The Japanese Studies Graduate Summer School (JSGSS) and conference is a 3-day long program of intensive research activities designed to bring together PhD, research masters and, where possible, potential Honours students and young Japan researchers from around Australia. Held under the auspices of the ANU Japan Institute, the Summer School provides a valuable opportunity for research students to present their work in a friendly and professional environment of their peers and to develop an international and inter-disciplinary network. This year, the summer school is also open to honours students who wish to observe the workshop without giving a paper presentation. A limited number of scholarships are available on application to cover speakers' accommodation, meal and partial travel costs (for observers, accommodation and meal costs only).

The goals of the program are to provide a forum for building networks among postgraduate scholars through the exchange of knowledge and experiences surrounding the study of Japan. The program also aims to provide students around Australia with the opportunity to use the rich and diverse Japanese-language resources held at the ANU and the National Library of Australia. A range of evening social and cultural activities will be held. The Convener of the Summer School for 2011 is Dr Mark Gibeau, from the Japan Program in the ANU's School of Culture, History & Language.

The keynote speaker for the 2011 JSGSS is Professor Patricia Steinhoff from University of Hawaii, a high-profile international scholar on Japan. In addition, experienced Japanese Studies researchers and scholars from the ANU will act as discussants, observers and speakers. The ANU has over 30 Japanese specialists across a diverse range of disciplines within the humanities and social sciences on its academic staff. The summer school not only showcases ANU research on Japan, but also allows participants opportunities to inter-act with ANU scholars on Japan.

ANU Japan scholars who may act as Discussion and Workshop leaders include: Prof. Jenny Corbett, Prof. Tessa Morris-Suzuki, Prof. Peter Drysdale, Dr Peter Hendriks, Dr Tomoko Akami, Mr Shun Ikeda, Dr Shunichi Ishihara, Dr Yusaku Horiuchi, Dr Kazuki Onji, and Dr Meg Sato. Japanese-language specialist staff from the ANU and librarians Toshio Takagi and Mayumi Shinozaki, Japanese-language collections at the National Library of Australia and the ANU Menzies Library, will also participate.