The 17th International Conference on East Asian Comparative Culture (Japan) was successfully held at Daito Bunka University in Tokyo, Japan, from August 23rd to 24th, 2025. Hosted on a rotating basis by China, Japan, and South Korea every two years, this biennial conference attracts extensive participation from scholars across the three nations and has become a vital academic exchange platform in East Asia. School of Foreign Studies (SFS) of Nankai University previously hosted the 15th conference in November 2021.
Professor Liu Yuzhen, Director of the East Asian Cultural Studies Center (EACSC) of SFS, and doctoral students from the Japanese Department participated in this conference, both online and in person. Professor Liu Yuzhen, serving as Chair of the China Chapter and one of the rotating chairs for the three nations, was invited to attend the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
At the opening ceremony on August 23rd, Professor Susumu TAKAHASHI (高桥进), President of Daito Bunka University, extended a warm welcome to scholars from the three nations. Dr. Susumu NAKANISHI (中西进), a 96-year-old researcher on comparative Chinese-Japanese literature, founding president of the International Conference on East Asian Comparative Culture, and visiting professor at Nankai University, outlined the conference's founding vision in his opening address. He delivered a special lecture titled “The Birth of Literature,” exploring the relationship between the form of early poetry in The Book of Songs and the Mannyoushuu (《万叶集》)and the emergence of literature.
Professor Liu Yuzhen delivered a speech as Chair of the China Chapter, reviewing the developmental trajectory of the International Conference on East Asian Comparative Culture and emphasizing its significant role in continuously advancing academic exchanges among China, Japan, and South Korea. Additionally, Professor Liu composed a poem for the conference, presenting it to Professor Susumu TAKAHASHI, President of Daito Bunka University, and Dr. Susumu NAKANISHI. This poem earned enthusiastic applause and high praise from scholars from China, Japan, and South Korea in attendance. Professor Liu Yuzhen’s poem reads as follows:
三国群贤聚大东，慎思明辨意无穷。
几多风雨迎而立，文化交融万里通。
The great minds of the three nations gather in Daito Bunka University,
Thoughtful deliberation and clear discernment yield boundless wisdom.
Through countless storms, they stand firm and steadfast,
Cultural exchange spans ten thousand miles, connecting all.
On the afternoon of August 23rd, the chairs of China, Japan, and South Korea delivered outstanding keynote speeches. Professor Liu Yuzhen’s presentation, titled “A Concert for Singing and Sharing the Same Style: On Written Communication Cultural Exchange in East Asia,” explored the pivotal role and unique appeal of written communication in East Asian cultural exchange. Professor Kazuyoshi SHINMA(新间一美), Chair of the Japan Chapter, presented on “Japanese Literature and the Thought of Zhuangzi”. Professor CHOI Yeong-jin (崔荣袗), Vice Chair of the South Korean Chapter, presented on “Exploring the Translatability of Adapted Films: LEE Chang-dong’s Burning and Haruki MURAKAMI's Burning Barn”. Their talks examined the exchange and integration of East Asian cultures from diverse perspectives, encompassing classical literature and philosophy as well as contemporary film, television, and literature.
On August 24th, the conference was divided into four sub-sessions. Over 60 representatives from China, Japan and South Korea delivered academic presentations online and offline, covering diverse fields including literature, culture, ideology, history, language, art, folk customs and other fields. Li Xiaoling, Zhou Weiwei, Ba Lei and Wang Jie, Ph.D. students of SFS, respectively delivered presentations on: “Reception of Chikushi Poetry in Mid-Edo Period Japan:Focusing onKōtaku HOSOI (细井广泽) andNankai GION (祇园南海)” “Reception and Transformation of Ancient JapaneseMakara Legends: Traced Through Tale 28 of Volume 5 in Konjaku Monogatari Shū” “On Shigure HASEGAWA (长谷川时雨)’s Literary Trajectory in Women's Enlightenment Literature: Focusing on Her First Work Buried Fire”and “A Study on the Foreign Representation in The Illustrated Life of Xuanzang: Focusing on Musical Expressions.” Their presentations garnered significant attention from conference participants.
The conference concluded successfully amid enthusiastic applause from representatives of China, Japan, and South Korea. The 18th International Conference on East Asian Comparative Culture will be held at Hunan University in China in 2027.
