Newsletter

A response by members of the Japanese Studies Association of Australia (JSAA) to the 2026 Report on the:

 Parliamentary Inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia through the education system and beyond

 The JSAA collaboratively contributed a statement to the inquiry earlier this year. As an association we are convinced of the importance of ‘Asia Capability’ in Australia’s future. Our website states: “The JSAA remains committed to providing a vital platform for advancing Japanese Studies in Australia, fostering scholarly exchange, and promoting a deeper understanding of Japan among Australian academics, students and the broader community.”

 The introduction of this newly released report relates that fewer and fewer students are learning a second language and the numbers of students engaging with Asian studies and languages is now at the lowest level since 1965 (1.8).

 We agree that there is a current crisis that will have future implications if it is not turned around now. The Commonwealth Government is responsible, as per the report, for providing strategic leadership to turn this reduction around (1.13).

 We, members of the JSAA, argue that Asian Studies is important: not only for Australia’s ‘sovereign capacity’, but also for the ability of Australian companies and the Australian people to have a deep and influential engagement with our own region. Alongside Pacific Island regions, the Asian region includes many of our closest geographic neighbours. Language and cultural knowledge and understanding are essential for effective engagement with those neighours. We also note that the recommendations in the report do not explicitly mention Japan and the Japanese language, unlike some other languages. Alongside our comments below on avoiding the ‘splitting’ of the languages, we encourage the government to be thoughtful in future policy about its naming and non-naming of languages that are significant for Australian ‘Asia Capability’.

 We would broadly affirm in the main the recommendations provided in the report and would encourage the government to implement the majority of the recommendations. We affirm in particular Recommendations 22 and 23 which recommend a strategic review of higher education funding structures and interventions, such as pairing language teaching with area studies content to assist students in developing ‘deep regional capability’. Recommendation 24 continues this theme, suggesting the study of Asia could be made a priority research area in the National Science and Research Priorities. The JSAA affirms this and other recommendations and urges the Federal Government to ensure that Asia Capability education may be a priority investment for the future. Again, it is a critical time now to support our future capability in this space.

 However, there are some points as reported which we feel need further discussion. Asian languages should be encouraged as a whole, without splitting them into two groups of priority and supported languages (Recommendation 2). A two-tier system will have unintended consequences by creating a ‘languages hierarchy’ by which Australia discriminates its trading partners, and this should be avoided in favour of a more open model.

 Additionally, the recommended ATAR bonus system may support higher economically advantaged schools over other schools that are not as advantaged. One thing to be considered is whether an ATAR bonus should be given at all when students do not necessarily continue their language studies at university?

 Finally, the Federal Government should engage closely with the states on improving Australian Asian capability: as Ken Cruickshank has stated, ‘the federal government doesn’t run one school’.

In summary, the Federal Government’s move to reflect on new ways to safeguard and develop Asian Capability is an encouraging sign that gives us hope that the dire situation in which Asian languages (including Japanese) and Asian Studies – throughout the education system – is presently in may be turned around.  

The JSAA looks forward to engaging with governments across Australia to revitalise Japanese language studies and Japan Studies within the context of support for Asian languages and Asian Studies as a whole.

This response to the recent Asia-Capability Report does not necessarily reflect the broad views of the JSAA membership.

JSAA HDR/ Honours/ ECR Monthly Virtual Hangout
Next meeting: August 4th at 12:00 - 13:00 AEST.

The JSAA runs a monthly virtual hangout for HDRs, Honours students and ECRs from any discipline whose research interests include Japanese studies. It's a very informal group - ultimately a network - wherein we discuss research challenges, achievements, share intel, reading recommendations and more.

All HDRs, ECRs and Honours students are welcome

(you do not need to be a member of the JSAA). 

We meet via Zoom on the first Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting is August 4th from 12:00 to 13:00 AEST.

If you are an HDR interested in joining and are not currently on the HDR group mailing list, please contact Xavier Svane via jsaabulletin@gmail.com.