The NEXT AJJ Conference is (tentatively) June 12-13 at Nanzan University.
2026 Akita University CFP Registration Schedule Akita University Venue Details Conference Poster
May 23–24
Theme: Entanglements and Embodiments: Anthropology, Ethnography and Sensing Japan
Keynote Speaker: Nakamaki Hirochika
Organizer(s):Paul Hansen, Kaeko Chiba, Hisako Omori, John Mock, and Manami Gotō
2025 University of Hyogo CFP Schedule & Abstracts
April 4–6 *JAWS/AJJ joint conference
Keynote Speakers: Sakamoto Mayumi, Joy Hendry
Organizer(s): Carmen Tamas
2024 Tohoku University CFP Schedule & Abstracts
Nov 30–Dec 1
Keynote Speakers: Numazaki Ichirō
Organizer(s): Alyne Delaney
2023 Meiji Gakuin University Shirokane Campus CFP
Dec 5–6
Theme: Becalmed, adrift or slowly sinking? Life aboard the listing Japanese ship of state
Keynote Speakers: John McCreery
Organizer(s): Tom Gill
2022 Kyoto University Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies CFP Program (PDF)
Dec 3–4
Theme: Wellbeing in Contemporary Japan: Embodying Techniques, Skills, and Environments
Organizer(s): Andrea de Antoni
2021 Akita International University (online)
Dec 3–5
Theme: Crisis Anthropology
Organizer(s): Kaeko Chiba, Hisako Omori, Ben Grafström
2020 Temple University, Japan Campus (online) Schedule Program
Dec 5–6
Keynote Speaker: David Sprague
Organizer(s): Sachiko Horiguchi, John Mock, Andreas Riessland, and Kaeko Chiba
2019 Meiji Gakuin University, Yokohama Campus
Nov 30–Dec 1
Keynote Speaker: Nakamura Tsuyoshi
Organizer(s): Tom Gill
2018 (autumn) Nanzan University CFP Abstracts
Dec 8–9
Theme: Displacements and Potentials
Organizers: Robert Croker, Ben Dorman, Roger Munsi, Andreas Riessland in cooperation with Nanzan University’s Department of Anthropology
2018 (spring) Meiji University, Surugadai Campus CFP
April 20–21
Theme: Inside and Outside Communities in Japan: Re-assessing Changing Places and Shifting Boundaries
Organizer(s): Atsushi Sumi, Sachiko Horiguchi, John Mock, Yi Shu, Mitsuhiro Nakahata
2017 Dōshisha University CFP Poster (PDF) Schedule (PDF) Abstracts
Dec 9–10 *20th Annual Meeting
Organizer: David Uva
2017 (spring) Osaka Gakuin University
April 22-23
Organizer: Michael Shackleton
2016 (autumn) University of Tsukuba
Nov 26-27
Theme: Reinvention, Redefinition and Reconfiguration of Japan
Organizer: Keiji Maekawa
to be edited (2016 (autumn) Osaka Gakuin University
Sept 24–25 *JAWS/EAJS joint conference
Organizer: Michael Shackleton)
2016 (spring ) Tōhoku University Schedule and Abstracts
Apr 23–24
Organizer: Ichiro Numazaki
2015 (autumn) Tenri University
Nov 28–29
Theme: Birth and Death in Japan: Meanings and Representationin Historical and/or Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Organizer: Sumiya Norihara
2015 (spring) Seijō University Center for Glocal Studies
Apr 25–26
Theme: Glocalizing Japanese Studies: Japanese Studies Inside and Outside Japan
Organizer(s): Tomiyuki Uesugi
2014 Nanzan University Schedule (pdf)
Nov 29–30
Theme: Japan’s Cultural, Social and Natural Landscapes: Challenges and Developments
Keynote speakers: Tomoya Akimichi, Peter Knecht
Organizers: Robert Croker, Ben Dorman, Roger Munis, Andreas Riessland in cooperation with Nanzan University’s Department of Anthropology
2014 Makuhari, Chiba
May 15–18 *Joint meeting with JAWS, JASCA and IUAES
2013 International Christian University
Nov 9–10
Keynote speaker: Tom Gill
Organizer(s): Etsuko Kato and Gavin Whitelaw
