UH Mānoa Center for Japanese Studies

09/11/2026

The Fall 2026 CJS Graduate Student Mixer welcomed new and returning graduate students from 12 different UHM departments and disciplines on September 4, 2026 (Friday).

Director Levin shared welcome remarks, scholarships and other opportunities from the Center. Associate Director Joan Pan and Administrative and Fiscal Support Specialist Sachiko Roos hosted a fun icebreaker activity with UHM swags for the students. We hope you enjoyed the activity and light refreshments.

Please stay tuned for upcoming CJS seminars, co-sponsored events, and Bento Box events this semester!

08/27/2026

CJS faculty members, Mitsutaka Nakamura (UHM Hamilton Library's Japan Collection Librarian) and Lynette Teruya (UHM Hamilton Library's Okinawan Collection Librarian), will be part of a team-instructed graduate student seminar in the Library Information Science and Asian Studies programs this Fall 2026 semester - LIS 645/ASAN 705: Research Resources for Asian Studies Collections (CRN: 80679). Weekly sessions of the area studies librarianship course will cover Asia General, Russia in Asia, China, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, South Asia, Korea, and Southeast Asia, each led by a librarian with expertise in the area collection. Mr. Nakamura will instruct the September 23 and 30 classes. For more information, please visit:
https://manoa.hawaii.edu/library/news/asian-studies-librarians-teach-grad-seminar/

08/26/2026

The Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation (CPASF) is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2027-2028 academic year. The award is open to American (U.S.) graduate students enrolled at UH Mānoa pursuing study in subject areas leading to better understanding between Japan and the U.S. (see attachments for the application). The deadline to apply is Friday, October 30, 2026.

There will be an orientation session via Zoom on Friday, October 2 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm for those interested in applying for the scholarship. RSVP to [email protected] to receive the Zoom link.

08/24/2026

WELCOME BACK!
We'd like to invite UHM graduate students who are interested and doing research in Japanese Studies to the CJS Graduate Student Mixer.

🔵September 4, 2026 (Friday)
🟡5:00-7:00 pm
🟢Tokioka Room (Moore Hall 319)
🟠RSVP by Sept 1, 2026: bit.ly/4wvLSR

Please stay tuned for upcoming seminars and CJS activities!

08/14/2026

As we get ready for the Academic Year 2026-27, we look back on our accomplishments and activities from Spring and Summer 2026 with our J-Current Vol. 35. You will find much in the report that we are excited to share, including the wonderful news of a transformative endowment gift from the estate of Ina Goodwin Tateuchi to support undergraduate student scholarships for years to come.

We appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy our newsletter.

🌟J-Current Vol. 35 [Spring / Summer 2026]: https://bit.ly/4wr0tgT

08/11/2026

We are delighted to pass on to you an announcement of a book discussion by CJS faculty and Professor of Sociology at UHM, Aya H. Kimura, on her new book, "Fermenting for the Future: Japanese Pickles and Microbial Foodways" at the Japanese Cultural Center for Hawaiʻi on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The discussion will be moderated by CJS affiliate faculty and Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Christine Yano.

The event will be free and open to the public.

🌸Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
🌸Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
🌸Venue: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi (2454 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI)
🌸Register: bit.ly/jcchpanel

08/10/2026

The UH Mānoa Center for Japanese Studies received a $3 million gift from the Ina Goodwin Tateuchi estate. The funding establishes an endowed scholarship covering full tuition for undergrads pursuing Japanese language and area studies. Read more: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2026/07/30/3m-tateuchi-gift-japanese-studies/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTnQOpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUhOZ04xRDJiRDlKTmw3ZjFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedpI1qD7sEH1zu_L4lg-1_D-ZuWAt0hqF570qVFEL6y0E0s9-coXmNLLRBEg_aem_vAM3nGJTENVfoSo9x5pxbQ

07/31/2026

The UHM Center for Japanese Studies is thrilled to announce that we have received a $3 million gift from the estate of the late Ina Goodwin Tateuchi of Seattle, Washington. The gift establishes the Tateuchi Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund to provide full tuition and related expenses to select UH Mānoa undergraduate Japanese language majors, Asian Studies students with a focus on Japan, and students in other disciplines who demonstrate a strong interest in Japanese Studies within their major.

CJS Director Mark Levin, a Professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, comments, “Undergraduates represent the foundation of everything we do. This scholarship award will foster workforce development for the state and beyond and help populate the academic community across disciplinary boundaries into the future.”

Dean of the College of Arts, Languages, and Letters () Peter Arnade, added, “We are profoundly grateful to the estate of Ina Goodwin Tateuchi for providing this vital contribution, which will allow the Center to remain a vibrant hub for academic programming concerning Japan.”

07/28/2026

07/23/2026

Update from 2026 EPIC summer intern, Leilah Eusebio: During her one-week break, she visited themed parks and attractions, such as Ghibli Park and Sanrio Puroland.