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On 5 May 2025, the Ukrainian Language Education Centre (ULEC) hosted an insightful webinar led by linguist Dr. Yuliya Dzyabko, focusing on the evolution of Ukrainian studies and language education in Japan since 2022. The session delved into the historical context, challenges faced, and promising developments within the Japanese academe regarding Ukraine, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dr. Dzyabko opened the discussion by addressing the long-standing underrepresentation of Ukrainian topics in Japanese academic circles—especially when compared to Slavic studies, which have largely concentrated on Russia. She highlighted that prior to the surge of interest in Ukrainian studies following the violent events of 2014, only 20 doctoral dissertations on Ukraine had been produced in Japan. This gap in scholarly work, she pointed out, has been compounded by dominant Russian narratives that have shaped Japanese scholarship, contributing to widespread misinformation about Ukraine, despite Japan’s official stance against Russia.

The webinar also explored the critical role of the Japanese Association for Ukrainian Studies, established by Kazuo Nakai, in fostering greater awareness and understanding of Ukraine. The association’s current leaders have made significant strides in enhancing academic and media engagement, leading to a noticeable rise in publications and translations related to Ukraine, particularly as the Russo-Ukrainian war continues to shape global discourse. Journalists and translators have played a pivotal role in improving the perception of Ukraine in Japan, with significant literary works and cultural exchanges making their way into Japanese media.

One of the notable developments shared by the speaker was the increase in Japanese universities offering Ukrainian language courses. While this marks a significant step forward, challenges remain, including limited resources and the slow pace of change in Japanese society. 

She also addressed Japan’s evolving immigration and refugee policies in the context of the war. The government adopted a special act to accept Ukrainians as “evacuees,” granting them temporary visitor status, work visas, and access to support programs. In addition, evacuees have received vital community support from Ukrainian organizations and schools that have been established in Japan since 2009 to promote language and cultural preservation.

The webinar concluded on a note of optimism, highlighting the growing interest in learning Ukrainian among Japanese students. This newfound enthusiasm, sparked by increased media coverage and personal connections to the ongoing war, suggests that Japan could soon emerge as a leader in Ukrainian studies in Asia.

Yuliya Dzyabko holds a PhD in Linguistics from the Lviv Franko National University and is a research associate in the Faculty of Literature at the Ibaraki Christian College. Specializing in the semantics of Ukrainian, Japanese, and English, as well as sociolinguistics, she is a published author and an active member of the Japanese Association for Ukrainian Studies.

A full recording of the webinar is available on ULEC’s YouTube channel: