10:00 ～11:30
Educational and Research Activities under the UQ-KU Project[JPN]
Person in charge : Kazuhiro Yasuda
Since 2015, Kyushu University and The University of Queensland have advanced the UQ-KU Project, fostering international collaboration in both education and research. This session will highlight the project's achievements to date, introduce recent initiatives, and explore new opportunities created through the partnership between the two universities.
Date 10/27 (Tue) 10:00 ～11:30
Venue Ito Campus Inamori Hall
13:30 ～18:30
Health Cluster Interim Report Meeting[JPN/ENG]
Person in charge : Kenji Hamase, Nuren Abedin
As part of Kyushu University Asia Week 2026, the Q-AOS Health Cluster will host its FY2026 Interim Report Meeting under the theme "Thinking about Global Health from Asia". This event brings together researchers to share progress across various modules—including One Health, Telemedicine, Food & Gut Microbiome, and Aging—and aims to foster new interdisciplinary joint research, educational initiatives, and global collaborations.
Date 10/27 (Tue) 13:30 ～18:30
Venue Hospital Campus Kyushu University Maidashi Campus Colabo Station 1F Main Auditorium
11:00 ～14:30
Communities, Rights and Sustainability: New Frontiers in Environmental Governance in Southeast Asia[ENG]
Person in charge : Kimihiko Hyakumura
Thailand enacted the Water Resources Act in 2018 and the Community Forest Act in 2019. The Thai Constitution has guaranteed communities the right to manage and utilize natural resources, as well as the right to participate in related undertakings in accordance with procedures established by law. Until these two laws were enacted, however, no legal framework had been established to make those rights operational. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is expanding globally, yet its methodologies and challenges vary widely across regions. The two Thai laws represent an attempt to translate constitutional rights into a working institutional framework, and their implementation raises a set of questions: the content and legal nature of community rights; the obstacles that may be embedded within the new legal framework; and the frameworks and rules needed to make participation effective, particularly concrete measures for developing local rules. This workshop brings together Thai and Japanese scholars from law, policy studies, sociology, and other social sciences to examine these questions, drawing on their analysis of legislation and subordinate regulations together with interviews conducted with administrative agencies, NGOs, and local communities. The scope of discussion extends beyond Thailand to the experiences of neighbouring countries and to water management in the Mekong River basin from an integrated management perspective. Through dialogue among researchers, administrative practitioners, and civil society, the workshop aims to share insights that support sustainable natural resource management and contribute to resolving conflicts over natural resources. https://hyakulab.com/en/news/info/post-2965/
Date 11/02 (Mon) 11:00 ～14:30
Venue Online & Face to face 【Date】09:00–12:30 (Thailand time, ICT/UTC+7) / 11:00–14:30 (Japan time, JST/UTC+9) 【Venue】Room No. 103, 1st Floor, Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, Bangkok, Thailand 【Registration Form】In Question 7 ("Attendance"), please select Online or In-person.
14:00 ～16:30
Discover the Charms of Kyushu and the Future of Tourism[JPN]
Person in charge : Toshinori Tanaka
Kyushu is blessed with world-class tourism resources, including five UNESCO World Heritage sites, six national parks, and numerous renowned hot spring destinations. As of 2026, the tourism industry has become Japan's second-largest export industry after the automotive sector, and it is projected to become the country's largest export industry in the 2030s. With its excellent accessibility to major Asian cities such as Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, Kyushu has enormous potential as a model region for Japan's tourism-driven growth. The success of the luxury cruise train "Seven Stars in Kyushu" is one notable example of this potential. In this session, distinguished leaders and experts from various fields will discuss the unique attractions of Kyushu and explore the future prospects of tourism in the region.
Date 11/02 (Mon) 14:00 ～16:30
Venue Ito Campus Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Centre of Japan
18:00 ～20:00
【By Invitation Only】Reception Party / Japanese Taiko Drum Performance and More【Excluded from the KIKAN education course】[JPN/ENG]
*This program is not included in the KIKAN education course “Exploring Sustainable Future through Asia Week.” *As this is an invitation-only event, the dedicated website is not open to the public.
