お知らせ

The 33rd Special Exhibition "川を描く、川をつくる―古地図で昔の堤をさぐる―" is held at the Lake Biwa Museum, supported by the FY 2024 ARC-iJAC project "Development of a database on traditional river management information in the Echi River, Shiga Prefecture, Japan."

Date: July 19 (Sat) - November 24 (Mon), 2025
Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (last admission at 4:00 PM)
Venue: Special Exhibition Room, Lake Biwa Museum, Shiga Prefecture

Details: https://www.biwahaku.jp/event/2025/07/33.html

We are holding a workshop that will visit Japan's historic washi production centers and delve into woodblock-printing techniques.
By learning directly at each site, the program aims to nurture the "next generation of woodblock artists," inspiring participants to channel these experiences into fresh creative expression.

 ※Please see the PDF for full application requirements.

 【Who We Are Looking For】

・Artists who create works using woodblock-printing techniques

・Artists who employ traditional Japanese woodblock skills (carving and printing) in their work

・No restrictions on nationality or age

 

【Number of Participants】

10 artists

 

【Workshop Outline】

・Travel to Kōchi, Mino, and Echizen to study the specific features of their respective washi papermaking traditions and explore new expressive possibilities arising from different raw materials.

・Share new insights that will support future creative practice.

 

【Schedule】
12-19 Oct 2025: Fieldwork workshop visiting production sites (Kyoto; Ino (Kōchi); Mino

 (Gifu); Echizen (Fukui) [planned])

Mid-Dec 2025: Workshop results presentation (Hybrid)
Feb 2026: International symposium (Hybrid)

【Financial Support】
Domestic travel within Japan only (for workshops, reporting sessions, and the symposium).
※Please note that travel costs from overseas to Japan are not eligible for funding.

 【How to Apply】
Fill in the required information on the application form .
Send your CV to Akama Laboratory（E‑mail：cyanagihara.8918@gmail.com）.

・ The application form：https://forms.gle/DE4jfAmNxbAK5vPD9

・Deadline: 31 July 2025, 23:59 (JST)

※ Notification of results: by 10 August 2025

 

【Enquiries】
Akama Laboratory,Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University

E-mail：cyanagihara.8918@gmail.com

The 149th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday,June 11, from 18:30 JST.

The program is as follows:

Speakers: Osamu YOSHIDA (President, Tsukiji Sugoroku Museum)

Topic: 'Playing the Sugoroku of the Forest of Knowledge: Fun, Database, and History'

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Date: Wednesday, June 11 , 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST

Participation: free of charge

Zoom webinar 　https://ritsumei-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/92428160002

Live streaming on YouTube　 https://www.youtube.com/@studioarc504

 The seminar has been changed to a seminar open to all.

Please invite anyone who is interested.

The Art Research Center (ARC) at Ritsumeikan University and its Director, Professor Ryo Akama, have been selected as recipients of the 19th (FY 2025) Nogami Hiroko Memorial Award by the Japan Art Documentation Society (JADS).

This honor recognizes the long-standing contributions of Professor Akama and the Center in leading the digitization and dissemination of cultural resources related to Japanese art and traditional performing arts.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, as part of the Annual Conference of the JADS.

Award details:  https://www.jads.org/award/NOGAMI2025.pdf

Website of the Japan Art Documentation Society (JADS): https://www.jads.org/index.html

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/kinugasaartfes/

The public exhibition "The William Sturgis Bigelow Shuten-dōji Picture Scrolls and Kyoto Folklore around Minamoto no Raikō's Four Heavenly Kings" is being held at the ARC Multipurpose Room from June 1 to June 13, 2025.

In conjunction with the physical exhibition, a virtual museum has also been launched, featuring additional works that are not on display at the venue.

Virtual Museum: https://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/lib/vm/shutendoji25/

Details on the exhibition: https://www.arc.ritsumei.ac.jp/e/news/pc/025048.html

Notes:

The Association of Japanese Ballads and Songs (Nihon kayo gakkai) will hold its Spring 2025 meeting at the Ritsumeikan University Kinugasa campus.The two-day event includes performing arts demonstrations, lectures, and research talks open to the public. Free to attend; no registration necessary.

Date: Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2025 
Place: Ritsumeikan University Kinugasa Campus (56-1 Toji-in Kitamachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto) 
※Please note that the building (classroom) is different for the first and second days.

Day 1 : May 17 (Sat) 
Public Performing Arts Demonstration and Lectures (13:00-17:30) 
Location: Art Research Center, Multipurpose Studio

Day 2:May 18 (Sun), Research Presentations
Location: Conference Room, Soshikan

For more information, please see the Nihon Kayo Gakkai homepage: 令和7年度春季大会（zoom併用開催）
Please direct inquiries to the Nihon Kayo Gakkai at: Email: nkayoug2024@gmail.com

The 146th International ARC Seminar will be held as a webinar on Wednesday, April 23, from 18:30 JST.

