Time: 3:00–5:00 PM

Venue: Osaka University Minoh Campus
Format: In-person
Language: English, with Filipino also welcome
Participation: Free

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What does it mean to pursue a PhD in Japan as a Filipino researcher?

This pre-conference event brings together Filipino researchers who have studied or are currently studying in Japan to reflect on their experiences of graduate education, research, and career development. Beginning with the straightforward question, “Is it worth doing a PhD in Japan?”, the panel will explore why they chose Japan, what they gained from studying here, what challenges they encountered, and how their experiences have shaped their research and careers.

The discussion will then move beyond the question of PhD study itself to consider the broader possibilities of doing Philippine Studies in Japan. Through the experiences of researchers working across different disciplines and career paths, the panel will explore the range of approaches to studying the Philippines available in Japan, how these possibilities are perceived from the Philippines, and what they might mean for the future of Philippine Studies and researcher exchange between Japan and the Philippines. The discussion will also consider what Japan can offer to Filipino researchers and what Japanese universities might do to attract and support the next generation of researchers from the Philippines.
The event is intended not only for Filipino students and researchers considering graduate study in Japan, but also for researchers, graduate students, and others interested in the future of Philippine Studies and academic exchange between the Philippines and Japan.

The panel will begin with short presentations by panelists who have earned their Ph.D.s and pursued different career paths in Japan and the Philippines, as well as current Ph.D. students, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

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This event is organized as a pre-conference event of PSCJ 2026 (6th Philippine Studies Conference in Japan).

Co-organized by:
Kansai Regional Meeting of the Japanese Association for Southeast Asian Studies
[Osaka University Graduate School / other co-organizer, if applicable]