“What role does language play in bridging cultures?” Consider this as we stand before the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to Sino-Japanese collaboration.
Established in 1985 the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies emerged from an agreement. This agreement was between the Japan Foundation and China’s Ministry of Education. Its roots trace back to the “Ohira School” a training center for Japanese language teachers. The Ohira School was founded in 1979. Prime Minister Ohira Masayoshi of Japan and Premier Hua Guofeng of China initiated it. The aim was clear fostering human resources to promote Japanese studies and cultural exchange.
Today the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies operates across two sites. These are Beijing Foreign Studies University and Peking University. At Beijing Foreign Studies University the center offers six master’s degree courses. These courses encompass Japanese linguistics language education literature culture society and economics. The Japan Foundation supports students. It provides opportunities to gather materials in Japan for their dissertations. They write these dissertations under Japanese supervisors. International workshops and conferences further connect the center. It positions the center within a global network for Japanese studies.
As of August 2022 nearly a thousand students had completed the master’s program. Many more have completed Ph.D. courses. The Japan Foundation has dispatched numerous experts. They supported the center’s educational endeavors.
Peking University hosts the Center for Contemporary Japanese Studies. This center was initially established as the “Contemporary Japanese Studies Course” in 1990. The goal was to cultivate Chinese experts. They would possess expertise in Japan’s economy administration industry society and policy-making. It was redesigned in 2005. Now it is a one-year course for doctoral students. Japanese experts and Chinese faculty members provide lectures. A two-week study tour to Japan enriches understanding. Over six hundred students have completed the course. The Japan Foundation has dispatched hundreds of lecturers.
NACSIS supported the automation of the Library of the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies. They conducted a preliminary survey. A workshop publicized automation plans. It encouraged exchanges with scholars.
“Japanese Studies” is the academic journal of the Beijing Center for Japanese Studies. It publishes research on Japanese language literature society and culture. Zhang Xiangshan and Zhou Yiliang wrote inscriptions for the journal’s inauguration. The journal publishes articles in both Chinese and Japanese.
The Beijing Center for Japanese Studies stands as a symbol. It shows international cooperation and academic pursuit. It fosters mutual understanding between China and Japan. Its legacy lies in the countless students and scholars. They have passed through its doors. Their work bridges cultural divides and promotes international collaboration. The center continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of Japanese studies in China and beyond.