UNS – The Center for Japanese Studies (PSJ) at the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, in collaboration with the Indonesian Association for Japanese Studies (ASJI), is set to organize the International Symposium and Seminar on Japanese Studies in Indonesia. The event will take place over two days, on Thursday (7/12/2023) and Friday (8/12/2023), at UNS Inn. This annual seminar, fully supported by The Japan Foundation, will address the theme “Human Security Issues: Revisiting the Concept of Human Security from the Perspective of Japan and Indonesia.”

Given the challenging global situation, human security has become a crucial topic. The world is facing fragility due to high living demands amid diminishing resources. During the Cold War era in the 1990s, Japan made efforts to improve human life quality, save the Earth and humanity through international cooperation, and advocate for peace.

This was also recognized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a significant publication in the field of human security. The effort aimed to ensure “freedom from want” and “freedom from fear” for everyone. At the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori announced that human security would be a pillar of Japan’s foreign policy.

In the current scenario, the Covid-19 pandemic has eroded resources in many countries. Nations are adapting to social restrictions, striving to protect their citizens from the pandemic’s effects on trade, production, or interpersonal contact during challenging times. There are challenges in various fields, especially in education, which has entered a new era of online learning. Entering 2022, new issues have emerged, such as increased tensions, competition between major nations, and the outbreak of wars. These problems disrupt international traffic, including trade, economic cooperation, and interstate relations. Security is a major issue.

Speaking to uns.ac.id, the Head of PSJ UNS, Dr. Eng Kusumaningdyah Nurul H., S.T., M.T., explained that this year’s ASJI Symposium & Seminar invites several speakers and holds discussions with various stakeholders to provide an objective human perspective. The event will take place at the UNS Inn.

“The selection of the ASJI Annual event in Solo, especially at Universitas Sebelas Maret, is expected to bring many benefits for networking opportunities and collaboration for researchers interested in Japanese culture across disciplines,” Rully said, the familiar name for the Head of PSJ UNS.

The event will be opened by the Chairman of ASJI, Julian Aldrin Pasha, M.A., Ph.D.; Director General of Japan Foundation Jakarta, Mr. Yuichi Takashi; and the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, Business, and Information UNS, Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Keynote speakers will include Prof. Kenki Adachi, Ph.D., from Ritsumeikan University; and Andi Widjajanto, S.Sos., M.Sc., Ph.D., from the University of Indonesia (UI). The plenary speakers include Prof. Maria Ela L. Atienza, Ph.D., from the University of The Philippines Diliman, Philippines; Prof. Emiko Ochiai, Ph.D., from Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan; Prof. Dr. Zarina Binti Othman from The National University of Malaysia; and Bachtiar Alam, Ph.D., from the University of Indonesia. Humas UNS

Reporter: R. P. Adji

Editor: Dwi Hastuti