XVIII INTERNATIONAL DOSTOEVSKY SYMPOSIUM
FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS(in order of arrival)
Gentil de Faria（Brazil）
I really enjoyed the Symposium. Perfect organization, good distribution and grouping of themes, inaddition to the excellent location of the hotels, which allowed participants to walk, instead of using
some form of transport. Furthermore, the prices charged were very reasonable. Anyway, you deserve
our congratulations. On a scale of zero to ten, I would not hesitate to give the highest score to all theactivities promoted by you. Besides the excursion to Kyoto was a must.
All best
Jasmina Vojvodic（Croatia）
спасибо вам большое за незабываемую встречу! Конференция была на высоком уровне, всеинформации мы получали вовремя, в течение конференции нам помогали. Все былобезупречно организовано и за это вам я очень благодарна. Опыт конференции в Нагое япопытаюсь перенести дальше.
Удачи вам в дальнейшей работе!
С уважением и благодарностью,Kristian Feigelson（France）
I've arrived in Tokyo where I'll be working for the whole month at Todai University. I was meeting
Japanese colleagues in Nagoya just today, and we were all impressed by the excellent organization of
the symposium. I was also very pleased to take part, but also to be able to meet young colleagues who
had come to present their research work in Nagoya. Both in form and contents, this symposium, thanks
to all the hard work of your team, has been a success, bringing together researchers from all over theworld who share the same passions, despite a difficult time for Russian studies. But also a very specificand interesting session with three Japanese writers inspired by Dostoyevsky too. Thank you again.
野中進（Japan）
2023 年８月、名古屋外国語大学で行われた国際ドストエフスキー学会は、組織委員長である亀山郁夫氏（名古屋外国語大学長）のリーダーシップの下、内容的に非常にレベルの高い、かつ受入れのたいへん行き届いた国際会議となった。ウクライナ戦争という困難な状況の下、欧米、ロシア、アジアの研究者が一堂に会し、ドストエフスキーやロシア文化などについて真摯に議論を交わしたことは学術的のみならず社会的にも重要な出来事であった。受入れについて言えば、名古屋外国語大学の教職員・学生諸氏の真摯なお取組には頭の下がる思いであった。ロシアや欧米の参加者にも感想を聞いたところ、「素晴らしいオーガナイズ」
だという声が多数であった。一参加者として、本学会を支援して下さった諸団体にも深くお礼申し上げたい。埼玉大学教養学部長 野中進
Amy Ronner（USA）
I am so pleased that you reached out and asked for some comments on the XVIII IDS Nagoya
Symposium because I have wanted to send praise.

1

The Symposium was absolute perfection! It was magnificently organized from day one to the grandfinale. This was my fifth IDS Symposium and it was surely the best one ever. I want you to knowthat I routinely speak at Russian/Slavic literature conferences all over the world. I am also a lawyer
and present papers at various legal conferences as well. I have never been at any conference that was
as well organized and exciting as the one you put together in Nagoya. I also want you to know that I
do not praise anything easily.
The materials before the conference were clear and informative. I knew exactly how to find the venue
and knew precisely when and where all of the presentations would be. When I arrived to register,
everyone was warm and welcoming. You made me feel like a family member who has just comehome. Also, the snacks and the coffee were plentiful and beautifully displayed. The final banquet
was also superb! I believe the XVIII IDS Nagoya Symposium will be remembered forever and you
proved that creating a symposium could rise to the level of an art form.
Thank you so much for giving me and my husband a magical experience.