Date 11/02 (Mon) 18:00 ～20:00
Venue Ito Campus Underground Dining Hall, COOP Big Sand Building
10:00 ～13:00
SNU-Kyushu U. Joint Seminar- Rural Multifunctionality[ENG]
Person in charge : Toshinori Tanaka
This seminar will present the initial findings of a joint research project focusing on Yangpyeong County in South Korea and Itoshima City in Japan. Based primarily on interviews with facilities and organizations involved in urban-rural exchange, and drawing on the results of field surveys, the presentation will examine and compare the development characteristics of rural fringe areas, as well as the characteristics of activities that link rural multifunctionality with urban-rural exchange. We will also introduce future research directions utilizing system dynamics (SD) and facilitate an exchange of views among Korean and Japanese researchers.
Date 11/03 (Tue) 10:00 ～13:00
Venue Ito Campus Ito Guest House Multipurpose Hall, Conference Room and Japanese-Style Room
13:00 ～15:00
Academic Exchange Program by Past Laureate of Fukuoka Prize ”Inbound Tourism in Edo: tourist activities by staff of the Dutch Trading Post”[JPN]
Person in charge : Q-AOS (Qian Kun), Speaker: Timon Screech
In this lecture, the speaker—who has spent many years researching history with a primary focus on Edo—will present records related to Dutch tourism from a multifaceted and global perspective, while exploring the daily life and political context of the time. It is well known that the Dutch East India Company operated on Dejima from 1641 to the end of the Edo Period. Its economic and cultural impacts on Japan have been well studied. However, entirely absent is any study of what might be called their ‘tourist’ activities. Although largely confined to Dejima, the Dutchmen made many trips into Nagasaki to see its temples, and the surrounding countryside. Almost every year – 166 times in all – some of the senior Dutchmen also went to Edo for an audience with the shogun. This ‘sanpu’ took them across Kyushu, through the Inland Sea, and along the Tokaido, round trip. They sometimes stayed in Edo as long as a month, and on the way home they always had one full day of tourism each in Kyoto, and Osaka. Their exposure to Japanese cultural monuments and nature was far from negligible, and their observations are of considerable interest.
Date 11/03 (Tue) 13:00 ～15:00
Venue JR Hakata City 10F Large meeting room
09:00 ～12:00
The History and Future of Collaboration Between Thailand and Kyushu University: Utilization of Biological Resources and Human Health[ENG]
Person in charge : Katsumi Doi
Reflectiong on our shared history. Exploring biological resources and human health. Building the next generation of Thailand-Japan collabolation. Research talks・Future perspectives・Open discussion / Guest Speaker : Dr.Nalena Praphairaksit(Dean, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University)
Date 11/04 (Wed) 09:00 ～12:00
Venue Online & Face to face Ito Guest house Multipurpose Hall
10:30 ～12:00
Collaborative Platform in Research and Education on Humanities and Social Sciences[JPN]
Person in charge : Collaborative Platform in Research and Education on Humanities and Social Sciences
人社系コモンズ企画オムニバスセッション 知の形成史#21
Date 11/04 (Wed) 10:30 ～12:00
Venue Online & Face to face Ito Campus E-A-239, 2nd Floor, East Building 1/zoom
12:10 ～12:50
Special Brown Bag Seminar "Singapore-Japan 60 years"[simultaneous translation]
Person in charge : Kimiyo Kikuchi
【Special Guest】Wong Jing Han, Counsellor (Political), Singapore Embassy in Tokyo 【Abstract】On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan, the talk will give an overview of the history of our relations, development over the years and the prospects of our relations moving forward as we commemorate the milestone this year.
Date 11/04 (Wed) 12:10 ～12:50
Venue Online Only Zoom Webinar
13:00 ～15:30
29th Asian Natural Products Conference[ENG]
Person in charge : Shimizu Kuniyoshi
Online International Conference on Natural Materials and Related Fields.
Date 11/04 (Wed) 13:00 ～15:30
Venue Online Only https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85447909169?pwd=feY1YzDL9hYcNnO0F2eGUziu7GIYUj.1
13:00 ～17:20
The Food-Socio-Environmental Conditions, and Health Nexus and Gut Microbiota in Asia[JPN/ENG]
Person in charge : Jiro Nakayama
The “Food-Gut-Health” Module investigates how the diverse foods and dietary cultures of Asia affect host health through the gut microbiota. In this symposium, we will invite speakers from other modules and universities who can share diverse insights into living environments across Asia, with a particular focus on food culture. The symposium aims to serve as a platform for broad exchange of information on the contemporary living environments of Asian populations and to further promote future Food-Gut-Health activities throughout Asia.
