The University of Tokyo Komaba Campus Tokyo, Japan (Hybrid)
August 22-24, 2025
Concept Note
March 2025
Call for Papers & Call for Proposals
Organized by
East Asia Young Scholars Association (EAYSA)
Background
Emphasizing a “with, by and for youth” approach, the UNESCO, for example, highlights the creativity, innovation, and capacity of youth to foster change in the world (UNESCO, n.d.).[1] There is an increasing body of literature and data studying and demonstrating how youths have been adopting various measures – which are likely to be noninstitutional (e.g. protest and boycotting) – to voice out their claims and seek socio-political changes. One example would be the Fridays for Future movement, a youth-led climate movement, where digital space was used to mobilize activism and educate environmental and human rights knowledge (Sainz & Hanna, 2023).[2] Another example of youths’ active role in fostering political chances is the series of protests in Bangladesh in against the government’s intention to restructure the quota-based systems. Shifting back to the academia, moreover, we have been hearing questions, particularly from young students and researchers, asking how to make their thoughts heard and to what extent what they are doing is connected to the civil society and contribute to practical changes.
In East Asia, indifferently, youths also have a pivotal role in the society. Noteworthily, despite the “East Asia” label, East Asian countries are quite different in contemporary days for many reasons, such as their roles in international society, political institutions, and socio-cultural development (for example, see Krumbein, 2022).[3] While some regard these distinctions as obstacles to regional exchange, they should probably be viewed as valuable foundations for fruitful conversations and inspirations. For example, how would the successful (failed) experiences of promoting a value/policy in a country be a reference to its neighbouring countries to facilitate/deter the promotion of it? These questions are extremely important, and particularly insightful when researchers and civil society actors from different backgrounds are invited to exchange their thoughts and opinions for the better development of their countries and the East Asian region.
[1] UNESCO. (n.d.). Youth. UNESCO. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://www.unesco.org/en/youth
[2] Sainz, G. M., & Hanna, A. (2023). Youth digital activism, social media and human rights education: the Fridays for Future movement. Human Rights Education Review, 6(1), 116-136.
[3] Krumbein, F. (2022). Who will be Asia’s next unicorn? Comparing marriage equality in Taiwan with Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Asian Studies Review, 46(1), 55-73.
Purpose
In this symposium, we aim to:
- Provide a nexus for academia and civil society actors to interact and communicate for the past, present, and future development of East Asia;
- Provide a platform for young researchers, scholars, and civil society actors to share their works and exchange thoughts;
- Invoke the importance to acknowledge, understand, study, and apply East Asian issues and perspectives;
- Provide a gateway for students to learn practical affairs beyond their own nation;
- Empower youth in research and civil society.
Themes
The central theme of the 2025 Youth Symposium: The Intersection of Research, Civil Society, and Young People in East Asia (hereafter Symposium) is East Asian Affairs. Some examples of sub-themes are provided below:
- Liberal Values and Democratic Development in East Asia
- Economic Interdependence and International Relationship
- East Asian Liberal arts
- East Asian Philosophy
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Language, Culture, Thoughts, and History
- Minority Rights
- The Future of East Asia
Submissions on alternative topics are also welcome.
Key Event Details
- The Symposium opens to public submission. Submissions will be reviewed. Authors of accepted submissions will have the opportunity to present their works at the Symposium. Submission Guidelines and other submission details such as the submission period will be announced soon. Please also note that depending on the panel that you are submitting to, the guidelines could be different.
- In general, we welcome both individual submissions and panel proposals. For individual submissions, they must select either research or civil society track when submitting thier works.
- We welcome submissions from all over the world. Priorities will be given to young scholars (including undergraduate and graduate students) and civil society actors and whose work(s) are significant to East Asia.
- The event will be held in August 2025 (tentative) at the Komaba Campus of the University of Tokyo in a hybrid format. However, we strongly recommend presenters to participate in-person.
- No registration fee is required to participate at the Symposium.
- No financial aid will be provided to presenters and audiences
More details will be announced soon. Stay tuned to our website for updates!
Looking for Partnerships/Delegations?
If you are representing a NPO, civil society actor, or research institutions who would like to partner with us at this event, please contact us through eastasiaysa.communications@gmail.com with your organization’s information and topics that you are interested in/ an expert of.
We would love to discuss with you in detail.
Youth Symposium – The Intersection of Research, Civil Society, and Young People in East Asia
Organizer:
East Asia Young Scholars Association
Co-Symposium Managers:
Haeun Kim, East Asia Young Scholars Association & The University of Tokyo
Nastumi Moroga, East Asia Young Scholars Association & Kobe University
Principal Investigators:
Professor Ching-yuen Cheung, East Asian Academy for New Liberal Arts & The University of Tokyo
Helix Lo, East Asia Young Scholars Association & The University of Tokyo
Contact Details
If you have any questions about the Symposium, please stay with us on this website or contact us through youthsym.ircy.info@gmail.com.
Symposium Partners
East Asia Young Scholars Association 