Workshop for Young Researchers of Japanese Studies in Central and Eastern Europe 2026

Workshop for Young Researchers of Japanese Studies in Central and Eastern Europe 2026

 

Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and the Japan Foundation, Budapest (JFBP) would like to invite you to submit an application to participate in the Japanese Study Workshop scheduled for 10-11th March, 2026, in Prague, Czech Republic. The official language of the seminar will be English.

This workshop encourages young researchers poised to lead the future of Japanese studies in Central and Eastern Europe to present internationally and to engage in concentrated discussion, thereby offering a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of their respective research field. 

Through a two-day long intensive workshop, participants will be asked to give a 20 to 25-minute long presentation in English, which will be evaluated by senior researchers. After the evaluation, questions related to the presentation will be given to the students by senior researchers and the audience. 

We are calling for application from young researchers who are in the beginning of their career, preferably doctoral students in the region. Those who are embarking upon or in the process of writing their PhD dissertations are eligible. Their area of expertise can be in all humanities and social science disciplines (except for Japanes language education), e.g. in language, literature, arts, culture, history, religion, society, politics, economics etc.
About 10 participants will be selected to make an approximately 20 to 25-minute long presentation on their research and engage in discussions in English. 
Participant students will be supervised by designated senior scholars through the workshop. 

 

Eligibility

The following applicants are eligible:

  • Full-time graduate students researching fields related to Japanology, who are enrolled at universities in the Central Eastern European region (13 countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia , Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia).
  • Graduate students originally from the Central Eastern European region (with nationality of the forementioned 13 countries), who are enrolled in graduate programs outside of the region, but who have a research field related to Japanese Studies.
  • Participants travelling to the workshop from outside the Central Eastern European region should expect no more than 400 Euro to be paid toward their transportation costs.
  • Applications are particularly welcome from graduate students in the early-fieldwork through the middle stages of thesis writing.
  • Applicants who participated in JFBP's PhD workshop or seminar in 2022 and 2023 are eligible if they intend to make different presentations based on their lates research results for this occasion.
  • Although the official language of the workshop is English, all applicants are expected to have studied the Japanese language.

 

Application and selection procedures

Prior to the workshop, all participants are expected to submit the following as part of their application. All materials should be sent via e-mail to hong-hoa_tran@jpf.go.jp no later than Sunday, 11th January, 2026. 

 

1) A research abstract that will serve as the basis for the presentation (No more than two A4-size pages.)

2) A brief professional history (CV).

3) One reference letter by a senior scholar of your choice.

 

Notification of Results

 Applicants will be notified of the selection results by Friday, 6th February, 2026.

 

Travel expenses

JFBP will provide for their transportation (discount economy class air ticket within Europe or 2nd class of train ticket, etc.) to and from Prague. Accomodations and per diem for participants traveling to Prague will be provided during the workshop. Details regarding transportation will be provided at a later date.

Participants are expected to have arrived in Prague on 9th March and leave on 11th March. The workshop is for a full day on 10th March and half-day on 11th March.

Participants travelling to the workshop from outside the Central Eastern European region should expect no more than 400 Euro to be paid toward their transportation costs.

 

Inquiries

For further information abojut the workshop or eligibility, please contact Hong Hoa Tran, Program Assistant, The Japan Foundation Budapest at hong-hoa_tran@jpf.go.jp or call +36-1-214-0775.

 

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you!