Date 11/04 (Wed) 13:00 ～17:20
Venue Online & Face to face Ito Guest house Multipurpose Hall
13:00 ～15:00
AI and Sustainable Business Development: How new technologies are shaping green innovation?[ENG]
Person in charge : Schumacher Kim
13:30 ～16:30
Rethinking Exam Fraud Prevention in Asia through "Bad Genius" (2017)[Japanese and Thai (with Japanese subtitles)]
Person in charge : Takuya Kimura
After introducing research on exam fraud prevention in Asia, we will screen the hit film "Bad Genius" (2017), which centers on academic cheating.
Date 11/04 (Wed) 13:30 ～16:30
Venue Ito Campus E-A-239, 2nd Floor, East Building 1
15:00 ～16:00
Clear Vision, Brighter Futures: How VisionSpring is Scaling Social Impact and Driving the SDGs across Bangladesh and Beyond[ENG]
Person in charge : Nuren Abedin
This 60-minute virtual webinar, titled "Clear Vision, Brighter Futures: How VisionSpring is Scaling Social Impact and Driving the SDGs across Bangladesh and Beyond," is organized as part of Kyushu University’s Q-AOS Asia Week 2026 SDGs Webinar Series and will be hosted and moderated by Dr. Nuren Abedin. Featuring guest speaker Ms. Misha Mahjabeen, Country Director for Bangladesh at VisionSpring, the session highlights VisionSpring’s extraordinary global journey from a pioneering social enterprise into a powerhouse that has transformed millions of lives through affordable eyeglasses. A 30-minute keynote lecture by Ms. Mahjabeen will be there to discuss VisionSpring's boots-on-the-ground execution and community empowerment models in Bangladesh and around the globe, showcasing how addressing uncorrected blurry vision directly intersects with poverty alleviation, economic productivity, and global Sustainable Development Goals. For attending students, this lecture provides an invaluable benefit by bridging abstract academic theories of sustainable development with real-world social entrepreneurship, challenging them to think critically about how localized public health initiatives can be scaled systematically to drive global impact.
Date 11/04 (Wed) 15:00 ～16:00
Venue Online Only Zoom
11/04 10:00 ～11/05 17:00
The 2026 Workshop on Interdisciplinary Sciences (WIS2026)[ENG]
Person in charge : Ton Viet Ta, Hiroko Kita, Ogino Yukiko, William KF Tse, Hyunjung Bang
The Workshop on Interdisciplinary Sciences (WIS) is an international, English-language event that connects students and researchers at Kyushu University with alumni, collaborators, and participants from around the world. On November 4, IUP and IGP alumni will share their professional journeys, international experiences, research activities, and reflections on how studying at Kyushu University has influenced their careers and lives. On November 5, speakers from diverse fields will present interdisciplinary research involving data analysis, artificial intelligence, statistics, mathematical modeling, numerical methods, and simulation. Students and researchers from all disciplines are warmly welcome. No specialized background is required. Students attending as part of the Asia Week 2026 course can receive confirmation of participation in WIS2026 by attending the November 4–5 program. For registration and the latest program information, please visit the official WIS2026 website.
