In 1968 Japan was shocked by student protests and even today, exactly fifty years later, their effects can still be felt. An interdisciplinary group of researchers recently met to discuss them at Leiden University.

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Carl Li defended his thesis on 30 June 2015

Leiden Asia Centre researcher Anoma van der Veere argues that the Japanese government has failed to respond properly to Covid-19. There were difficulties with implementing government measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus – in some cases those measures were not even taken seriously. How…

Religion and Orientalism in Asian Studies analyses the role of religion in past and present understandings of Asia.

In the very first Korean class that teacher Eun-ju Kim taught, there were already students with dyslexia. With a background in special education and clinical developmental psychology, she developed a new method to help them, partly based on teaching methods from Dutch first language education.

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Are you thinking about studying Asian Studies (120 EC)? Learn more and watch the programme presentation.

Leiden University would like to express our sincere sympathy to students and staff who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. On Tuesday 22 March there is a meeting for Japanese students and staff. Mari Hosho, an exchange student from Japan, studying psychology at Leiden University,…

The way in which written language is processed in the brain is a hot topic in cognitive research. Cognitive psychologist Rinus Verdonschot studied a Japanese script in which a single character can have up to three possible pronunciations. He discovered that all three are simultaneously activated in…

It was long thought that the early development of Japanese children's books served mainly as a propaganda tool of the state: the literature was supposed to have been written to shape children into perfect citizens. PhD student Aafke van Ewijk nuances this image. Children's book writers wanted to have…

The two-year master's programme in Japanese Studies, a specialisation of the MA in Asian Studies, offers teaching by leading academics and a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the East Asian region.

Find out how to apply for Japanese Studies (120 EC) at Leiden University by following our step-by step guide.

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You’ve been accepted! Leiden University looks forward to welcoming you as a new student. Your next step is to prepare for your studies. Below you can find some tips to help you get a head start as you embark on your studies at Leiden University.

On 1 September 2022 Afke van Ewijk successfully defended a doctoral thesis and graduated.

Bas Verberk defended his thesis on 6 September 2016

In Humanity’s End As A New Beginning, Emeritus Professor Mineke Schipper reflects on myths about ‘the end’.

To be eligible for Japanese Studies (120 EC) at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Conference, Call for papers

In recent decades, women in Japan and South Korea have been catching up in terms of educational achievements and economic activity. Yet the number of women in leadership positions is still lagging behind. PhD candidate Yorum Beekman investigated why this is.

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LIAS is comprised of three research schools with expertise in different areas:

Power and Legitimacy in Kingship, Religion, and the Arts Volume 87 in the series Religion and Society

The Master’s in Asian Studies at Leiden University is your opportunity to earn a specialised qualification from one of the leading centres for Asian studies in Europe.

Ideology and Christianity in Japan shows the major role played by Christian-related discourse in the formation of early-modern and modern Japanese political ideology.

Leiden-Yale collaboration uncovers a tale of samurai same-sex love in a library manuscript.

Do you have a question about studying at Leiden University or student life in Leiden? Do you want more information about the Asian Studies master's programme? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

To be eligible for East Asian Studies at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Get the most out of your studies at Leiden University by taking part in our extracurricular activities.

D.P. Kok defended his thesis on 10 October 2017

If you have a question, there are various ways to get in touch with us.

Our East Asia experts work across various disciplines on global issues such as migration, heritage, and colonialism.

Research conducted in this group aims at furthering our understanding of how communities and individuals deal with social change, conflict and trauma through remembrance and commemoration as well as forgetting in the arts.

On the 8th of September Yun-An Olivia Dung successfully defended a doctoral thesis and graduated.