What’s On

The Society runs an active programme of public lectures, seminars, book launches and other events throughout the year on a range of subjects relating to Asia.

These events are usually held at the Society’s Lecture Hall in London and each is accompanied by a small reception. Unless otherwise specified, our events are open to all members of the public and no booking is required. There is no charge for our regular lectures and, where possible, events are streamed live over Zoom. If you would like to attend any of these events online, please contact Matty Bradley by email: mb@royalasiaticsociety.org and the Zoom link and password will be provided. Please note the number of online attendees is limited so early registration is advised.

Our upcoming events are listed below. To see our upcoming events in a calendar format, click here.

Japanese Studies: Past, Present and Future (2025–6 Lecture Series)

This year the RAS has teamed up with the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC) and The Courtauld Institute of Art for a series of public lectures and events over 2025–6, covering the many aspects of Japanese studies in the UK and beyond. Click here for full details on the series.

All
Japan Series
Lecture

(Japan Series) Dr Christopher Harding – Barbarians: The First Century of Encounter Between Japan and Europe

Date: 8 January 2026 (Thursday)

Bayly Prize Award

Date: 22 January 2026 (Thursday)

(Japan Series) Halle O’Neal – The Weight of Ephemeral Things: Paper, Memory, and Women Makers in Medieval Japan

Date: 3 February 2026 (Tuesday)
Hosted at the Courtauld

(Japan Series) Joy Hendry – (TBC) Doing Field Research in Japan: A Long View

Date: 12 February 2026 (Thursday)

(Japan Series) Susan Whitfield – Pilgrimage from Nara to Norwich

Date: 19 February 2026 (Thursday)
Hosted by SISJAC

Paul Wordsworth – Title TBA

Date: 26 February 2026 (Thursday)

(Japan Series) Yuki Russell – Conservation Practices in Japan

Date: 4 March 2026 (Wednesday)
Hosted at the Courtauld

(Japan Series) Junzo Uchiyama – Surviving the Apocalypse: Catastrophe Archaeology in Ancient Japan

Date: 19 March 2026 (Thursday)
Online Event via Zoom

(Japan Series) Peter Kornicki – Hidden knowledge: why Edo-period Japan was not a print society

Date: 26 March 2026 (Thursday)

Past Events

Recordings of most lectures and events are uploaded to our YouTube channel. If you missed one of our events, or would like to revisit the content from a past event, you could view these recordings on our channel. Our two latest recordings are embedded below.

Professor Jennifer Coates – Studying Japan from the UK: New Challenges and Historical Precedents
(Japan Series), 9th September 2025

Nicolas Revire: Charting Dvāravatī: The Making of an Early Buddhist Polity In Central Thailand, 18th September 2025

Support Us

The Society is an independent charity and relies on the generosity of its members and donors to continue with its work. Your support will enable us to organise more inspiring events for anyone with an interest in Asia. If you enjoy our events, consider supporting us by making a donation.

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