The Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) is the first and only centre of its kind to be established in South Africa, and in Africa. It was established at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in 2011 as a legacy project of the 2010 Japan – South Africa Centenary Celebrations, where it focused on various business-related activities in Johannesburg, the economic centre of South Africa. In 201
5, it was relocated to the Hatfield Main Campus in Pretoria, where a renewed focus was placed on research and other academic interactions, as well as promotion of mutual understanding and co-operation between South Africa and Japan. The Centre aims to create an intellectual home for a wide community of academics, students and business leaders in South Africa and Japan as the only interdisciplinary hub of its kind in Africa. Its goals are aligned with the University of Pretoria’s (UP) goals, by encouraging dialogue and collaboration through networking between UP scholars and their Japanese counterparts. Its activities, spanning over academic and business disciplines, departments and faculties across UP and other South African institutions, includes research collaboration and partnership, staff and student exchanges and training programmes related to Japan. It also aims to raise awareness of Japanese culture and society in South Africa, as well as its contributions to African development. Through the Centre, UP hosts several events and activities aimed at strengthening ties with Japanese universities and institutions, businesses and other organisations. The objectives of CJS are summarised as follows:
- To be an interdisciplinary education and research institute that facilitates and carries out research, education, exchange and training focused on Japan and South Africa.
- To be an education and research institute that acts as an intellectual hub to facilitate academic partnership between South Africa and Japan, catering for a wide community of academics, students, and members of the private and public sectors.
- To promote the profile of Japan within the South African community in the areas of business, economic, cultural and other areas by initiating programmes and events related to Japan, such as seminars and workshops.
