On November 19, join our Assistant Professor Naveena Naqvi for a talk titled “Paracolonial Thought in Afghan North India 1774-1857,” exploring how Afghan political communities in north India were polyvocal, decentralized, and actively shaping norms of civility. Learn more:

We are inviting applications for a Lecturer in Japanese Language, starting August 2026! We're seeking an exceptional and experienced teacher of Japanese Language courses with interest and expertise in innovative curriculum design and pedagogy. Apply by Jan 5, 2026. Details: bit.ly/japn-lecturer

On Friday, November 7, join Dr. Kelly McCormick (UBC History) as she discusses the untold stories of women photographers in Japan and reveals how photography has built community and pushed back against media depictions of women in Japan.

If your spooky movie season isn't over just yet (and why should it be? 👻 ), why not look beyond the jump scares and consider the powerful cultural metaphors that could lie within? Dr. Ji-yoon An (@asia.ubc.ca) discusses her new course, Cinematic Monsters of Asia www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...

UBC CENES, FHIS, and Asian Studies are excited to collaborate on a careers workshop for our students! Check out our event "From Classroom to Career: Speaking Success with Language Learning". More details in the link below. fhis.ubc.ca/events/event... @arts.ubc.ca @ubc-fhis.bsky.social @asia.ubc.ca

Despite growing conversations around equity, caste continues to be ignored in Canadian discourses. OVERCASTE is one of the first exhibits to focus on the lived experiences of caste in the BC Panjabi communities. Join the opening reception + panel discussion on Thu, Oct 30!

Mark your calendars for next Saturday, November 1st, at 7:00 PM (PDT)! Speaker Kathryn Babayan explores gender in the archive, revealing how these records offer glimpses into domestic life and illuminate family culture and social relationships.

Join our Assistant Professor Kiran K. Sunar this Thursday, October 23 at 4pm for a talk on the many visual and material incarnations of the South Asian Sohni Mahiwal tale—a tragic riverine love story which has been retold and reimagined by various artists and tellers.

TOMORROW, Oct 18 at 4:00 PM (PDT): RSVP to learn more about the catalysts of change within an institutional framework. asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

Join our Sustainability Initiative Committee and the Hong Kong Studies Initiative on Thursday, October 23 for an evening of eco-documentary screenings and discussion that will illuminate the often-overlooked natural heritage of Hong Kong! Learn more and register:

Explore the history of the Trans-Iranian Railway, Iran’s first national railway completed in 1938, and how it reshaped mobility, labor, and belonging!

THIS FRIDAY: Join Dr. Michi Ann Saki (Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts) for a discussion on viewpoints and experiences of educational stakeholders engaged in offering Japanese language support to ethnic minority children in public elementary schools in Japan. asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

Join us online on October 18th at 4:00 pm as Hamid Sajadi and Rumee Ahmed discuss the question of how transformation occurs in Shi’a political jurisprudence through the interaction between entrenched institutional structures and emerging demands.

Hear from Indigenous women from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh about their everyday experiences of gendered violence, displacement and representation of Indigenous women and Indigenous people in the national discourse. RSVP to join the conversation online or in-person!

"More Swindles from the Late Ming" (2025), translated by UBC Asian Studies professors Dr. Christopher Rea and Dr. Bruce Rusk, presents sensational stories of scams from Zhang Yingyu’s criminal underworld, where women both led and exposed elaborate cons. Read the full Q&A:

How has modern Japanese literature been shaped by aesthetic ideals? Join us on October 10 at 4:00pm as Dr. Anri Yasuda, through explores how the timeless questions about beauty are at the heart of modern literature’s ability to illumine the inimitable experiences of being human.

Our Assistant Professor, Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, spoke at the International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck last month, sharing insights from her work in Khumbu and highlighting glaciers as powerful, interconnected beings. Read more: asia.ubc.ca/news/dr-pasa...

[Hybrid] How do Australia’s deterrence policies shape refugee lives long after they receive legal recognition? Prof. Helena Zeweri unpacks their lasting impact in our first #SpeakerSeries of the year on Oct 6, 11:45 AM–1:45 PM PT, IKBLC Dodson Room 302. 🔗 Register: migration.ubc.ca/events/event...

