Kyoto Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS)

Relations between Southeast Asia and Japan have grown increasingly close and diversified as a result of dramatic political realignments and global economic integration in recent years. These changes bring fresh challenges, and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), continuously renewing itself as a Center of Excellence in Area Studies, believes that integrated endeavors based on solid academic research can play a central role in developing new paradigms for the twenty-first century.  The strength of the Center lies in its multidisciplinary orientation, especially the inclusion of staff working in the natural sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences. Since its establishment in 1965, the Center has carried out its activities using a comprehensive approach to investigate the contemporary and historical dimensions of problems confronting present-day Southeast Asia. Proceeding from these guiding principles, the Center’s current research methodology can be described as an integrated area studies approach based on informed knowledge from the field and aiming to create new perspectives on this dynamic region of Asia.

Area studies by definition, requires international efforts. The Center has two liaison offices: one in Bangkok and a residence in Jakarta to extend services to local scholars. The presence of foreign visiting scholars in Kyoto and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with institutional counterparts in Southeast Asia, have also helped expand our international presence.

CSEAS publishes two journals, Tonan Ajia Kenkyu (in Japanese, bi-annual) and Southeast Asian Studies (in English and other languages, tri-annual) to showcase the best of research conducted in the region. The Center’s research staff, visiting and outside scholars contribute on a frequent basis. The Japanese journal has an unbroken publishing history dating back to 1963. The Center also publishes three research series in English. These are the Monographs of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto Area Studies on Asia, and Kyoto CSEAS Series on Asian Studies. All series are open to outside contributors. In 2002, the Center launched the Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, an innovative, multi-lingual internet review of Southeast Asian scholarship and affairs. The Center also has an English Newsletter published bi-annually which showcases staff and fellows cutting edge research. The CSEAS library also supports the academic activities of both the Center and outside researchers with one of the largest and best collections on Southeast Asian area studies in Japan. The library’s holdings of over 180,000 volumes include an increasing number in the languages of Southeast Asia and various special collections.