As well known since the late 1980s studies in the history of Central Asia
have made great progress not only in Central Asian republics but also in
other countries in the world. New research trends and increasing diversity
in research topics are presented in such epistemological works as Stéphane
A. Dudoignon & Komatsu Hisao eds., Research Trends in Modern Central
Eurasian Studies (18th-20th Centuries): A Selective and Critical Bibliography
of Works Published between 1985 and 2000 (2 vols., Tokyo: The Toyo Bunko,
2003-2006) and Central Eurasian Reader prepared by Stéphane A. Dudoignon
(Klaus Schwarz Verlag, 2008). When we look at this remarkable progress
from the view point of Japanese historiography, we notice that two factors
played great role during the last two decades. First is the academic cooperation
between Uzbek academic institutions, among others the al-Biruni Institute
of Oriental Studies, and Japanese universities. In fact a number of joint
projects have been realized and a lot of Japanese doctorate students have
enjoyed research opportunities in Uzbekistan, and they constitute the main
body of Central Asian studies in Japan. Second is Franco-Japanese cooperation
that has developed intensively based on affirmative efforts among rather
younger scholars and has brought about fertile products and invaluable
networks. This is the reason why we decided to hold an international conference
dedicated to the history and culture of Central Asia, retrospecting our
achievements during the last two decades and expecting further development
in our research field.
Chair of the Organizing Committee
KOMATSU Hisao (University of Tokyo)
|