The Turkish Studies in Japan: Studies on Anatolian Turks
There are two groups of Turkish studies in Japan. The first group consists of historical studies about the Turks in the North and Central Asia, next to the Chinese Empire, based on Chinese historical sources. The second group concerns the historical studies about the Turks in the Islamic World, outside the scope of North and Central Asia; the Saljuks, the Turkish principalities in Anatolia and the Ottoman Empire based on Arabic, Persian and Turkish historical resources. The latter group of Turkish studies was founded after the World War II, because until then, there were few relations between Japan and the Islamic World, unlike those with the European countries. It is possible to divide the history of the latter group of Turkish studies in Japan into four periods. The first period, from the end of World War I to the end of the World War II (1919-1945), constituted the foundational period. The second period, after the end of the World War II to the 1960s, was led by scholars like Mitsuhashi, Haneda and Mori, who employed Arabic, Persian and Turkish historical sources. The third period, after the 1970s, witnessed various scholars like Nagata, who conducted research in Turkey for several years. The fourth period or after the 1980s is represented by scholars of the next generation studying various themes. Some Japanese scholars have been recently trying to cooperate with Turkish scholars regarding their research through the organization of academic symposiums and workshops, the publication of academic articles and books, and so on. In this way, the Japanese studies of Turkish studies are prospering.
NOBUO MISAWA
