UP Visayas Student Joins Japanese Studies Competition

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Antonio Sebastian B. Jover, a third-year BA History student at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), was selected to participate in the 7th Japanese Studies Research Development Competition in the Philippines.

The competition, which included a writing workshop, took place from October 10-12, 2024, at the Asian Center in UP Diliman.

Now in its seventh year, the competition is held annually, inviting participants to submit research proposals on topics related to Japan, such as anime, festivals, or food.

Those whose proposals are accepted are required to join the workshop. Jover was the only undergraduate participant from UPV, joining undergraduate and master’s students from other universities across the country.

Each workshop participant was assigned a reviewer and presented their proposals for feedback. Although not all reviewers were present, feedback was delivered either through video or by other reviewers, including Dr. Chua and Dr. Celero. Jover’s proposal was well-received by his reviewer and fellow participants.

In addition to presenting their work, participants engaged in group discussions and attended an opening dinner at the University Hotel.

The workshop featured insights from speakers such as Dr. Meyer-Ohle, Dr. Celero, Dr. Chua, and Dr. Santamaria, who shared their expertise on conducting Japan-related research.

Participants were encouraged to complete their research by December, with a chance to present their final studies in March.

The winners—four undergraduate and four master’s students—will each receive the latest Apple iPad models. The event was organized by the UP Diliman Asian Center in partnership with the Japan Foundation. Dr. Meyer-Ohle, a professor at Meiji Gakuin University, served as the keynote speaker. (UPV-IPO)