The seminar explores the challenges faced by Southeast Asian scholars in Japanese Studies, who often contend with the dominance of Anglo-American and East Asian academic centers. To navigate these spaces, scholars adopt strategies such as publishing in “semi-centers” or producing “marginal” knowledge, as identified by Ben-Ari (2017). While these efforts contribute valuable insights, they are often dismissed due to perceptions of peripherality.

The discussion highlights innovative contributions by Southeast Asian scholars, including Linh (2021) and Rastati (2022), that challenge traditional paradigms in Japanese Studies and demonstrate the transformative potential of knowledge from the periphery. It also critiques Japan’s collaborative initiatives with Southeast Asia, such as the 2015 Abe Initiatives and Kishida programs, emphasizing the need for partnerships based on mutual respect and equality. Collaborative approaches that engage with rather than for Southeast Asian scholars are thus necessary to foster an academic environment that fully recognizes their contributions as integral to global discourse.