Konstantin Barsht（Russia）
Завершившийся неделю назад конгресс Международного общества Достоевского - этовыдающееся событие в мировой гуманитарной жизни. Научное его значение, как и всегда, былона самом высоком уровне филологической науки, что же касается значения общественногуманитарного, его просто невозможно переоценить. Наш мир содрогается от войн иполитических конфликтов, и огромный гуманитарный ресурс, которым является творческое
наследие Достоевского, классика мировой литературы, сегодня более, чем актуален. Защитник
всех униженных и оскорбленных в этом мире, своим именем Достоевский собрал в Нагое
ученых, публикующих тексты писателя, осмысливающих, развивающих и интерпретирующихего нравственную философию, делая тем самым наш мир добрее. Дружеские и научные связи,установившиеся или продолженные на этом форуме между учеными из Японии, США, Бельгии,России, Китая, Италии и других стран становятся частью общечеловеческого единения наоснове идеалов братской любви и искреннего взаимопонимания, которые утверждал русский
писатель. В целом, лично для меня, участие в форуме стало настоящим счастьем. В связи с этимхотелось бы выразить глубочайшую благодарность устроителям и спонсорам конференции,персонально проф. Камаяма-сан, проф. Мотидзуки-сан, проф. Кэрол Аполлонио и всемсотрудникам офиса конференции, создавшим в Нагое атмосферу настоящего праздника
гуманитарной мысли. С благодарностью хочу также упомянуть финансовую поддержку
участникам конференции, что значительно облегчило многим возможность участия форуме. Взаключение хочу выразить особую благодарность устроителям конференции за честь
выступить с пленарным докладом, позволившим ввести в мировой научный оборот рядпубликаций Пушкинского дома.
С уважением и глубочайшей благодарностью, ваш Satoe Nagata（Japan）
This was my first international conference, and almost my first time presenting at an academic
conference in the first place, and I now wonder how I could have participated in such a big conference2without looking over there.
Witnessing the heated discussions about Dostoevsky between a number of Russian scholars right infront of me, and witnessing the difference in atmosphere and research methods between the West andRussia, was the biggest culture shock I have ever experienced in my life.
I was able to have such an experience while in Japan, thanks to the fact that the IDS was held in
Nagoya. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the professors and everyone involved in
the IDS operation.
Unfortunately, my language skills did not allow me to understand the contents of a few presentations
in-depth, but it was a really good opportunity for me to make acquaintances with Dostoevsky scholars
from Russia, North America, Korea, and China. I now have a clear idea of the challenges I will facein my future research.
Thank you very much again.
Tamara Djermanovic（Spain）
The organization of our Symposium was so extraordinary -really perfect- that any word is poor to
express how grateful everybody of the participants might be.
My sincere gratitude to you, from the Orgcom, then to other professors and people from theorganization; also to the students who gave their invaluable support.
I’m deeply impressed of how perfect was the organization and every moment of these five days thatwe spent together, which I’ll always keep in my soul, like that moments of light which ‘could saveus’, like Dostoievsky said.
In the academic sense it was excellent, as well the Campus of the University and it’s rooms and halls;of course, all the staff, the warmly receivings, the amability, hospitality and professionality in every
moment - THANK YOU; SPASIBO; ARIGATO
Robin Feuer Miller（USA）
Dear Colleagues and Friends in Nagoya,
This was without doubt the most beautifully organized conference I have ever attended. You madeeach of us feel like an honored guest. The bag of conference souvenirs and programs was full of realtreasures. I am enjoying my coffee cup each morning, and I wish that I could read the essays in that
impressive volume you gave to us. I look forward to wearing out that hardy Dostoevsky canvas bag.
I was sorry to have to leave the conference after the first day--for unavoidable family reasons. But the
papers on the first day were impressive, and the welcome reception was beautiful.
The hotel (the Cypress) was well-located and extremely comfortable.
You have set a standard that will likely be impossible to match!
With enduring gratitude.
Pavel Fokin, Valentina Borisova, Sergey Shaulov, Olga Zolotko（Russia）
Уважаемые Икуо Камэяма и Тэцуо Мотидзуки!Научные сотрудники Государственного музея
истории российской литературы им. В.И. Даля выражают огромную признательность личноВам и всем организаторам XVIII симпозиума Международного общества Достоевского вНагое. Мы восхищены тем, как он был проведен, и поражены до глубины души сердечным

3отношением всех японских коллег к участникам Симпозиума. Действительно, он оказался
очень интересным и полезным. Наше общение было чрезвычайно глубоким. Все мероприятия
Симпозиума прошли на самом высоком уровне. Очень познавательной была культурная
программа: особенно встреча с молодыми японскими писателями и поездка в Киото. Работа нанаучных заседаниях была плодотворной. Спасибо за издание сборника тезисов. В идеале,конечно, хотелось бы познакомиться с полными текстами всех докладов. Видимо, они будут
опубликованы в журнале «Dostoevsky Studies». Мы уже поделились «сильными
впечатлениями» от Симпозиума (это слова Достоевского) на сайте Московского домаДостоевского: https://vk.com/domdostoevskogomoskva
С величайшей признательностью Павел Фокин, Валентина Борисова, Сергей Шаулов, Ольга
Золотько.
