Institute of Japanese Studies Research

Researchers at the Institute of Japanese Studies at Heidelberg University pursue innovative perspectives on Japanese culture, literature, history, and society within a global context. A strong focus lies on text-based and interdisciplinary approaches. In addition to individual research, externally funded projects are increasingly hosted. The department conducts long-term scholarly initiatives, partially  through its own publication platforms. 

The journal Bunron (Text and Theory) provides a space for literature-focused contributions in Japanese Studies. The Hefte für ostasiatische Literatur (HOL) make East Asian literary texts accessible to German-speaking audiences through high-quality translations and cultural commentary. 

Ongoing and completed research projects explore topics such as the transfer of ideas between Japan and Europe around 1900, e.g. the reception of Japanese Buddhism in Europe or of academic European philosophy in Japan; the creation of the Digital Literary Map of Japan, an interactive database displaying geographical locations with literary associations; the social commitment of Japanese intellectuals during the 1920s before the background of the ascent of social movements and the modern social sciences.