteria and procedures (including a downloadable application form); and the Foundation's annual report, available for download. The Foundation provides 'pump-priming' financial awards for projects in the following broad range of areas: youth exchanges; schools and education; Japanese language; arts and culture; humanities and social sciences; science and technology; medicine and health; environment; and sport. Examples of projects supported in each category are available on the site, which include: individual and collaborative research; exchanges and visits; exhibitions and performances; and promotion of teaching of Japanese language and culture. The site can be accessed in parallel English and Japanese versions. Links to the websites of other relevant organisations are also provided.
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Henry Smith's home page
http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/index.html
Henry Smith is Professor of Japanese history at Columbia University, and his Home Page provides a wealth of information about his research and teaching, including links to PDF versions of many of his articles as well as the full-text version of one of his books. In addition, the site provides several very detailed guides to tools and resources for Japanese bibliography, which are particularly valuable for both students and researchers. These comprise: a basic introductory bibliography: a reference handbook for research in Japanese humanities (1995), supplemented by special reports (up to 2003) that include web resources; a guide to the National Diet Library's digital library of books published in the Meiji period; and a report on electronic dictionaries (2005). Several of Smith's articles on the 47 ronin and Chushingura are featured on the home page, and there is also a link to a separate site dedicated to his course on Chushingura and the samurai tradition. Undergraduate web projects from a previous course on Japanese buildings and cities in history are another interesting feature of the site. Syllabuses for several other courses and final reports on workshops are also available. An extremely useful site for study and research at various levels.
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International institute for Asian studies (IIAS)
http://www.iias.nl/
The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), based in the Netherlands, aims to encourage the study of Asia and promote international cooperation between scholars. The Institute itself is a postdoctoral research centre that organises seminars, workshops, and conferences, as well as publishing various academic series and a newsletter. The geographical scope of the Institute covers Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Judging by their publications, most research at the IIAS is into contemporary Asian society and culture with a slightly smaller portion devoted to historical studies and anthropology, and Asian arts.
The IIAS website is relatively extensive for an organisation of this kind. Included are: a summary of the Institute's aims and activities; a guide to their research programmes; a guide to forthcoming conferences and events; a bibliography of publications; and a large database of over 23,000 addresses of scholars and organisations with an interest in Asian studies. The Institute's newsletter may be read on the site. A selection of links is provided to associated organisations and scholarly resources. The site is nicely presented, and parts have been translated into Asian languages.
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Iwami-Ginzan silver mine
http://www.pref.shimane.jp/section/iwami/gine.home/
This website introduces the history of the Iwami-Ginzan Silver Mine in Shimane prefecture, Japan. The site is available in parallel English and Japanese versions, and provides an overview of: the role of the mine in Japan's cultural heritage and in world history; the link with Christian missionaries; and the results of recent excavations.
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Japan : photo gallery of Frantisek Staud
http://www.phototravels.net/japan/photo-gallery/
Japan : Photo Gallery of Frantisek Staud is an online gallery of stunning professional photographs of many aspects of Japan and its culture. The site is divided into the following sections: fall in Kyoto; geisha and maiko; Japanese people; cormorant-fishing; Kyoto; Tokyo; sakura (cherry blossom); gardens; trains; Buddhism; sumo; temples and shrines; Shikoku; Hokkaido; Kyushu; Mt. Fuji in winter; climbing Mt. Fuji; monkeys; Kyogen and Noh; children; Koya-san; Hiroshima; Noto peninsula; statues; New Year celebrations; nature; festivals of Kyoto; and miscellaneous. The images are all copyright-protected. The site also provides biographical information about the photographer and information on how to order prints.
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Japan Book Publishers Association
http://www.jbpa.or.jp/default-e.htm
The website of the Japan Book Publishers' Association makes available in both English and Japanese information on the Association's activities. The Japanese version contains far more detailed information, but the English version provides brief descriptions of: the Association's history; members; organisation; major events (Tokyo Book Fair; Best-Designed Book Contest; and the Asia Pacific Publishers' Forum); and publications (including the biennial English-language 'An Introduction to Publishing in Japan'). Various documents can be downloaded in PDF format from the Japanese version of the site, including: reports on national library lending and on the rights of publishers; and information on publishing contracts and reprint systems. Two sections in particular include links to other websites: a list of relevant organisations; and a database section. There is also a link to the informative website of the Tokyo Book Fair (available in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean versions).
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Japan Foundation Endowment Committee (JFEC)
http://www.bajs.org.uk/JFEC.html
The Japan Foundation Endowment Committee (JFEC) provides small grants for research in Japanese Studies (social sciences and humanities) in UK higher education institutions. It is independent of the Japan Foundation. Its website provides details of the research grant scheme, including the kinds of projects supported and the application procedure. Addresses and links to websites of other relevant organisations are also provided.
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Japan information network
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/
The Japan Information Network website is a gateway site with links to many useful websites covering various aspects of Japanese society and culture. The site is available in parallel English and Chinese versions, along with a far more limited Japanese version. The English version includes the following categories of links: business news; environment; travel; IT perspective; government; parliament; supreme court; news; opinions; and towns, which includes cities and prefectures. The section called TV Station is the Japan Broadcasting System, an online service streaming audio-visual clips of news and items on various aspects of Japan in English.