P.S. Ниже текст, размещенный на сайте Московского дома Достоевского (отдела ГМИРЛИ),и некоторые фотографии.
Bongju Shin（South Korea）
I am really glad that I can give my feedback about this conference.
It was literally my first international conference since I've defended my Ph. D thesis in Korea in 2017year.
First of all, I am sincerely grateful to the organizing committee for giving me financial assistance.
The hotel was very convenient and it's place was wonderful in that it was close both to the campus
and to the station.
From welcome party to farewell banquet, I could find how organizing committee has tried hard forthis conference, especially in light of the uncertainty we've gone through last two years. The mini
symposium as pre-event and the will to hold the main conference face to face were so impressive that
I've been really looking forward to this conference.
The program was also well prepared and there wasn't any confusion in participating sessions.
Every session was so fruitful and lively. Thank you for all the effort and consideration.
I am also looking forward to our next reunion.
Hang Yu（China）
For me, the symposium was great. Whether the layout of the venue, the organization of the conference,the speech at the conference, or the cultural visit to Kyoto, it seems to me that it was wellorganized. This conference at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies left me with very good memories.
Thank you for everything. Looking froward to our next reunion.
Liu Na（China）
Dear Organizing Committee of the 18th Symposium of IDS!As a young scholar, this is the first time I
have participated in an academic event with scholars from so many countries and in so many different
languages. I am very grateful to the International Dostoevsky Society and the organizing committeeof the Symposium! I felt respected, listened to and dialogued as equals in the symposium. I learned toread and interpret Dostoevsky from different perspectives and viewpoints, dialogued with leading
scholars who I had previously only seen on the covers of monographs and papers, and noticed that in4the Dostoevsky research community there are people of different ages and nationalities, and saw thatthe people, though different, are united by a common love - the love to Dostoevsky! -- all of these will
be rare experiences for me and give me strength.
Dostoevsky is still alive, and his thoughts are not only a source for us to write essays and complete
our own jobs, but he has changed us through his creations, making us more open-minded, deeply
insightful, and learning to love one another.
Zhou Qichao（China）
Thirty-four years have passed since I first attended the Symposium of IDS in 1989. During these 34
years, the world has changed, but the passion for Dostoevsky's life and work has always been theuniting factor for us. I would like to thank the organizing committee of this symposium and colleagues
at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies! After four years of difficult preparations, we had an
unforgettable time of academic exchange in Japan this summer! We were impressed by the meticulous
and thoughtful organization of the colleagues of the organizing committee. I wish the next
Dostoevsky Symposium a great success!
Kate Holland（Canada）
In the attached letter I have given detailed feedback regarding all aspects of the conference. As I hopeis clear, I think it was an absolutely fantastic conference, organized perfectly, which created aprofessionally and intellectually satisfying event for all. I think I will remember it for my whole life!
I hope the funding agencies are happy that their money was well spent!
I am writing to provide detailed feedback on the XVIII Symposium of the International Dostoevsky
Society, held in Nagoya, Japan, from 24th to the 27th August, 2023.
After a number of postponements due to the COVID pandemic and the international situation, theSymposium was, in my view, a remarkable success and an extraordinary achievement on the partof the organizing committee. It was intellectually and diplomatically productive, as well as
extremely enjoyable and inspirational for all the participants, or at least everyone I spoke to about
it. It was delightful to meet the organizers and hear about their work and I hope that I can cooperate
further with colleagues in Japan in the years to come. Below, I will divide my feedback into different
sections so that those responsible can get a sense of how well the Symposium worked at every level.
(Communication and Information prior to the Conference)
Given the difficulties that the organizers faced with the pandemic and travel restrictions, as well as theuncertain international situation in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I believe that
communication and information given prior to the conference was as effective, transparent, andstreamlined as it could have been. There was a lot of time between when I first submitted my proposal,
and when the conference took place (I got my acceptance in September 2021 and the first informationon the 2023 conference was at the end of December 2022), but given the circumstances that theorganizers were dealing with, this seems very reasonable. More comprehensive information followed,
including the accommodation details, in March and April 2023, and the organizers were helpful and5communicative with questions that we had. The hotel information was clear and the information about
payment was easy to follow. All in all, I can say that the communication and information prior to theconference was excellent and that the team were very responsive to our needs.