The program is as follows:

Speakers: Dr. Hiroyuki YAMAUCHI (Associate Research Professor, Kinugasa Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University)

Topic: 'The Plan and Trial Investigations for the ARC "Research Metaverse": Based on Applications for Geography Education Studies'

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Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 18:30 - 20:00 JST

Participation: online via Zoom, free of charge (affiliated parties only, no reservation required)

*This webinar is open to everyone, and non-ARC members are invited to participate via YouTube.

We are pleased to announce the Call for Manuscript Submissions for the Art Research Center's journal ART RESEARCH vol.26-2

As an academic journal specializing in arts and culture, the purpose of ART RESEARCH is to widely publicize the results of the research projects and activities conducted by the Art Research Center (ARC), Ritsumeikan University, and its partner institutions and collaborative researchers.

Since its establishment in 1998, the Art Research Center (ARC) has been selected for several national grants as a center of excellence for research in culture, art, and information science. From FY2019, the center assumed the role as the International Joint Digital Archiving Center for Japanese Art & Culture (ARC-iJAC) upon its accreditation by the MEXT as an International Joint Usage/Research Center. The ARC is highly regarded as a leading hub for the digital archiving of Japanese art and culture.

Our online journal will be published several times a year, and at the end of the fiscal year, a print booklet compiling all contributions will be distributed.

We look forward to receiving your manuscript.

Journal title: ART RESEARCH, vol. 26

Format: A4 size, two columns for both horizontal and vertical writing
Publication dates: Three times per year (vol. 26-1 late July 2025, vol. 26-2 early November 2025, vol. 26-3 late February 2026) (tentative)
Contents: Research papers and research notes related to culture, art, and information science (research reports, introduction of materials, technical notes, etc.). Those that match the theme of a research project related to the Art Research Center are particularly welcome.

【Eligibility for Submission】

Members of Ritsumeikan University (including graduate students) and other, researchers participating in research projects conducted by the Art Research Center (ARC) and who have been approved by the Editorial Board are eligible to submit manuscripts for publication. Undergraduate students are not allowed to submit manuscripts on their own.

【Manuscript Submission Guidelines】

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

Manuscript format (Word)

How to apply

Only complete manuscripts will be accepted.

Please send us your manuscript and the required information via e-mail by the due date.

The manuscripts will be reviewed by the Editorial Board and notifications of acceptance / rejection will be sent upon review.

Application documents

1. Manuscript

2. Indication of the type of manuscript (e.g. research paper, research note)

3. Address and telephone number

Contact journal@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

※Please state "Art Research Manuscript Submission" in the subject line

Deadlines

[vol. 26-1] April 20 (Sun), 2025, 24:00 JST   deadline has passed

[vol. 26-2] June 13 (Sun), 2025, 24:00 JST

[vol. 26-3] October 26 (Sun), 2025, 24:00 JST

※Should you have any difficulties submitting your work via e-mail, please contact the Art Research Center office in advance.

※For manuscripts other than research papers and research notes, please contact the Art Research Center office.

※Please note that your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than the editing of Art Research.

Schedule

　[vol. 26-1]

　April 20 (Sun), 2025 Deadline for manuscript submission   deadline has passed

　Late April 2025 Notice of acceptance/ rejection

　April -- June 2025 Peer review, rewriting and proofreading

※2 peer reviewers

　Late July 2025 Online publication of journal

　[vol. 26-2]

　June 13 (Sun), 2025 Deadline for manuscript submission

　Mid-July 2025 Notice of acceptance/ rejection

　August -- Mid-October 2025 Peer review, rewriting and proofreading

※2 peer reviewers

　Early November 2025 Online publication of journal

　[vol. 26-3]

　October 26 (Sun), 2025 Deadline for manuscript submission

　Early November 2025 Notice of acceptance/ rejection

　 Early November 2025 -- Mid-February 2026 Peer review, rewriting and proofreading

※2 peer reviewers

　February 2026 Online publication of journal (scheduled)

　Late March 2026 Publication of print booklet (scheduled)

【Other remarks】

Please contact us if you would like to receive back issues of the journal. If you wish to receive them by post, please understand that you will bear the postage.

For more information, please contact:

Art Research Center Office

TEL: +81-75-466-3411 ( ext. 511-2931)

FAX: +81-75-466-3415 (ext. 511-2935)

E-mail: journal@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

* Please state "Journal Inquiry" in the subject line.

The article in the Ritsumeikan University's research magazine 'Radiant' introduced the international joint research projects, led by Prof. Ryo Akama, Director of ARC, to create a global consortium focused on preserving and researching Japanese cultural materials. The projects aim to build upon existing collaborations with institutions across North America, Europe, and Japan to strengthen and expand these networks worldwide.

For more details, click here ＜External website

https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/radiant/global/impact/?id=7