Date 11/04 10:00 ～ 11/05 17:00
Venue Online & Face to face Lecture Rooms 4 and 5, Shiiki Hall
09:00 ～12:50
Changes in Livelihoods, Environments and Landscapes: Comparative Perspectives across Eurasia[ENG]
Person in charge : Yuichiro Fujioka, Satoshi Watanabe
This symposium aims to understand changes in livelihoods, environments, and landscapes across Eurasia through comparative perspectives from different areas. In recent years, climate change and globalization have significantly altered the relationships between people’s livelihoods, including agriculture and forestry, the natural and social environments, and landscapes that support them. Researchers from North Macedonia, South Korea, and Japan will present their research from diverse academic perspectives, including geography, agroecology, sustainable agriculture, vegetation landscapes, island climates and ecosystems, ethnobotany, and livelihood landscapes. The symposium will also include presentations by graduate students, followed by a general discussion on the diversity and commonalities of livelihoods and landscapes across Eurasia.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 09:00 ～12:50
Venue Ito Campus Inamori Hall
10:00 ～12:00
Global Career Seminar: Paths to International Cooperation[ENG]
Person in charge : Mami Wakabayashi, Wakako Satomura, Masateru Higo
This seminar aims to help students build their own careers while encountering diverse ideas and values. In particular, it offers students who hope to work in international cooperation, such as at international organizations, an opportunity to find role models. Because the seminar mainly targets international students, it will be held in English. We will welcome speakers from international organizations, which offer a career path open regardless of nationality, including a person who earned a master's or doctoral degree in Japan as an international student and now works in international cooperation at an international organization in Japan. The speakers will introduce various paths into the field of international cooperation.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 10:00 ～12:00
Venue Ito Campus Ito Guest House Multipurpose Hall
13:00 ～14:15
Songkhla: First Encounter with Southern Thailand －Graduate Students' Presentation－[JPN]
Person in charge : Kanako Yoshimine
Graduate students from the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society share their experiences of discovering "another side of Thailand" at Thaksin University in Songkhla, southern Thailand. Enrolled students in the course "Multicultural Coexistence Education C (Language Education Practice Theory)" visited southern Thailand in the summer of 2026 to assist with research. How did they perceive southern Thailand as a trading hub where Thai and Malay cultures meet? Through live photos and videos, this presentation uncovers the real daily lives of southern Thailand—far beyond what you find in tourist guidebooks—as well as Japanese language education efforts at local universities. Join us as we explore the current state of multicultural coexistence in a non-touristy region and discover how each student approaches Southeast Asian studies.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 13:00 ～14:15
Venue Ito Campus Ito Guest house Multipurpose Hall
13:30 ～16:00
Asian and Oceanian Award - Poster Presentation and Award Ceremony[ENG]
Person in charge : Q-AOS (Wakako Satomura)
Q-AOS will host a poster session featuring young researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students who are expected to become future leaders in Asian and Oceanian studies. The session aims to discover and encourage innovative research while providing a forum for active discussion. In addition to research outcomes, participants can also learn about the questions behind the research. Following the poster presentations, an award ceremony will be held to recognize outstanding presentations. This year, a new Audience Award selected through attendee voting has been introduced.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 13:30 ～16:00
Venue Ito Campus In front of the I2CNER Hall
14:00 ～16:00
Earth & Thread: Materialities in Textile and Clay[ENG]
Person in charge : Heloísa Seratiuk Flores
Textiles and ceramics sit at the very foundation of human cultures, in which both fibre textiles and clay are direct products of the Earth, both requiring deliberate care and lengthy processes of manipulation before they can be utilised. Historically, the two media have been intimately linked, with archaeological textile evidence frequently surviving as impressions left in ceramics, including patterns and microscopic fibres embedded within the clay. Grounded by the philosophical framework of Feminist New Materiality, the workshop is contextualised within the global Textile Cartographies Movement, which uses small textile squares for social and environmental storytelling. The session is designed to honour the Earth and the ancestors who, throughout the ages, shared narratives of resilience through simple, craft-made daily objects made from textile and clay. This workshop challenges boundaries by asking: What if we draw inspiration from both media to create a unified square for the Textile Cartographies project?
Date 11/05 (Thu) 14:00 ～16:00
Venue Ohashi Campus, Multimedia Building, Studio 201
16:00 ～18:00
Mapping Research Strengths, Fostering Collaboration, and Building the Kyushu University Bangladeshi Academic Community[ENG]
Person in charge : Hasanuzzaman Mohammad (Nuren Abedin)
This is a 75-minute networking and community-building program designed to strengthen academic connections among Bangladeshi students, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members at Kyushu University. The program will provide a platform to introduce diverse research expertise, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, encourage mentorship and academic exchange, and strengthen the Bangladeshi academic community at Kyudai. The session will feature opening remarks from senior university leadership, a Senior Faculty Spotlight, short Lightning Research Rounds, and open introductions of participants from different academic backgrounds. A brief cultural interlude featuring music, songs, or poetry will further promote informal interaction and cultural bonding. The program will conclude with closing remarks and a group photograph, followed by informal networking over refreshments. Through this integrated academic and cultural format, BSA-KU aims to create new opportunities for research collaboration, mentorship, knowledge exchange, and community engagement among its members and with the wider Kyushu University community.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 16:00 ～18:00
Venue Ito Campus Ito Guest House Multipurpose Hall
18:30 ～20:40
Retaliation or Reform? An Assessment of Recent Legislation Concerning the Judiciary and Prosecution in South Korea[JPN]
Person in charge : Research Center for Korean Studies, Kyushu University (Kaoru Izumi)
This symposium aims to explore the current state of the Korean judiciary in dialogue with Japanese lawyers, thereby fostering judicial exchange between Japan and South Korea and advancing the spirit and objectives of Asia Week.
