Tomoko at the European University Institute

I have been doing a fellowship at the Robert Schuman Centre at the European University Institute (EUI), Florence, for 2024-25. It is a very stimulating environment, and academics, postgraduates, and post-docs are open and engaging. EUI’s main focus on EU, Ukraine, and the drastically changing geopolitical paradigm is understandable. Still, in some workshops, I am learning Japan is discussed as a part of the like-minded middle power coalition with EU. I am also learning continental European history and politics, while I can contribute to their discussions from my expertise. Outside EUI, in March, I was invited to give lectures at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and I met enthusiastic students of Japanese studies as a part of the Global Asian Studies Degree. It is a popular degree and I am happy to report on such a strong force in Italy. Lastly, EUI has a great bonus of discount offers of concerts, which are held in the beautiful historical theatres in the city. I have enjoyed them thoroughly. I hope this report prompts other JI and CAP scholars to take up EUI fellowships.

Tomoko Akami is Deputy Director of the Japan Institute and Associate Professor in the School of Culture, History & Language at the Australian National University.