Research

Welcome to the homepage of the Research Division of Toyo Bunko

Many scholars participate in the research activities of Toyo Bunko, using the methodologies of area studies to carry out research on the history, society and cultural affairs of countries all over Asia, a region that stretches from Japan in the East to the Middle East in the West, including also parts of northern Africa. Research groups—some organized by interest in a specific region, others by interest in a common theme—make use of a wide variety of materials including documentary archives, maps, photographs, and other visual materials in pursuing their research agendas.

The research division works together with the Library and the Exhibition divisions to preserve and make accessible the collections of valuable Asian historical materials in the collections of Toyo Bunko. The research groups have joined together in pursuing the common project of creating and opening to public access digitalized resources. (For more information on this project see: https://app.toyobunko-lab.jp/s/main/page/introduction). To realize our goal of promoting interest in Asia—both its history and the contemporary Asian world—we organize two public forums: a lecture series in Asian Studies, and public lectures sponsored by the Toyo Bunko Academy. Both series are open to members of the public as well as to those with more specialized academic interests. The research division and its various research groups actively engage in publishing.  (https://toyo-bunko.or.jp/en/research/organization/)*

The research division also organizes a series of lectures for young researchers.** We also offer various employment opportunities to young researchers, including positions as “Special Project Research Fellows”, part-time employees, and contract employees. (https://toyo-bunko.or.jp/en/recruit/)

International collaboration efforts of the Research Division take two forms, those centered in the activities of research groups collaborating with individual scholars and research groups in other countries and regions interested in the same themes or areas, and Toyo Bunko-wide international exchanges with partner institutions overseas. Among those activities with overseas organizations, Toyo Bunko has an agreement with the Harvard Yenching Institute, and scholars associated with Toyo Bunko participate in HYI’s programs for visiting scholars and programs to develop young researchers.