Date 11/05 (Thu) 18:30 ～20:40
Venue Seinan Gakuin University 1-611
11/04 10:00 ～11/05 17:00
The 2026 Workshop on Interdisciplinary Sciences (WIS2026)[ENG]
Person in charge : Ton Viet Ta, Hiroko Kita, Ogino Yukiko, William KF Tse, Hyunjung Bang
The Workshop on Interdisciplinary Sciences (WIS) is an international, English-language event that connects students and researchers at Kyushu University with alumni, collaborators, and participants from around the world. On November 4, IUP and IGP alumni will share their professional journeys, international experiences, research activities, and reflections on how studying at Kyushu University has influenced their careers and lives. On November 5, speakers from diverse fields will present interdisciplinary research involving data analysis, artificial intelligence, statistics, mathematical modeling, numerical methods, and simulation. Students and researchers from all disciplines are warmly welcome. No specialized background is required. Students attending as part of the Asia Week 2026 course can receive confirmation of participation in WIS2026 by attending the November 4–5 program. For registration and the latest program information, please visit the official WIS2026 website.
Date 11/04 10:00 ～ 11/05 17:00
Venue Online & Face to face Lecture Rooms 4 and 5, Shiiki Hall
13:00 ～17:00
The 2nd International Symposium on Humanities and Social Sciences in the Middle Lancang-Mekong Region[ENG]
Person in charge : Qian Kun
Following last year’s symposium, we will organize another research symposium inviting field researchers from various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences who conduct research in countries and regions of the middle Mekong River region, including Southwest China, Laos, and Thailand.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 13:00 ～17:00
Venue Online & Face to face Inamori Hall(Hybrid)
13:00 ～15:30
Dog Therapy & Campus Well-being[JPN/ENG]
Person in charge : Kimiyo Kikuchi
This event explores human and animal health and well-being from the One Health perspective. It introduces dog therapy and animal-assisted activities in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, featuring presentations from each country followed by a panel discussion. In the second half of the program, participants will have the opportunity to interact with therapy dogs and take part in group discussions with fellow attendees.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 13:00 ～15:30
Venue Ito Campus Rooms 2209 and 2210, Center Zone 2
13:00 ～14:00
Sustainability Measurement and Management: Bridging Environmental Goals with Corporate Accountability[ENG]
Person in charge : Nuren Abedin
This 60-minute Zoom webinar, part of Kyushu University's Q-AOS Asia Week 2026 SDGs Webinar Series , features Dr. Md Tapan Mahmud, with Dr. Nuren Abedin hosting. Dr. Mahmud's 40-minute keynote lecture, "Beyond the Numbers: Impact Accounting, ESG Disclosures, and Sustainability Governance ," explores how accounting functions as a social science to measure and manage environmental indicators. The session covers ESG frameworks, integrated reporting, and theoretical lenses like Legitimacy Theory to address challenges like greenwashing. It concludes with a 5-minute moderator discussion and a 10-minute audience Q&A. # Key Learning Benefits for Attending Students or audinence: • *Interdisciplinary Synthesis:* Understand how corporate accounting directly translates into real-world environmental policy and social metrics. • *Methodological Toolkit:* Learn how qualitative-conceptual research, content analysis of ESG reports, and stakeholder management are applied in modern scientific literature. • *Career Readiness:* Gain insight into the evolving global regulatory landscape (IR, CSR, and ESG compliance) which is becoming a top-tier demand for future environmental and social science professionals.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 13:00 ～14:00
Venue Online Only Zoom
14:00 ～15:30
Surviving in Manila's Slums: Electricity, Land and Labour on the Ground[JPN]
Person in charge : Yu Ajishi
In cities across the Philippines and the wider Global South, the urban poor have long built the foundations of their lives through informal means that sit outside official institutions, such as occupying land without title and tapping electricity illegally. States have often turned a blind eye to these practices, but in recent years enforcement has been tightened in country after country in the name of urban development and public order. For this seminar we welcome Dr Shinji MIYAKAWA (Project Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), who has carried out fieldwork in the slums of Metro Manila for many years. He will speak on how the urban poor, who have made their lives outside the law and formal institutions, are building those foundations as enforcement grows stricter. The organiser (Ajishi, Kyushu University) will then briefly introduce comparable cases from rural Tanzania in Africa (vote-buying and corruption). Together with the audience, the session considers across regions how people get by in the space between following the rules and departing from them.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 14:00 ～15:30
Venue Ito Campus Common Facilities #1, 213 Common seminar room
14:00 ～16:00
A Coffee Journey through Turkey[JPN]
Person in charge : Global Strategies Office, Kyushu University
