Building on the success of the first France-Japan Area Studies Forum held in Kyoto on 1–3 December 2017, the second joint conference will be held in Paris on 3–4 December 2018.

Kyoto University and EHESS signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Academic Cooperation and Exchange in May 2015. Since then, there has been an active exchange of individual scholars between the two institutions. The France-Japan Area Studies Forum was the first opportunity to interact with each other on an institutional level. With common perspective on strengthening partnership, the Forum was held under the two themes: “New Spatiality on Asian and African Area Studies” and “Voices for The Future: African Area Studies in a Globalizing World.” The Forum aimed to re-conceptualize ideas about “spatiality” or “area,” in order to better understand the globalizing forces that shape contemporary issues in Africa. Knowledge and insights relating to a wide range of global issues were shared at this conference attended by over 100 participants.

The discussions that will ensue as a result of this forum will not only provide opportunities to enhance academic partnership between Kyoto University and EHESS, but also encourage researchers to explore new ways to advance African studies globally.

Registration mandatory at ffj@ehess.fr