CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies

The CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies is comprised of University of Chicago faculty with a scholarly interest in Japanese subjects. The Committee coordinates and supports Japan-related programs throughout the University and presents a wide variety of Japan-related outreach activities both on and off campus. It also seeks to partner with other entities locally, regionally, nationally, and globally to build Japan awareness and strengthen Japanese Studies.

The Committee is also responsible for administering CEAS Japan-related grants and fellowships to University of Chicago students.

Michael Bourdaghs serves as Chair of the CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies.

2024-2025 Committee Chair 

  • Michael Bourdaghs, Robert S. Ingersoll Professor in East Asian Languages and Civilizations and the College

Committee Members

  • Yukiko Asai, Assistant Instructional Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy
  • Susan Burns, Professor of History, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the College
  • Yuting Dong, Assistant Professor of History
  • Michael Fisch, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences in the College
  • Chelsea Foxwell, Professor of Art History, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the College and Director, Center for East Asian Studies
  • Miku Fukasaku, Associate Instructional Professor in Japanese Language, East Asian Languages and Civilizations
  • Yoko Katagiri, Instructional Professor in Japanese Language, East Asian Languages and Civilizations
  • Tomoko Kern, Assistant Instructional Professor in Japanese Language, East Asian Languages and Civilizations
  • Thomas Lamarre, Gordon J Laing Distinguished Service Professor Department of Cinema and Media Studies, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the College
  • Stephan Licha, Assistant Professor, Divinity School, and in the College
  • Hoyt Long, Professor of Japanese Literature, Chair of the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and Interim Director, Japanese Language Program
  • Takeaki Okamoto, Assistant Instructional Professor in Japanese Language
  • Melissa Van Wyk, Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature, East Asian Languages and Literatures
  • Kazuo Yamaguchi,  Ralph Lewis Professor of Sociology
  • Ayako Yoshimura, Japanese Studies Librarian, East Asian Collection, University of Chicago Library

CEAS-administered Japanese Studies Grants and Fellowships include support for dissertation research, pre-dissertation research, professional training, language study, conference travel, copy editing, and an emergency fund.

Spotlighted CEAS Japan Program Initiatives

The CEAS Committee on Japanese Studies has also spearheaded the following initiatives to support Japanese literature in translation, foster public programming featuring cutting-edge scholarship, and honor the legacy of esteemed colleagues.