As one of the world's oldest coffee traditions, Turkish coffee is much more than a beverage; it is deeply intertwined with daily life, social interaction, and the spirit of hospitality. In this event, we will introduce the origins and historical development of Turkish coffee, as well as the traditional brewing methods, customs, and cultural practices that have been passed down through generations. Following the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting of authentic Turkish coffee. Experience its rich aroma and distinctive flavor, carefully prepared using traditional brewing techniques, and immerse yourself in an atmosphere that feels like a journey to Türkiye. This year, we will also offer a comparative tasting of Qahwa (Arabic coffee), a coffee tradition widely enjoyed across the Gulf region. Through tasting both beverages, participants will be able to explore and appreciate the unique characteristics and cultural differences of these two renowned coffee traditions. This event is recommended not only for coffee enthusiasts but also for anyone interested in Turkish culture and cross-cultural exchange. It offers a rare opportunity to learn about history and culture while experiencing authentic flavors firsthand. ※ Complimentary tasting of Turkish coffee and Qahwa available. Registration will be accepted on-site (first 30 participants). We look forward to welcoming you to the event.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 14:00 ～16:00
Venue Ito Campus Multipurpose Hall, Ito Guest House
15:00 ～16:30
Recent Developments of the Portable Health Clinic (PHC) Activities in Global Health Initiatives[ENG]
Person in charge : Rafiqul ISLAM
The Portable Health Clinic (PHC) system has been implemented across several Asian countries, with each country adopting service models tailored to its local needs and healthcare contexts. Consequently, each implementation faces its own unique challenges. This session aims to share updates on ongoing initiatives, recent activities, and key challenges across participating countries. The concluding panel discussion will provide an opportunity for participants to exchange practical experiences, share lessons learned, and explore collaborative solutions to overcome common challenges and strengthen PHC services in their respective settings.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 15:00 ～16:30
Venue Online & Face to face TEMDEC Conference Room
17:30 ～20:00
Thinking About Healthcare in a Cross-Cultural Context: Lessons from Lao Friends Hospital for Children[JPN]
Person in charge : Yuko Tokuyasu
In countries with fragile economic foundations, such as Laos, international aid plays an important role in the functioning of the state. Medical aid, in particular, is directly connected to people’s health and lives and, in some communities, serves literally as a lifeline. At the same time, the relationship between medical aid and the cultures and values of local communities has long been an important subject of discussion in cultural and medical anthropology. Understanding medical practices within their local social contexts and adopting a perspective that relativizes our own cultural assumptions are essential to thinking about healthcare across cultures. What, then, does it mean to practice healthcare in a different cultural context? Kazumi Akao, a nurse who serves as Outreach Director at Lao Friends Hospital for Children, has been involved in pediatric healthcare for many years, driven by her desire to “save the children of Laos.” In the course of her work, she repeatedly encountered situations in which families took critically ill children out of the hospital and brought them back to their villages. Drawing on these experiences, Akao conducted research as part of her master’s degree program and found that differences in people’s views of life and values significantly influence their healthcare-related decisions and behaviors. Her research is also significant from an anthropological perspective, as it carefully documents, through detailed fieldwork, the conflicts that arise in medical settings. Yet even after gaining an understanding of the reasons behind these actions, Akao has continued to care for children on a daily basis as a healthcare professional. What can we learn from her practice? What does it mean to practice healthcare in a different cultural context? Drawing on Akao’s experiences, this lecture invites participants to reflect on these questions together. The event will begin with a lecture by Kazumi Akao (Representative, Friends Without A Border Japan; Outreach Director, Lao Friends Hospital for Children). This will be followed by a presentation by students from Kyushu University’s student group on tropical medicine who have visited Lao Friends Hospital for Children, and comments from Kyoko Shimazawa (Professor, Faculty of Global Nursing and Graduate School of Global Nursing Science, Otemae University), who leads and supervises Otemae University students during their training at Lao Friends Hospital for Children. These sessions will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation. The event will then continue with a closed session, during which students will take part in a roundtable discussion with Akao and Shimazawa. Students from Otemae University who are currently undertaking training at Lao Friends Hospital for Children are also expected to participate online.
