Japan Studies Association 33rd Annual Conference
January 6-8, 2027
(Wed. - Fri.)
The Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach Hotel & Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort*
Honolulu, Hawai'i
"Urban and Natural Worlds”
The thirty-third annual Japan Studies Association conference will take place at the Hyatt Place Waikiki, Honolulu, HI January 6-8 (Wednesday through Friday), 2027
Japan is a country of contrasts and complements, perhaps none as striking as those related to urban and natural worlds. Ultra-modern cities like Tokyo, rural villages, mountain trails, and rugged coasts all form part of what makes Japan. The Japan Studies Association seeks paper, panel, or roundtable proposals exploring this theme in relation to an array of topics such as Japanese history, culture, and life, specific cities and regions, connections to Asia and the rest of the world, rural architecture and culture, agriculture, nature in Japanese art, how the natural world has shaped Japan, environmentalism, and elements of urban culture such as architecture, public transportation, food culture, theater, and historical cities... We also welcome proposals regarding the history, politics, culture, society, philosophy, art, or literature of Japan, or pedagogical approaches for introducing these things to students. Proposals from graduate students and/or faculty based in Japan are especially welcome.
The deadline for submissions is November 2, 2026. Early bird registration will close November 16, 2026.
Japan is a country of contrasts and complements, perhaps none as striking as those related to urban and natural worlds. Ultra-modern cities like Tokyo, rural villages, mountain trails, and rugged coasts all form part of what makes Japan. The Japan Studies Association seeks paper, panel, or roundtable proposals exploring this theme in relation to an array of topics such as Japanese history, culture, and life, specific cities and regions, connections to Asia and the rest of the world, rural architecture and culture, agriculture, nature in Japanese art, how the natural world has shaped Japan, environmentalism, and elements of urban culture such as architecture, public transportation, food culture, theater, and historical cities... We also welcome proposals regarding the history, politics, culture, society, philosophy, art, or literature of Japan, or pedagogical approaches for introducing these things to students. Proposals from graduate students and/or faculty based in Japan are especially welcome.
The deadline for submissions is November 2, 2026. Early bird registration will close November 16, 2026.
Keynote:
Tokyo in Transit: What Japan's Trains Reveal About Culture and Society -
Dr. Alisa Freedman, University of Oregon
What can trains teach us about a society? In Tokyo, the answer is almost everything. Tokyo is often defined by its commuter networks. Millions of people ride Tokyo’s trains and subways every day and structure their daily lives around them. Yet mass transportation has done more than move passengers from place to place: it has helped create the modern city itself.
This talk explores how trains and subways have transformed how people experience Tokyo and interact with each other. The extension of Tokyo’s transit networks made it possible for people to work, study, shop, and connect in unprecedented ways, giving rise to new places and gender roles. Trains have inspired new forms of literature, art, design, popular culture, and business. By tracing the rise of Tokyo’s commuter culture, we can better understand what is fascinating and frustrating about Tokyo today and how people make themselves at home in the city. This talk will also help visitors to Tokyo discover how trains can serve as a gateway to understanding the city.
Dr. Alisa Freedman is a professor of Japanese literature, cultural studies, and gender at the University of Oregon. Her books include Japan on American TV; Tokyo in Transit: Japanese Culture on the Rails and Road; Women in Japanese Studies: Memoirs from a Trailblazing Generation (collection of 32 memoirs); Introducing Japanese Popular Culture (edited textbook featuring 42 trends); annotated translation of Kawabata Yasunari’s The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa; and Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan (coedited volume). She has published numerous articles for academic and general interest publications, literary translations, and academic skills guides. She is the Faculty Fellow of a residence hall and enjoys presenting at cultural festivals, anime cons, reading groups, and other public events.
This talk explores how trains and subways have transformed how people experience Tokyo and interact with each other. The extension of Tokyo’s transit networks made it possible for people to work, study, shop, and connect in unprecedented ways, giving rise to new places and gender roles. Trains have inspired new forms of literature, art, design, popular culture, and business. By tracing the rise of Tokyo’s commuter culture, we can better understand what is fascinating and frustrating about Tokyo today and how people make themselves at home in the city. This talk will also help visitors to Tokyo discover how trains can serve as a gateway to understanding the city.
Dr. Alisa Freedman is a professor of Japanese literature, cultural studies, and gender at the University of Oregon. Her books include Japan on American TV; Tokyo in Transit: Japanese Culture on the Rails and Road; Women in Japanese Studies: Memoirs from a Trailblazing Generation (collection of 32 memoirs); Introducing Japanese Popular Culture (edited textbook featuring 42 trends); annotated translation of Kawabata Yasunari’s The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa; and Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan (coedited volume). She has published numerous articles for academic and general interest publications, literary translations, and academic skills guides. She is the Faculty Fellow of a residence hall and enjoys presenting at cultural festivals, anime cons, reading groups, and other public events.
*Hotel Information: Because of unplanned construction at the Hyatt Place, JSA will actually be meeting at the Hilton at 2500 Kuhio, about a five-minute walk from the Hyatt Place (175 Paoakalani Ave). Please come to the Hyatt Place for registration and happy hour on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Panels, programs sessions, and keynotes will be at the Hilton.
Rooms will be available at the Hyatt for the rate of $209 single and $229 double. Rates at the Hilton will
be between $234 and $237. Please contact the hotels directly for rate information. The Hyatt Place is at 1-(808) 922-3861. The Hilton is at 1-(808) 922-0811.
Rooms will be available at the Hyatt for the rate of $209 single and $229 double. Rates at the Hilton will
be between $234 and $237. Please contact the hotels directly for rate information. The Hyatt Place is at 1-(808) 922-3861. The Hilton is at 1-(808) 922-0811.