2013 Miyazaki International College Apr 25–26
Theme: Origins
Organizer: Debra Occhi
2012 Dōshisha University Schedule
Dec 1–2
Theme: Belonging in Japan and Beyond
Organizers: Greg Poole and Bruce White
2012 (spring) Osaka Gakuin University
Apr 21–22
Organizer: Michael Shackleton
2011 (autumn) Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Nov 26–27 *International Association for Asia Pacific Studies (IAAPS) joint conference
Theme: Change in the Asia-Pacific World
Organizer: Jerry Eades
2011 (spring) Kanazawa University Schedule
Apr 23–24
Theme: “Communities of What?” — Place, Power, Knowledge, Practice, Japan
Organizer: John Ertl
2010 Temple University, Japan Campus
Nov 6–7
Theme: Making Local Places in Trans-Cultural Flows: Methodologies, Rhetorics and Ethnographies
Keynote speaker: Koichi Iwabuchi
Organizers: Kyle Cleveland, Sachiko Horiguchi, John Mock, and David Slater
2010 (spring) Tenri University Schedule
May 8–9
Theme: Religion/Spirituality in Contemporary Japan: Representations, Practices and Consciousness
Organizer: Sumiya Norihara
2009 Dōshisha University Schedule
Apr 25–26
Theme: Multiethnic Japan
Organizer: Bruce White
2008 Osaka University, Graduate School of Human Sciences
Nov 8–9
Theme: Sites of Conflict and Conflict Resolution In and With Japan
Organizer: Beverley Yamamoto
2008 University of Tsukuba
April 18-20
Organizer: John Mock
2007 Temple University, Japan Campus
Nov 17–18 *10th Annual Meeting
Theme: Power, Identities and Relationships in Contemporary Japan
Keynote Speaker: Roger Goodman
Organizer(s): Mary Reisel
2007 Miyazaki International College
Apr 21-22
Organizer: Debra Occhi
2006 Meiji Gakuin University, Shirokane Campus
Oct 28–29
Theme: From Fieldwork to Theory: The Complexities of Ethnography in Japan
Keynote speaker: Keibō Oiwa
Organizer(s): Tom Gill
2005 (Fall) Sophia University Schedule & Abstracts
Nov 5–6
Theme: Culture, Identity and Politics: Ethnography in/of Japan
Organizer(s): James Roberson and David Slater
2005 (Spring) Osaka Gakuin University
April 23–25
Theme: Friendship
Organizer(s): Michael Shackleton
2004 Waseda and Sophia Universities CFP
Nov 13 (at Waseda) and 14 (Sophia)
Organizer(s): Glenda Roberts (Waseda), David Slater (Sophia)
2004 Tohoku University
April 17-18
Theme: Ethnographies of Japan
Organizer(s): Todd Holden
2003 (Fall) Sophia University Institute of Comparative Culture CFP Program Abstracts
Nov 1–2
Theme: City Life in Japan
Organizer(s): David Slater and Todd Holden
2003 (Spring) Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
April 12–13
Theme: Globalization, migration, and transnationalism in/around Japan
Organizer(s): Jerry Eades
2002 Sophia University
Nov 2
Organizer(s): David Slater
2002 Kanazawa University
June 1-2
Theme: 教室の中の人類学：異文化としての日本で人類学を教える
Organizer(s): Takami Kuwayama （日本民族学会分科会）
2001 Sophia University
Nov 17
Organizer(s): David Slater, Brian McVeigh, Takami Kuwayama, Todd Holden
2001 National Museum of Ethnology “Minpaku” Schedule & Abstracts
May 12–13
Organizer(s): Hirochika Nakamaki and David Slater
2000 Minnesota State University in Akita Schedule
May 20-21
Organizer(s): John Mock
1999 Sophia University, Institute of Comparative Culture Schedule
May 8–9
Theme: Japanese Cultures: Diversity/ Variation/ Plurality
Organizer(s): David Slater and John Clammer
1998 Kyoto Bunkyō University Schedule
Mar 14–15 *Inaugural AJJ Meeting
Theme: Fieldwork in Japan
Organizer(s): Harumi Befu and Tom Gill