The 2025 JSAC Conference will be held October 2 – 5 (Thu to Sun) at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge in Downtown Lethbridge in southern Alberta, hosted by the University of Lethbridge. The conference theme is “Building Bridges: Past, Present, and Future.” As a multidisciplinary organization, JSAC presents a rich program of presentation panels, roundtable discussions, and several keynote lectures on various aspects of Japan studies on cross-cutting themes across a range of disciplines. 

The U of L boasts a strong Japan studies program, while southern Alberta is home to a vibrant Japanese Canadian community. The conference will showcase the U of L (About | University of Lethbridge) and local community including a visit to Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. This all serves as an ideal setting for students and scholars of all levels, as well as community members and partners to engage in discussions on the bridges between cultures, histories, and communities of Japan and the Japanese diaspora from the past, present, and into the future. 

 

Keynote Speakers

We are excited to present several internationally-respected scholars

as our keynote speakers sponsored by the Japan Foundation. 

All are welcome to attend the following free presentations in Anton’s Ballroom

at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Click here for the Public Keynote Abstracts and Profiles

 

*Please note the exceptions that the Golden Maple Reception requires a paid ticket, and that the rest of the Program and all meals are exclusively for preregistered participants.

Click here for the Program for Paid and Registered Conference Participants

 

Click here for the abstracts of all panel presentations

 

Thursday, October 2  19:00 to 20:30

“Foundations of Japanese Management and Leadership”

Prof. Shige Makino, Kyoto University

Published in Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal

 

Friday, October 3  9:15 to 10:15

“Moments of Transposition in Japan's Past & Present: Flying Fish, Avatars and Space Shuttles” Prof. Eiko Ikegami, The New School for Social Research, New York

Author of Bonds of Civility and The Taming of the Samurai

 

Friday, October 3  18:00 to 21:00   Requires prepurchase of tickets 

Purchase your tickets here

Golden Maple Reception co-hosted by Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

“The Vision of an Indigenous Scholar on the Enduring Spirit of Ainu Women: Symbols of Power in Society, Heritage, and the Museum”

Prof. Kanako Uzawa, Hokkaido University/ University of Oslo

Ainu scholar, artist, museum curator, AinuToday founder, CEO of K. Uzawa Consult

Blessing by Miisaminiskim Shirlee Crow Shoe Elder-in-Residence University of Lethbridge

 

Saturday, October 4  14:15 to 15:15

“On Memory and Morphology: A Field Guide to Tokyo’s Arboreal Archive of Wartime Destruction” Prof. David Fedman, University of California Irvine

 Author of Seeds of Control: Japan’s Empire of Forestry in Colonial Korea

 

Saturday, October 4  10:30 to 11:30

‘“Just a Wooden Box”: Journeys Through the O-Butsudan Portal into Southern Alberta’s Japanese Canadian Memoryscapes’

Prof. Darren J. Aoki, University of Plymouth

Nikkei Memory Capture Project (NMCP) Co-Leader, published in

Japan Focus, Modern Asian Studies

 

Saturday, October 4  12:45 to 14:00

Authors meet Critics—Challenging Exile: Japanese Canadians and the Wartime Constitution, Dr. Aya Fujiwara, Dr. Jordan Stanger- Ross (author),

Janet Adachi-Elkjaer, Dr. John Harding  * Copies of this book sold on site by U of L Bookstore

 

 

JSAC Book Swap

You are invited to bring any of your Japan Studies and Asian Studies books you wish to leave and display on our Book Swap table for students, faculty, and community members to take freely. This has been a highly popular feature of JSAC Conferences. Let’s find these books a new home!

 

Travelling Here

To get here, you can fly to the Calgary International Airport (YYC), then fly to the Lethbridge Airport (YQL), or take the bus (Home - Red Arrow) or drive a rental car (or carpool) from Calgary to Lethbridge. It is approximately a 2.5-hour drive. WestJet Airlines operates direct flights from Narita to Calgary and also from Calgary to Lethbridge. 

 

Transportation after arriving in Lethbridge

If you are flying from Calgary to Lethbridge Airport (YQL), there should be several taxis for hire awaiting outside our small airport that will take you to your accommodations. Taxifare is about $40 CAD one-way to our Conference hotel of the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge. You can also hire one after arrival, or reserve one ahead of time.

If you are taking the Red Arrow bus from Calgary to Lethbridge, you can get off at the Park and Ride Transit Terminal in downtown Lethbridge which is a 12-minute walk or 2-minute taxi ride (850 metres) to our Conference Hotel. OR you can also get off at the University of Lethbridge bus loop, then take the bus (13-minute ride) or hire a taxi to the Hotel. Here are sites for booking taxis and checking the transit schedule:

https://94cabs.com/online/#booking

https://bridgecitycabs.com/

https://myride.lethbridge.ca/TripPlanner

 

Conference Site and Accommodations

All Conference sessions are scheduled to be held at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge in Downtown Lethbridge. This allows the convenience of having the Conference events and accommodations at the same location. Guests can book directly with this link for special discount rates:  https://reservations.sandmanhotels.com/113172?groupID=4557507

Alternatively, you can call our 24-hour Reservations office at 1-800-726-3626 / 1-800-SANDMAN.

• • In order to receive the correct rates, callers must reference: 
    • Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge
    • Group Name: JSAC Conference 2025
    • Block ID: 462367
    • Block code: JSAC2025
  • A valid credit card is required at the time of reservation to secure any guests rooms.

 

Registration Fees in Canadian dollars

Registration Fees                                Until Aug 12       Aug 13 to Sept 10

Regular Tier (member)                              $275                    $305

Regular Tier (non-member)                       $335                    $365

Reduced Tier – student (member)             $120                    $140

Reduced Tier – student (non-member)     $140                    $160

* Deadline for Registration is September 10

* Consider becoming a JSAC member for an additional $60 a year ($20 for students), and receive voting rights and other benefits. See details and register here.

* Registration fees cover the cost of venue rentals, breakfast and lunch from Oct 3 to 5, entrance to Nikka Yuko Japan Garden on Oct 4, and refreshments across all four days.

 

Our Sponsors and Partners

Our sincere thanks to our generous sponsors and partners that make our JSAC Conference possible: 

The Japan Foundation         

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada

The Centre for Oral History and Tradition

Nikkei Memory Capture Project     

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Koko Restaurant

Prime Catering

Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Lethbridge Toyota

Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Lethbridge

Offices of the President and Provost, University of Lethbridge

University of Lethbridge Bookstore

Asian Studies, University of Lethbridge

University of Lethbridge

 

JSAC Conference Committee at the University of Lethbridge

Dr. Gideon Fujiwara, Dr. Carly Adams, Dr. Deanna Oye, Dr. Abigail McMeekin, Darcy Tamayose, Elaine Toth