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Japan review
http://shinku.nichibun.ac.jp/jpub/jr/year_view.php?lan=EN
Japan Review is a scholarly full-text refereed ejournal published in English by the International Research Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto, Japan. The journal covers Japanese culture and civilization and is published annually. At June 2009 there are 19 issues online (1990-2008), freely offering articles as PDF files. Example article include: 'Miyazaki Hayao's epic comic series Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind: an attempt at interpretation'; 'Beriberi, military medicine, and medical authority in prewar Japan'; and 'The Pillow Hook: The Pillow Book as an "open work"', among many others. Articles appear to be scans only, and do not seem to contain OCR text. This will be a useful resource for those interested in the study of Japan.
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Japan review.net : an independent site for books on Japan
http://www.japanreview.net/
Japan Review.Net is a website providing a range of materials including: reviews of (mainly non-fiction) English-language books related to Japan; interviews with Japanese and foreign authors, journalists, academics and artists; and essays on various aspects of Japanese life and society. The writing is high-quality and the site is nicely presented; this is an excellent source of comment on Japan and Japan-related publications. Most of the articles are written by the site's editors, Paul J. Scalise and Yuki Allyson Honjo, and many of the reviews are online versions of pieces previously published in newspapers. There is a Letters section for feedback and an email newsletter can be subscribed to.
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Japan Society of Scotland
http://www.japansocietyofscotland.org.uk/
The Japan Society of Scotland is a non-political organisation, formed in 1986 by academics and business people, that aims to promote cooperation, understanding and good relations between Scotland and Japan through various cultural and educational activities, including a scholarship programme. Its website provides information about the Society's aims and past and future events, and newsletters since 2007 can be downloaded. Membership can be applied for online; an FAQ section is also under development. Links to the websites of relevant organisations and institutions also appear.
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Japan Society of the UK
http://www.japansociety.org.uk/
This is the website of the Japan Society of the UK, a long-established charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and Japan of the societies, cultures and businesses of the two countries. The Society merged with Japan 21, a charity supporting and promoting educational and grassroots cultural links with Japan, in late 2007. The Society has focus groups for business, arts, conversation and younger members. The website provides a wide range of information about the Society's activities, with details of forthcoming events; online transcripts of recent lectures; an online shop; and details of individual and corporate membership. The bi-monthly publication 'Japan Society Review: Book, Stage, Movie, Arts and Events' is also available online here. A searchable database of the Society's collection of photographs of Japan taken between the early 1860s to the 1950s is a useful resource, appearing in the Library section of the site as well as via the home page.
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Japan Studies Association of Canada (JSAC)
http://buna.yorku.ca/jsac/
The Japanese Studies Association of Canada (JSAC) promotes research on Japan across all academic fields. This website provides information on the Association's activities, including programmes of conferences since the first one in 1987. The Database section includes: members' contact details; details of JSAC publications; texts of public speeches on Japan; and jobs. Details of relevant events and membership application also appear. The email discussion list can be subscribed to by non-members. Users should note that at the time of review, most of the links within the publications section of the site's database were broken.
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Japan zone
http://www.japan-zone.com/
The Japan Zone website provides English-language information on Japanese culture and travel, divided into a number of sections of well-written, succinct introductory-level descriptions. The Cultural Japan section covers: performing arts; arts; literature; clothing; food; festivals; and the imperial family. The Modern Japan section is particularly useful for up-to-date news on popular culture: cinema; anime; manga; computer games; fashion; actors; music; and comedians. Information on geography; history; sightseeing; politics; religion; and sports appears in the Japan Omnibus section; and the Japan Gallery has photos of the country's people; nature; landmarks; and urban and rural scenery. The New to Japan section includes an introduction to the language and etiquette as well as practical information about living in Japan.
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Japanese Association for Asian Englishes
http://www.jafae.org/
The Japanese Association for Asian Englishes (JAAE) is an academic association concerned with English as a multinational and multicultural language in Asia. Japanese-English is one of the main areas of the collaborative research pursued by Association members. The Association awards research grants to its members, and the regulations for applications can be downloaded from the site. Both the table of contents for the most recent issue of the journal 'Asian English Studies' and the programme for the next annual national biannual conference can also be accessed here. For those wishing to submit a paper for the next conference, presentation guidelines are provided. In addition, the website includes: membership information; the Association constitution; and contact email addresses for board members. The site is available in English and Japanese versions; the latter is rather more comprehensive, with news updates and downloadable versions of the JAAE Newsletter.
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Japanese Studies Association of Australia
http://www.jsaa.info/
The Japanese Studies Association of Australia (JSAA) is an academic society for researchers, teachers and students concerned with Japan. This website provides information about its activities and publications. Reports on previous biennial conferences appear on the site, and there is a link to the website for the next conference, with details of panels and paper abstracts. The Association publishes the scholarly journal 'Japanese Studies' three times a year, and details are provided here, along with a link to the publisher's page for the journal. Regular newsletters and minutes of JSAA executive meetings appear in full on the site. A brief history of the organisation is provided, and membership application forms can be downloaded. Separate sections provide details of JSAA postgraduate awards and scholarships, and of Japan-related and academic positions (mainly in Australia and New Zealand). There is also a section listing links to: other Japanese studies organisations; Japanese studies related sites; and Asian studies related sites.
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