Tomorrow, October 2 at 2:00pm PT: join Palestinian lived theologian Shadia Qubti for an intimate presentation exploring what it means to live between worlds and how communities maintain identity, family bonds, and hope amid systems of separation. asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

Join #UBCForestry and @landfood.ubc.ca on September 30 at 1956 Main Mall as we unite for an Intergenerational March to Commemorate Orange Shirt Day. Learn more: bit.ly/osd-2025 #UBC #OrangeShirtDay

Why is everyone obsessed with KPop Demon Hunters? The movie has broken records on Netflix, and its songs continue to dominate the charts. Asian Studies Assistant Professor Ji-yoon An sat down with The Globe and Mail to discuss the sensation and the spread of South Korean culture.

Congratulations to Asian Studies Professor Sunera Thobani on her latest publication, "Decolonizing Knowledge: Looking Back, Moving Forward"! The book looks at the definitions of decolonization that emerged from anti-colonial thinkers in their struggles for freedom from colonialism. buff.ly/Uqf3HGR

Tomorrow at 7:00am: Join Dr. Shahira Yacout (The American University in Cairo) for a discussion on teaching Arabic listening skills, where she explores teacher challenges, learner difficulties, and approaches to selecting effective audio materials. Presented in Arabic: asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

Ever felt nervous about speaking a language because you were self-conscious of your accent? Join FHIS MA students Sarah Huxley and Nancy Ofori as they share their research projects on linguistic insecurity in diverse language learning!

Join us today and tomorrow for a book talk and discussion on Nishant Upadhyay’s “Indians on Indian Land: Intersections of Race, Caste, and Indigeneity” alongside short film, “No Past to Long For” by director Monica Cheema! Register here: asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

This Friday at 12:00pm: Join Dr. Christina Yi (UBC Asian Studies) for a talk on how the catchphrase “Kyojin, Taihō, tamagoyaki” symbolized national culture in 1960s Japan, and how Taihō’s story sheds light on the lasting legacies of empire and repatriation. Learn more: asia.ubc.ca/events/event...

K-Pop Demon Hunters has become Netflix's most viewed film ever and has captivated audiences across the globe. Our Assistant Professor of Modern Korean Popular Culture, Ji-yoon An, was recently interviewed by CBC about the phenomenon! Listen to the interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNN6...

This Thursday at 5:30PM: Join panelists in discussing climate change impact on the high Himalaya as experienced by Indigenous communities of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality (KPLRM), featuring Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa (UBC Asian Studies). himalaya.arts.ubc.ca/events/event...

A huge congratulations to our Professor of Pre-Modern Japanese Literature and Art, Dr. Joshua Mostow, who was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon! 🇯🇵🎖️ asia.ubc.ca/news/profess...

Congratulations to Drs. Christopher Rea and Bruce Rusk on their latest publication, an edited and annotated version of the Ming-dynasty “Book of Swindles” (杜騙新書). Asian Studies PhD student Chien-Cho Chan and PhD graduate Yinzong Wei also contributed to the book! asia.ubc.ca/news/drs-chr...

A huge congratulations to our Department Head and Professor of Modern Japanese Literature and Popular Culture, Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh, who was formally presented with the Foreign Minister of Japan’s Commendation the other day 🇯🇵🎊

Join us on June 24 and 25 for the 9th Hasekura International Symposium! Hear scholars from various fields present on the metaphors and concepts of possession and dispossession. This event is open to the public; no registration is required. Find the full program here: asia.ubc.ca/the-9th-annu...

Register for NEPL390 in Summer Term 2 to learn Nepali in a community-engaged environment. You will have the opportunity to sample Nepali food, music, and cultural life! No prior knowledge needed: wd10.myworkday.com/ubc/d/inst/1...

Course registration for the 2025/26 Winter Session is coming up soon! 📚 Explore a list of new courses (or rare revivals!) offered by the Department of Asian Studies this session. No prerequisites are required and courses are open to all UBC students across disciplines. asia.ubc.ca/news/new-202...

📢 Applications are now open for the 2025–26 Graduate Certificate in Migration Studies! Enhance your UBC degree with a specialization in migration and mobilities studies. 🗓️ Application deadline: June 23, 2025 Learn more & apply: migration.ubc.ca/graduate-stu...

#UBCAsianStudies is now on Bluesky! We’ll be sharing updates on our latest news, events, projects and publications! Stay tuned for exciting content about our Department, faculty and students ✨