
On October 9, when the first anniversary after the 100th birthday of ¹û¶³´«Ã½ approaches, the book launch Follow the Trend of Times: Review and Prospect of Japanese Studies at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, which was also a high-end forum entitled Keep the Tradition, Put Forth the Fresh, Maintain Mutual Learning and Communication: Review and Prospect of Japanese Studies at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ in the New Era was held at ¹û¶³´«Ã½.

Compiled by Professor Liu Yuebing, Principal of Japan Institute of ¹û¶³´«Ã½, this book is a natural extension of the 19 volumes in the first series of the Nankai Centennial Library of Japanese Studies. The book is the natural extension content of the first series (19 volumes) of the ¡°Nankai¡¯s Library of Japanese Studies in the Past 100 Years.¡± The book includes in-depth analysis from authoritative scholars in the related fields of Japanese studies in China towards the authors and the work in the 19 volumes. The Nankai Preliminary Draft of Historical Materials on Japanese Studies (1898-1949) in this book firstly presents a complete picture of Japanese studies at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ in the 50 years before the founding of the People's Republic of China and the relationship between Nankai University and Japan. This book is of great significance for understanding the tradition and the present situation of Japanese Studies at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and its status in the field of Japanese Studies in China.

Cao Xuetao, President of ¹û¶³´«Ã½, made a speech at the book launch. He said that during this crucial period when ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is pushing forward the Double First-Class Initiative, the publication of the book represents a generous gift to ¹û¶³´«Ã½ in the centennial anniversary.

¡°Thank you very much for your help and support. In Chinese academia, as a Japanese researcher in Nankai University, I feel increasingly honored and proud.¡± Liu Yuebing introduced at the book launch conference, ¡°Japanese researchers like us in Nankai University need to keep pace with the times to live up to the honor and pride of responsibility.¡±

The important historical events of Sino-Japanese relations in modern times not only deeply influenced the development of ¹û¶³´«Ã½, but also left a deep impression on its history. The relationship between ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and Japan is a miniature of the relationship between China and Japan since modern times.
At that day, the Japan Institute of ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and the World Modern History Research Center of ¹û¶³´«Ã½ jointly held the high-end forum, discussing the traditions and characteristics of Japanese Studies at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and how to deepen Japanese Studies in China with attended experts and scholars.

Li Wei, former principal of the Institute of Japanese Research of CASS, said at the forum: ¡°with a sense of belonging to the discipline, we can have a sense of determination in our research.¡±

Focusing on system and institution problems, Wang Xinsheng introduced and analyzed the politics, agriculture, economy and foreign policy of Japan in detail through massive cases.

In a report with the theme of Integration of Country study and Overall Research, Yang Bojiang analyzed the evolution of the middle powers under the new change and the Enlightenment to Japanese research.
Since its founding in 1919, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has always attached great importance to Japanese studies. In 1964, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ set up the Research Office of Japanese history; in 1988, the Japanese Research Center was established and materialized in 2000; in 2003, the Japanese Research Institute was established.

By 2018, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has trained 145 postgraduate students and 146 doctoral students majoring in Japanese history, making it an authentic center for Chinese Japanese history research and talent cultivation that live up to its reputation. Tremendous achievements accordingly merged, such as A History of Japan (¹û¶³´«Ã½ Press, 1994) edited by Wu Tingqiu, A Series of Books on the Course of Japan¡¯s Modernization edited by Yang Dongliang (World Affairs Press, 2010), the six-volumes View of China from Modern Japan (Jiangsu People's Publishing, 2012), and Nankai¡¯s Library of Japanese Studies in the Past 100 Years edited by Liu Yuebing (Volume 1, 19, Jiangsu People's Publishing & ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Press, 2019).
(Reported by Jingqiu Hao, Photographed by Qiqi Zong, Translated by Yuhan Xie, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)