VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITYCENTRE FOR ASIAN STUDIES
Vai_ganto g. 30, Kaunas LT-44229, LITHUANIA
Tel. /Fax: !370 37 331323; E-mail: kyokokoma@hotmail.com

CALL FOR PAPERS
Symposium and publication
Representation of Japan in European Medias - its analytic methodologies and theories
Comparison with the Korean Case
November 4-5, 2010
Despite an easy access to vast information sources, which contemporary societies exploit in the present era ofglobalization, Japan is still often perceived by Europeans as mysterious and “just too distant”. During themodern contemporary period when the self and the world are conceptualized under the influence ofglobalization and media development, it seems that contemporary images of Japan are constructed not only bythe Japanese, but also by the foreign viewpoint. Therefore, in order to understand Japan it is necessary toexamine it from both the internal and the external perspective. Taking into consideration these problematicissues, we organized three international conferences and publications on the topic of the image of Japan in theWest in 2007 and 2008 sponsored by Toshiba International Foundation. Under the subvention of JapanFoundation we also organized the symposium “Japan as Images: Crossing Viewpoints of Europe and Japan” in2009.
Expanding our research activities, and thanks to the Japan Foundation, this year we are planning to organize theinternational conference in November 4-5, 2010, and the publication under the title “Representation of Japan inEuropean Medias - its analytic methodologies and theories” in 2011. This conference is going to focus on threepoints of view:(1) The methodology and theory for studies on images of Japan in European medias - Literature, art,television/film, printed medias;(2) The methodology and theory for interpretation of the images of Westernized Japan in Japanese medias suchas television/film, printed medias, literature/art;(3) The methodologies and theories that are applied when interpreting the images of Korea in European mediaLiterature, art, television/film, printed medias.
We intend to publish the selection of articles based on the conference papers in March, 2011.
We invite scholars and researchers to discuss the current problems and achievements in cross-culturalcommunication among the Japanese people and Europeans since the proper understanding of other nations andcultures is now acknowledged to be the key to success in any political, economical or cultural relations on theinternational level.
Organizer: Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Centre for Asian Studies
Date and place of the conference: November 4-5, 2010, Centre for Asian Studies (VMU), Vai_ganto str. 30,Kaunas

Language of presentations: EnglishRegistration: please fill in the registration form attached and send it by e-mail till June 20, 2010 to JapaneseStudies Centre of Vytautas Magnus University: conference.asc2010@gmail.com.
Intended schedule:
June 20, 2010: Deadline for registration, submission of the title, abstracts (up to 300 words) and short CV(which should include the list of your presentations at conferences and three most important research papers
written in English and published in scientific journals.
By July 6, 2010: Announcement of results to candidates (an invitation to the conference and a proposal for
publication of papers).
September 30, 2010: Deadline for the paper submission (up to 5000 words) for publication.
November 4 and 5, 2010: Conference.
By November 15-16, 2010: Sending reviews to authors.
December 15, 2010: Deadline for the final paper submission.
March 2011: Publishing the journal.
Scientific Committee
Takashi Kitamura, Osaka University, JapanKyoko Koma, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
SangGum, Li, Pusan University, Korea
Sepp Linhart, University of Vienna, Austria
Cécile Sakai, Paris 7 University, FranceJan S_kora, Charles University, Czech Republic
Harald Fuess, Heidelberg University, Germany (to be confirmed)
Organization Committee
Aurelijus Zykas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Kyoko Koma, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Ieva Kudirkait_, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Jinseok Seo,Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Notes:
1. We will provide the researchers a possibility to make an e-presentation via Skype for those who finddifficulties to attend the conference. Please indicate your choice in the registration form.
2. Even though we cannot provide the financial support for travel and accommodation, we could offer you
any organizational support (finding and booking hotels, sending maps, transport timetables, etc.)
Yours sincerely,
Aurelijus Zykas
Project Director
Head of Centre for Asian Studies
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITYCENTRE FOR ASIAN STUDIES
Vai_ganto g. 30, Kaunas LT-44229, LITHUANIA
Tel. /Fax: !370 37 331323
E-mail: conference.asc2010@gmail.com