(Organization of Accommodation and Travel)
In March and April 2023 we received detailed information about hotel and travel options. The two
hotel options were clearly explained and very well-thought out to be as convenient as possible foreveryone. The hotel I stayed at, the Cypress Hotel-Ekimae, was very comfortable with an excellent
breakfast buffet. I shared a twin room with a colleague, which was a good option for me. I did not use
the travel services and advice offered by Mr. Fukui but I believe that he was very helpful for othercolleagues. I was able to organize my own travel to Nagoya via Tokyo with no problems.
(Venue, Welcome, Technology, and Hospitality during the Conference)
The conference venue was easy to find and conveniently located from the hotels. The large number ofstaff and volunteers made it very easy to find our way through the Noritake garden and the Bizrium
Center. We were warmly welcomed by the organizers on arrival and all the rooms at the venue wereclearly marked and could be easily located. The food and drinks at the opening reception and for the
breaks, and the bento boxes for lunches were all well-organized and delicious. It was very convenient
to have the boxes that could be brought to the lunchtime meetings. The technology provided for the
conference presentations was excellent, and this meant that the talks could proceed smoothly with nointerruptions. The staff helping out with the technology were professional, polite, and helpful.
(Conference Program)I thought that the conference program was extremely well thought out. The thematic streams wereexcellent. It was so intellectually satisfying to have so many papers on one novel: Demons. The panels
worked really well together and the papers had been well-chosen for each panel. The two working
languages of the conference, English and Russian, worked seamlessly together. I liked the fact that
there were two roundtables and two plenary sessions, and a book presentation session, and that there
were a mix of presentations in English and in Russian. I really appreciated the international mix ofscholars, and it was extremely intellectually and professional productive for me personally and foreveryone there, I believe. I found the standard of the papers uniformly high, higher than I remember
at past IDS conferences. The timing was excellent, and the days were full but not overburdened with
events. The themes were well-chosen and papers mostly fitted with the themes. The chairing of thepanels was very effective and the chairs were chosen wisely. In general, the conference planningcreated an atmosphere that was convivial, collegial, and perfect for intellectual exchange. I could not
imagine a more well-organized and well-conceived academic event.
(Banquet)
The banquet at the Marriott was held in a very beautiful space and was easy to find based on the
instructions given by the organizers. The buffet style was convenient and the food was excellent.
Because of easy circulation in the room, I was able to speak to and interact with many colleagues andwas not restricted to being at one table. All in all it was a great concluding event of the conference.

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(Trip to Kyoto)
The trip to Kyoto was a wonderful idea and was organized extremely well. The buses were comfortable
and conveniently picked us up right from our hotels. The three places we visited were spectacular andthe lunch venue was amazing. It was great to be able to sample some local Kyoto cuisine in such an
unbelievably beautiful setting. The schedule was full but not so full that we could not take in the sitesthat we saw and it was thoughtful to include a stop for bathrooms and refreshments. The commentaryon the bus was helpful and there were enough guides to make sure that you could always find someone
to ask a question or get help. All in all, it was an unforgettable day, and I would like to thank andcongratulate the organizers for giving us such a wonderful time.
(Conclusions)
I had an unforgettable time at the Nagoya IDS conference. It was perfectly organized, and extremely
professionally and intellectually productive. It made me feel very excited about future cooperation
with our Japanese colleagues, as well as about my own scholarship and teaching. I feel very energized
in my intellectual and professional life as a direct result of this conference and am excited both about
the next IDS conference and about further cooperation with colleagues. I hope to be able to bring somecolleagues from Japan over to Canada as a result of the scholarly interactions we had in Nagoya and I
hope to be able to return to Japan for further professional and academic projects.
Best wishes,
Kate Holland
Maria Candida Ghidini（Italy）
Dear Proff. Kameyama and Mochizuki,
I am writing to thank you and your collaborators for the impeccable organisation of the Dostoevsky
conference.
And I am not just talking about the practical and logistical part, which you did so skilfully and with somuch dedication, but above all about the scientific part. You articulated the programme in a balancedmanner, alternating collegial moments and discussions in smaller sessions, organised in a homogenous
and logical manner, so as to stimulate dialogue and fruitful discussion among the participants.
The final round table with the writers was for me of great interest.
At such a difficult time for Slavic studies, when the fractures are getting wider and wider, you managed
to create a valuable opportunity to meet with Russian colleagues as well, and this is invaluable. Grazie
di cuore!
Looking forward to meeting you again.
Natalia Arsentieva（Russia）
Уважаемые организаторы XVIII симпозиума Международного общества Достоевского вНагое!
Сердечно благодарю вас за тёплый приём, финансовую поддержку и отличную организацию
симпозиума. Было необычайно приятно стать частью такого масштабного и значимого
научного мероприятия.
Я искренне считаю, что симпозиум прошёл на высоком уровне и не имею к его организации
никаких замечаний. Всё было продумано до мелочей: от научной программы до социальных

7мероприятий. Поэтому у меня нет пожеланий, которые могли бы послужить материалом длядальнейшего развития или финансирования. Считаю, что ваш опыт и профессионализм ворганизации такого рода мероприятий уже являются залогом их успеха.
С нетерпением жду возможности участия в следующем симпозиуме в Буэнос-Айресе в 2026
году и надеюсь на продолжение нашего успешного сотрудничества.
Желаю вам крепкого здоровья, всех благ и дальнейших успехов в научной деятельности!
Zhang Biange（China）
Здравствуйте уважаемые профессора Икуо Камэяма и Тэцуо Мотидзуки!
Огромное спасибо за Ваше усердную и замечательную организационную работу насимпозиум Международного общества Достоевского в Нагое.
Симпозиум прошел успешно благодаря усилию Вашего коллектива. Это выражается в трехаспектах. Во-первых, это тщательная подготовительная работа до открытия симпозиума, втом числе и услуга за визу и бронирование гостиницы. Благодаря заботливым хлопотам
господина Фукаи М. мы благополучно провели время в Нагое. Во-вторых, это организационная
работа, выполненные японскими коллегами в ходе конференции. В-третьих, этовоодушевленная встреча с японскими писателями. Их углубленные чтения Достоевского прямо
дают импульс исследователям. Конечно, все обеды и ужины очень вкусные.
Хочу пользоваться случаем Вас спросить, можно ли получить тексты выступления японских
писателей? Думаю, что эти материалы способствуют вызвать подъем интереса у студентов ктворчеству великого писателя.
Одним словом, очень признательна за Ваше усердие в создании благополучной атмосфере насимпозиуме. Всего наилучшего!
Russell Scott Valentino（USA）
My comments on the conference organization are all positive. I thought you did a wonderful job ofproviding clear and timely information throughout the process, and creating a safe, professional
atmosphere that made it possible for all the participants to carry on conversations at a very high level.
Your directions with pictures to the hotel were very helpful—I walked there from the train station
without any problem whatsoever. The bento boxes were all very good, and the system for registration
was smooth, efficient, and kind. The banquet was excellent, and the additional entertainment fromPresident Kameyama was an added treat. While I’ve been to Japan many times and have enoughJapanese language to move around on my own without difficulty, I still found everything very welldone.
The Dostoevsky tote bag is an especially adorable keepsake of the professional gathering you all
managed to make happen.
Thank you for all your work.
Ludmil Dimitrov（Bulgaria）
Уважаемые коллеги!Хочу выразить свою сердечную благодарность и восхищение
организаторам XVIII конгресса Международного общества Достоевского, всему коллективу ипрекрасному проведению форума.

8Впервые я столкнулся с невероятной Японией – страной, которая очаровала меня своим
порядком, чистотой, красотой и, прежде всего, своими людьми – их точностью, терпением исовершенством.
Четыре дня конференции прошли на чрезвычайно высоком научном уровне. Университет
Нагои – настоящий центр ученых, что доказала и встреча с тремя выдающими японскими
писателями. Меня бесконечно впечатляет мое первое пребывание в компании высоких
интеллектуалов, очень подготовленных, компетентных и настроенных на истину исправедливость.
Не могу обойти вниманием огромную роль главного организатора, профессора Икуо Камеямы,который еще в Бостоне предложил провести следующий конгресс в Нагое и, несмотря наогромные трудности – пандемию, войну – успел! Присутствие его терпеливых и великолепных
сотрудников также впечатляет. Путешествие в Киото и прикосновение к этим удивительным
историческим местам и реликвиям также незабываемо.
Форум я запомню удивительным великодушием всех японских коллег и вашей заботой о нас исопровождавших нас членах наших семей!
Уверяю вас, Япония для меня по-настоящему началась после моего возвращения: уже вторую
неделю я читаю японские романы, смотрю японские фильмы и готовлю по японским рецептам.
Предлагаю сделать фотосайт, куда мы все будем выкладывать избранные снимки со своих
телефонов. Пожалуйста, пришлите нам общую фотографию, которую мы сделали перед
рестораном в Киото.
С уважением, благодарностью и ожиданием скорой встречи,Профессор, доктор Людмил Димитров,Болгария

Софийский университет «Св. Климент Охридский»,Monica Puglia（USA）
I am writing this mail to thank you for the perfect organization and kind hospitality. The symposium
was packed with interesting talks and panels and time for free conversation and socializing. In
particular, I would like to thank you all for the gluten-free meals you provided, which made my stay
in Nagoya so much easier.
Pavel Fokin（Russia）
На мой взгляд, весь Симпозиум от первых анонсов до заключительного этапа был организованс большим тщанием и учётом всех, даже самых частных вопросов, так что ни в одном моментеу участников не возникло ни одной проблемы. Моя оценка работы оргкомитета и всей команды
организаторов — ИДЕАЛЬНО! Думаю, я не одинок. С благодарностью вспоминаю дни,проведённые в Нагоя.
Сердечно желаю всем благополучия, сил и здоровья!

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Katya Jordan（USA）
I appreciate the care with which our Japanese colleagues have prepared the XVIII IDS Symposium.
Nothing was too little for their attention. From informative emails leading up to the event to the Kyoto
excursion on the final day—everything was meticulously organized and thought through. I cannot
imagine the countless hours that went into the preparation for this event and the energy and attention
that was necessary to conduct it. I am very grateful to the organizers for creating such a wonderful
opportunity to meet colleagues from all over the world and to discuss intellectual matters in such ahospitable environment. As I've discussed with some of the participants at the Symposium, there is no
way to show enough appreciation for all the work that was done on our behalf by Prof. Kameyama,
Prof. Mochizuki, and all the other colleagues and staff. Thank you.
Denis A. Zhernokleyev（USA）
Dear Prof. Ikuo Kameyama and All the Conference Organizers,
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the outstanding Nagoya Symposium. This was asuperbly organized event. The space where the symposium took place was ideally suited for the
conference activities. It had plenty of wide areas for participants to mingle and converse. There isabsolutely nothing we lacked be it directions, conference materials, food, or lodging. Technology
worked flawlessly, which is almost never the case at events like this. The highlight of the event was
the two grand banquets, one at the start and the other at the closing of the symposium. They showcased
the exquisite hospitality and tastefulness of the Japanese people. Above all, I am grateful for theopportunity to meet so many wonderful Japanese scholars of Dostoevsky. I have been reading
Japanese scholarship on Dostoevsky for some time and have always been impressed by the depth andsubtlety with which they read Dostoevsky. This symposium in Nagoya allowed me to put these distantobservations into a more intimate context. For this I am deeply grateful to the symposium organizers
and to all the financial entities that helped to make it possible. The symposium was an absolute
success!
Igor Volgin（Russia）
Дорогой профессор Камэяма, дорогой епрофессор Мотидзуки!
Пользуясь случаем, хочу сердечно поблагодарить Вас за блестящую организацию нашего
симпозиума. Вы приложили много усилий, чтобы в столь непростое время эта международная
встреча была гармоничной и принесла серьёзные научные результаты.
Что касается замечаний, я бы предложил в будущем предъявлять более строгие требования ктексту докладов. К сожалению, некоторые из них оказались на аспирантском и дажестуденческом уровне. Кроме того, хорошо бы в Буэнос-Айресе возродить жанр общих
пленарных заседаний, где бы оглашались и обсуждались наиболее интересные исодержательные работы. Желаю вам, дорогие коллеги, творческих сил, благополучия издоровья!
Katherine Bowers（Canada）
The XVIII International Dostoevsky Symposium held in Nagoya, Japan from Aug 24-28 2023 was awonderful event. The organizing committee did a fantastic job hosting, with every detail thought out.

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The conference facilities were beautiful and well-suited to the event. The catering was the best I haveever had at a conference. The communication sent to attendees was clear and thoughtful, and enabled
us to easily navigate both Nagoya and Japan, so small feat, considering how few of us speak Japanese!
The most impressive aspect of the conference was the rigorous caliber of the papers and talks. The
focus on Dostoevsky’s 1872 novel Demons made for an invigorating base for lively discussion.
Bringing together scholars from so many countries together for shared debate about one author and
one novel created a wonderful atmosphere. I hope that the connections made at this Symposium will
last for years to come and generate future research collaborations. Finally, a word about the Kyoto day
trip. This was a perfect end to the conference. It was meticulously organized and showcased the beautyof Kyoto’s temples and cuisine while also enabling more informal discussion. All in all, the XVIIIInternational Dostoevsky Symposium ranks as the best Dostoevsky conference I have ever attended,both in terms of organization and in terms of academic rigor. A massive thank you to the Japaneseorganizing committee and hosts.
Marcin Borowski（Poland）
Я хочу Вас поблагодарить за замечательную конференцию.
Спасибо за отличную организацию. Спасибо за Вашу огромною работу, усилье и все попытки,чтобы все получилось благополучно. Все, что происходило на Симпозиуме я считаю
великолепным: программа была очень хорошо подготовлена – мы в секциях ввели очень
интересные дискуссии, которые будут продолжатся после конференции. Спасибо Вам за всенаучные разговоры и за дружескую атмосферу. Также все «вокруг» конференции былозамечательным и очень интересным: банкет, экскурсия, встреча с писателями.
Поздравляю Вас в таким великим успехом!
Chen Tianxiang（China）
I am honored to participate in the XVIII symposium of IDS in NUFS, Nagoya, August 24-28, 2023.
Before the symposium, I received a lot of e-mails from the IDS Nagoya office, and you seriously
solved my problems. I felt warm. During the symposium, the members of the committee were very
enthusiastic. Teachers and classmates were extremely courteous in giving guidance. I deeply feel yourgreat efforts and contributions for the symposium. I also enjoyed the trip to Kyoto.
Paul Fung (Hong Kong, China)
Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. The logistic was great. The food was great. The
papers were great. I would like to also thank all the event assistants. They are very professional andhelpful.
Danijela Lugaric Vukas（Croatia)
Thank you for everything: it was a wonderful experience on all possible levels - scientific, but also
personal. I completely failed in love with Japan, and will make sure to come visit you again. I wanted
to express my gratitude also to students who made sure that we are never without coffee and snacks it was very healing to see that, in this circumstances, there is a future of our profession.
Thank you once more, and hope to see you, if not before, than in Buenos Aires。

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Alexandra Toichkina（Russia）
Добрый день, коллеги! Хочу от души поблагодарить за теплый и радушный прием в Японии!
18-й Симпозиум МОД был замечательно организован. Хочу выразить сердечную
благодарность всем организаторам и их помощникам, в первую очередь нашим руководителям
- Икуо Камэяма и Тэцуо Мотидзуки! Я была очень тронута вниманием и заботой, в частности,помощью аспирантов - Шинго Шимицу и Сатоэ Нагата. Было много хороших докладов,интересных обсуждений, полезных дискуссий! Спасибо за душевное тепло и угощения,насыщенную программу, замечательную экскурсию в Киото!
С искренней благодарностью
Viktorovich Marchenko（Russia）
Атмосфера серьезной работы царила на Симпозиуме международного общества Достоевскогов Нагое. Важного, насущного дела, которое здесь и сейчас, параллельно в нескольких
университетских аудиториях творится: попытка заинтересованного, современного постижения
идейно-художественного наследия одного из величайших в мире писателей, крупнейшего
представителя русской культуры. Отрадно было наблюдать, как блестящие знатоки творчества
Достоевского из разных стран стараются прояснить детали творческой биографии писателя,своеобразие его художественного метода, идейные искания, особенности поэтики. Отдельно
нужно отметить серию выступлений, авторы которых стремились показать значимое
присутствие идей и образов Достоевского в творчестве позднейших писателей, мыслителей,художников, кинематографистов. За всеми этими исследовательскими усилиями
просматривалось настоятельное желание узнать не только нечто новое, прежде непонятое вДостоевском, но и прозреть в зеркале его творчества нечто важное и о себе самих.

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