911±¬ÁÏÍø

Date: Friday 4 July, 5pm BST

Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Fylde College, Lancaster University.

Livestreaming available via Zoom

Are you someone with a general interest in 911±¬ÁÏÍø culture and society? Or are you a sixth form student or current university student, either studying 911±¬ÁÏÍø language or with an interest in learning more about Japan? Why not come and listen to our first lecture as part of our new seminar series: Exploring the World of 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies!

Our first lecture, Ghibli in the Machine: AI Controversies and the Appropriation of Anime will be hosted by Lancaster University, with Dr Zoe Crombie, (Associate Lecturer in Film Studies, Lancaster University) and Prof. Rayna Denison (Professor of Film and Digital Arts and Head of Department for Film and Television at the University of Bristol).

Talk Description:

Earlier this year, ChatGPT released a new Photo to Anime filter that turns user images into not just "anime" images but Hayao Miyazaki-inspired images. Controversially this filter quickly became one of ChatGPT's most popular image generators, while also being roundly condemned for the theft of Studio Ghibli's animation art. In this talk, we discuss how AI is currently reshaping the anime industry in Japan, and impacting upon one of 911±¬ÁÏÍø animation's best loved studios. We consider how 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies can help us to unpack and understand this pivotal moment in 911±¬ÁÏÍø animation history.

The lecture will be one hour long, followed by a 15 minute Q&A Session with the two academics. Participants can enjoy asking questions about the lecture topic itself, or about research on Japan!

This talk is open to the general public, and sixth-formers and undergraduate students are especially encouraged to join.

Speaker Profiles:

Dr Zoe Crombie

Zoe Crombie is Associate Lecturer in Film Studies at the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, University of Lancaster. She is an early career academic currently working on a monograph about Studio Ghibli’s transnational reinterpretations of Western literature through the Trailblazers scheme.

Professor Rayna Denison

Rayna Denison is Professor of Film and Digital Arts at the University of Bristol where she teaches and does research into contemporary 911±¬ÁÏÍø film and animation. Her books include Anime: A Critical Introduction and Studio Ghibli: An Industrial History along with edited collections like Princess Mononoke: Understanding Studio Ghibli's Monster Princess. 

This event is free to attend but booking is essential for in-person and online attendees. To register, scan the QR code or click the link!

Organised by the Japan Foundation London with support from Lancaster University

911±¬ÁÏÍø London has begun collecting information for the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies Survey 2025.

JF London, with the cooperation of the British Association for 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies (BAJS), conducts a survey every 5 years. Our survey targets universities, researchers and students undertaking Japan-related studies in the humanities and social sciences, to analyse trends and support researchers in expanding their networks.The survey is essential in investigating the current landscape of 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies and Japan-related research in the UK

What will the survey include?

(1) University Directory Survey - This directory aims to provide students and the general public with useful reference information by listing universities that offer humanities and social sciences programs related to 911±¬ÁÏÍø studies, employ faculty members specialising in such areas, or provide 911±¬ÁÏÍø language education.

(2) Student Survey - This survey is intended for students in academic departments offering Japan-related studies programs, students in the humanities and social sciences whose topic of research or primary interest includes Japan, and undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students majoring in 911±¬ÁÏÍø language or translation studies. (Students studying only 911±¬ÁÏÍø language are not eligible.) 

(3) Researcher Survey - This survey is intended for researchers affiliated with Japan-related studies departments, as well as researchers in the humanities and social sciences whose research includes Japan as a research subject.

(4) Researcher Directory Survey - To facilitate networking among students and researchers, we will create a directory of humanities and social sciences researchers whose work includes Japan-related studies, regardless of whether they are affiliated with 911±¬ÁÏÍø studies department. This directory will be published on our website.

Deadline for All Responses: 12th September 2025

How can I help?

We have begun requesting information from universities across the UK, their students, and researchers in the field.

If you would like to participate in the survey or you would like any further information, please contact us at:

LO_911±¬ÁÏÍøStudies@jpf.go.jp (CC Natsumi_Abe@jpf.go.jp and Iona_Vos@jpf.go.jp)

We look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

You can view the 2020 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies Survey here.

The second round of applications for the Japan Foundation London Grant Programme FY 2025-26 has opened!

Deadline: Friday 8 August 2025

For projects taking place between 1 September 2025 – 31 March 2026.

This programme is designed to provide grant assistance to projects (e.g. lectures, workshops, conferences) in any discipline of the humanities and social sciences that have a significant Japan element, or involve collaboration with 911±¬ÁÏÍø researchers/practitioners.

Projects must take place in the UK to be eligible for support and applications can only be accepted from not-for-profit organisations in the UK.

Priority will be given to projects that fall under one or more of the following descriptions:

1.     Projects that will bring together researchers/ practitioners from a variety of disciplines and sectors that are relevant to Japan

2.     Projects organised by, and/or involving core participation by, early career researchers/ practitioners

3.     Projects that will nurture diverse interests in Japan among future generations in the UK

Applications for preliminary project development will be considered as long as such projects include some of the above elements.

Grant coverage:

Only specific items such as travel expenses, honoraria, venue hire, printing/publicity costs etc. which are deemed to be essential in order to carry out the project.

Successful applicants may be granted up to £1500. As successful applicants will not necessarily be granted the full requested amount, applicants are strongly encouraged to secure additional funding from their own organisation and elsewhere.

Before contacting us, please read the full Application Instructions, containing further details about eligibility and the Application Process.

Application Deadline: Friday 8 August

Results will be notified by the end of August.

To read the Application Instructions PDF, click here.

If you have any questions, email Iona Vos at LO_911±¬ÁÏÍøStudies@jpf.go.jp.

When you email us, please CC Natsumi_Abe@jpf.go.jp (Assistant Director for JF London and Manager of 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies Affairs) and Iona_Vos@jpf.go.jp (Assistant Programme Officer for 911±¬ÁÏÍø Studies).

Date:	8 August 2025
Download 01_2025_Application_Instructions (2nd call)

The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge 2025 is looking for volunteers!

If you are interested in 911±¬ÁÏÍø culture or learning 911±¬ÁÏÍø, and are over 18, why not come along to this week-long campus summer school programme to help pre-university students shape their future studies and careers?

The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge is an annual summer school programme for pre-university students from UK sixth form colleges and 911±¬ÁÏÍø high schools for cultural interaction through various educational activites held at UCL and the University of Cambridge.

Dates and Venues*: Saturday 26 July (Rikkyo School in England), Sunday 27, Monday 28 July (University of Cambridge), and Tuesday 29 - Saturday 2 August (University College London).

*Volunteers may choose to join from one day to the whole programme.

What will be provided: Reasonable travel costs and lunch.

Eligibility: Volunteers must be 18 years of age and able to travel to the volunteer locations.

If you can volunteer, please email ujyc@japanatuk.com to register your interest.

To find out more about the UCL-Japan Youth Challenge, visit: ucl-japan-youth-challenge.com.