The International Journal of Asian Studies (IJAS) is an interdisciplinary, English-language forum for research in the humanities and social sciences. Its purpose is to foster multi-directional communication in the global Asian studies community. IJAS examines Asia as a region, emphasizing patterns and tendencies that go beyond the borders of individual countries. The Editors welcome theoretical and empirical research, including interdisciplinary approaches that cross methodological boundaries, comparative perspectives that draw on data from multiple regions, and the development of new methodologies. The committee encourages submissions from Asian studies researchers globally, and especially welcomes the opportunity to introduce the work of Asian scholars to an English-language readership.IJAS is published by Cambridge University Press in association with the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo.