Donation of Historical 'Asai-Ogawa Taiwan Indigenous Materials' to Taiwan's National Central Library

The Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA, Director: Nobuaki Kondo) at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (President: Toshio Haruna) is donating the historically significant 'Asai-Ogawa Taiwan Indigenous Materials' to the National Central Library (NCL) in Taiwan. In conjunction with this, the institute will host a donation ceremony and commemorative symposium, with a representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan as a guest of honor.

This collection demonstrates the glorious achievements of Taiwan studies by Japanese researchers and is the result of years of collaborative organization by researchers from both inside and outside the university at the ILCAA, which serves as a center for collaborative research. This donation is not merely a transfer of materials but a significant milestone symbolizing the deep, long-standing academic ties between Japan and Taiwan.

Media representatives wishing to cover the event should apply via email by June 17 (Wednesday).

■ Highlights of this release:
1. Donation and 'Return' of historically invaluable materials
The 'Asai-Ogawa Taiwan Indigenous Materials' are essential records concerning Formosan languages used by Taiwan's indigenous peoples. The donation of these materials to the National Central Library in Taiwan, the original location of research, carries immense academic and cultural significance.

2. Achievements in Taiwan studies by Japanese researchers
This collection is the cornerstone of Formosan language studies, painstakingly built by researchers such as Naoyoshi Ogawa, Erin Asai, and Shigeru Tsuchida. The symposium will feature a keynote address by Dr. Paul Jen-Kuei Li from Academia Sinica, a leading expert in Taiwan indigenous languages. Japanese researchers will also participate and present their findings.

3. Role of ILCAA as a Joint Research Hub
These vast archives are the result of collaborative organizing and research by scholars from within and outside the university at the ILCAA. The systematic organization achieved through years of collaborative research made this donation possible.

4. A Symbol of Long-standing Japan-Taiwan Academic Exchange
The donation ceremony, attended by a representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, will serve as a symbolic event illustrating the robust academic cooperation between Japan and Taiwan that continues from the past to the present and into the future.

■ Donation Ceremony & Commemorative Symposium Details
Date/Time: June 19, 2026 (Fri) 13:00 – 17:30
Venue: ILCAA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Hosts: National Central Library (NCL), ILCAA (TUFS)

● Part 1: Donation Ceremony (13:00 – 14:00)
Keynote: Yuko Mio (Keio University) on the background and organization of the collection.

● Part 2: Commemorative Symposium (14:30 – 17:30)
Theme: 'Japan's Contribution to Taiwan: From the Perspective of Taiwan Indigenous Linguistics'
Keynote: Dr. Paul Jen-Kuei Li (Academia Sinica) on early linguistic contributions by Japanese researchers.
Research presentations: Kai Shibata, Naomi Tsukida, Izumi Ochiai, Itta Imanishi.

■ Academic Value of the Materials
Materials concerning the 'Pingpu' tribes, in particular, are regarded as vital primary sources documenting unique languages and cultures of the era. Through this donation, this 'knowledge' will return to its origin in Taiwan and be passed on to future generations of researchers.