In the past, Japan has once experienced a golden era when it was globally admired under the catchphrase “Japan as Number One.” With its remarkable economic miracle, Japan was regarded with awe and envy by countries across the globe. However, that era has long since passed. Today, Japan appears to have become an ordinary nation, grappling with numerous challenges of globalization, including economic instability, an aging and shrinking population, political polarization, and the mounting crisis of climate change, among others.

Nonetheless, intellectual curiosity about Japan continues to endure across the globe. In fact, interest in Japan is, in some ways, even growing. In the non-Western world, Japan’s success story of swiftly catching up with Western modernity remains a source of fascination and shows no signs of waning. Meanwhile, the global appetite for Japan’s rich and diverse cultural heritage remains extraordinary. The demand for understanding Japan’s history and contemporary culture, both overt and subtle, resonates from all corners of the world. In response to these demands, we seek to engage in a profound reflection on Japan’s history and culture, aiming to define its role as a global actor. Meanwhile, we also strive to uncover and address both the latent and overt demands for Japanese studies, while providing support and fostering dialogue to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the field. With this vision in mind, we have established the Uehiro Division for Global Japanese Studies at Nichibunken, made possible through the generous support of the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education. The challenges facing Japanese society today are, in many ways, shared challenges of humanity. Through the promotion of Japanese studies, we aim not merely to delve into scholarly pursuits but to illuminate pathways toward a better, more livable world for all.