Press Conference:
"Reopening Japan to foreign students and scholars"
Andrej Bekeš
President, the European Association for Japanese Studies
Sven Kramer
Assistant Professor, Kyushu University, Faculty of Humanities
Carolin Funck
Vice President, Hiroshima University
*All speakers will join online.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 12:00 - 13:00
(The speech and Q & A will be in English)

Japan has imposed harsh travel entry and re-entry restrictions to fight the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. Among the hardest hit by these measures have been international students and foreign scholars of Japanese studies, many of whom have been left stranded outside Japan unable to return to either jobs or families. Representatives of the European Association of Japanese Studies say that these restrictions are both inhumane and discriminatory since the same restrictions are not imposed on Japanese nationals.  A survey of members by the European Associate of Japanese Studies indicated some 80 percent of respondents have been adversely affected by the travel restrictions, and at least one has complained of harsh treatment at the hands of Japanese immigration officials.

The president of EAJS, Professor Andrej Bekes, and two colleagues, Professor Carolin Funck, vice-president of Hiroshima University, and Professor Sven Karmer of Kyushu University will be on hand to give a report on their activities aimed at reopening Japan to foreign students and scholars.

They will also discuss how these restrictions affect Japanese academic institutions and their foreign professors and students.

How to attend:

Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, name of media outlet, FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions, please note there will be a limited number of reservations to attend. Doors open at 12:30. Please sign in your name and contact details at the reception with your own pen and to have your temperature taken before proceeding.

How to watch online: https://vimeo.com/438058447

Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/2qK6yV3ZizNdmYc18

Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form (English only).

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Door open for TV crews only at 12:15. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.

Professional Activities Committee