Visiting professor Haruo Shirane (Columbia University) becomes first recipient of international prize in Japanese Studies

Haruo Shirane, a visiting professor at Waseda University who is professor of Japanese Literature and chair of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University, was selected as the first recipient of the National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU) International Prize in Japanese Studies.

The NIHU International Prize in Japanese Studies was established to recognize researchers who are based overseas with outstanding achievement in Japan-related humanities scholarship and have contributed to the international development of Japanese Studies.

Professor Shirane is also the recipient of the 26th Yamagata Banto Prize (Osaka’s International Cultural Award), and him receiving the NIHU International Prize highlights his international academic research achievements and contributions to the field.

Congratulatory message from Akio Kawajiri, Senior Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Professor Haruo Shirane for receiving the very first NIHU International Prize in Japanese Studies.

This prize was newly established this year by the National Institutes for the Humanities to recognize outstanding Japanese Studies scholars based overseas.

Professor Shirane has profound knowledge of Japanese culture, and has made tremendous achievements in building our partnership with Columbia University, which is one of our most important partners for the Global Japanese Studies Model Unit of the Top Global University Project at Waseda University. I sincerely look forward to Professor Shirane’s continued global success.

Related Links:

■The National Institutes for the Humanities Magazine vol.42- Professor Haruo Shirane is first winner of the NIHU International Prize in Japanese Studies

■Report : Japan and Culture of the Four Seasons: Nature, Literature and the Arts by Prof. Shirane (Columbia University)