Date 11/06 (Fri) 17:30 ～20:00
Venue Online & Face to face Venue: Centennial Hall (Hybrid Event)
09:00 ～17:00
Research Workshop for the Academy of Korean Studies Research Project "Trans-Asian Modernism: Movements in East Asian Avant-Garde"[ENG]
Person in charge : Research Center for Korean Studies, Kyushu University (Tsuyoshi Namigata)
Research Workshop for the Academy of Korean Studies Research Project "Trans-Asian Modernism: Movements in East Asian Avant-Garde"
Date 11/07 (Sat) 09:00 ～17:00
Venue Ito Campus Jonathan KS Choi Cultural Centre of Japan（Nakayama Hall）
14:00 ～16:15
Social Cluster Special Session "How Can We Build a society that is livable for everyone? — Care, Positionality, and Decolonialism"[JPN]
Person in charge : Wakako Satomura
The mission of the Society Cluster is to build a more livable society for everyone, but how can this be achieved? This symposium invites Ishihara Mai, who continues to raise questions from the perspectives of cultural anthropology and Ainu studies, and Murakami Yasuhiko, a leading figure in phenomenological theories of care and phenomenological qualitative research. Together with researchers from the Society Cluster, we will reflect on listening, responding, and receiving silence. Free admission. No registration required. Held in Japanese.
Date 11/07 (Sat) 14:00 ～16:15
Venue Ito Campus Inamori Hall
16:30 ～18:15
Vande Nippon[ENG]
Person in charge : Fumihiko Yokota
A vibrant evening of Indian dance, music, and culture. Join us for performances, a henna session, a diya painting workshop, a saree draping session, and a celebration of India–Japan friendship!
Date 11/07 (Sat) 16:30 ～18:15
Venue Ito Campus Ito Guest House Multipurpose Hall, Conference Room and Japanese-Style Room
11/07 13:00 ～11/08 19:00
Textile Cartographies, A Storytelling Social Participation[ENG／JPN／CN／PT]
Person in charge : Heloísa Seratiuk Flores
Introduction: The Textile Cartographies Mouvement As by June 2026, over 10,000 participants from 22 countries, more than 36 groups, each with coordinators from museums, schools, universities, cultural sites, social and health care organisations, and NPOs, have taken part in Textile Cartographies Mouvement (TCM), which began in 2022 as a gentle, storytelling, arts-based participatory project. It warmly invites communities and individuals to reflect on the environment, climate, and social justice through simple yet meaningful ten-by-ten-centimeters textile squares that are sent as gifts to participating communities. As local groups and communities sew their stories into these squares, they become part of a global network as the squares travel physically from place to place. These textile squares foster connection, resilience, and shared understanding, conveying diverse stories of survival, heritage, and concern for our planet and society, bridging distances and moments in time, and bringing people and issues together in the present. These squares act as boundary objects, creating new narratives and maps wherever they are created, exhibited, or cared for. Textile Cartographies, as an ongoing global arts-based project, aligns with Kyushu University Asia Week 2026 ’s objective to promote culture and research across Asia and internationally, demonstrating how communal craft and participatory methodologies can facilitate horizontal cultural exchange and document contemporary local narratives. This proposed lecture will be contextualised through the perspectives of Social Design through New Feminist Materiality, framing TCM as structured, inclusive participation that renegotiates social power dynamics and fosters grassroots community facilitation. An open walk-in workshop alongside the TCM exhibition, featuring squares from 22 countries, will tell stories first-hand through visual narratives to workshop participants and visitors, as an initial, silent cultural exchange. Framework and Value Through the philosophical lens of Feminist New Materiality, the lecture will feature invited speakers Dr T, Torres de Eça, and Dr A, Saldanha, the originators of the international initiative, who will discuss how TCM has organically and iteratively evolved into the impactful arts-based social movement it is today. The presentation will showcase a broad range of arts-based practices, highlighting how individuals, groups and communities have adapted the methodology to suit their specific social and cultural contexts. At the same time, it will exemplify the crucial role of critical curatorial practices embedded throughout the project, grounded in qualitative enquiries and attentive to the relationships among nature, human-made culture, distributive agency, and privileged relations.
Date 11/07 13:00 ～ 11/08 19:00
Venue Fukuoka Art Museum Art Studio
11/07 13:00 ～11/08 19:00
Textile Cartographies, A Storytelling Social Participation[ENG／JPN／CN／PT]
Person in charge : Heloísa Seratiuk Flores
Introduction: The Textile Cartographies Mouvement As by June 2026, over 10,000 participants from 22 countries, more than 36 groups, each with coordinators from museums, schools, universities, cultural sites, social and health care organisations, and NPOs, have taken part in Textile Cartographies Mouvement (TCM), which began in 2022 as a gentle, storytelling, arts-based participatory project. It warmly invites communities and individuals to reflect on the environment, climate, and social justice through simple yet meaningful ten-by-ten-centimeters textile squares that are sent as gifts to participating communities. As local groups and communities sew their stories into these squares, they become part of a global network as the squares travel physically from place to place. These textile squares foster connection, resilience, and shared understanding, conveying diverse stories of survival, heritage, and concern for our planet and society, bridging distances and moments in time, and bringing people and issues together in the present. These squares act as boundary objects, creating new narratives and maps wherever they are created, exhibited, or cared for. Textile Cartographies, as an ongoing global arts-based project, aligns with Kyushu University Asia Week 2026 ’s objective to promote culture and research across Asia and internationally, demonstrating how communal craft and participatory methodologies can facilitate horizontal cultural exchange and document contemporary local narratives. This proposed lecture will be contextualised through the perspectives of Social Design through New Feminist Materiality, framing TCM as structured, inclusive participation that renegotiates social power dynamics and fosters grassroots community facilitation. An open walk-in workshop alongside the TCM exhibition, featuring squares from 22 countries, will tell stories first-hand through visual narratives to workshop participants and visitors, as an initial, silent cultural exchange. Framework and Value Through the philosophical lens of Feminist New Materiality, the lecture will feature invited speakers Dr T, Torres de Eça, and Dr A, Saldanha, the originators of the international initiative, who will discuss how TCM has organically and iteratively evolved into the impactful arts-based social movement it is today. The presentation will showcase a broad range of arts-based practices, highlighting how individuals, groups and communities have adapted the methodology to suit their specific social and cultural contexts. At the same time, it will exemplify the crucial role of critical curatorial practices embedded throughout the project, grounded in qualitative enquiries and attentive to the relationships among nature, human-made culture, distributive agency, and privileged relations.
Date 11/07 13:00 ～ 11/08 19:00
Venue Fukuoka Art Museum Art Studio
17:30 ～20:40
Yuri Kasparyan: Rock Music in the Soviet Union[English/Russian (simultaneous translation), Japanese (automated text translation)]
Person in charge : Heloísa Seratiuk Flores
Main speaker: Yuri Kasparyan, guitarist of the Soviet rock band Kino. Mr. Kasparyan is one of the most widely known musicians from the USSR, playing guitar in the soviet rock band Kino, alongside lead singer Viktor Tsoi, who tragically passed away in 1990. Mr. Kasparyan is still very prominent in Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asian countries, and in Korea, with recent concerts of his band gathering more than 70.000 people. The event will feature a screening of Rachid Nougmanov's short film, Ya-Hha! (1986, the film stars Viktor Tsoi and Mr. Kasparyan, the director of the film is last year's Kyushu University Asia Week invitee), followed by a guided interview with Mr. Kasparyan (1 hour), and an open Q&A (1 hour). Mr. Kasparyan will share his experience being a rock musician during the times of cultural repression in the USSR, how it helped build community, and how it affected their well-being at the time. We will also discuss Mr. Kasparyan's career and the influence of Japanese culture on it. The event will be open to the general public and will be carried out in English and Russian, with an interpreter, with automated text translation to Japanese. This event would also mark the very first time Mr. Kasparyan does an open Q&A and interview in English, providing great value to the academic community and general attendees.
Date 11/27 (Fri) 17:30 ～20:40
Venue Fukuoka Art Museum Museum Hall (Ohori Koen)