Islamic Area Studies is a new field of research that seeks to build a framework of empirical knowledge on Islam and Islamic civilization, emphasizing both comparative regional studies and an historical approach to contemporary issues. A fuller understanding of contemporary Islam requires interdisciplinary research and an investigation of how Islam relates with various regional communities.
Japan’s Islamic Area Studies Network is an international joint research network that was formed through a previous Islamic Area Studies Project (1997-2002) and a National Institutes for the Humanities program for Islamic Area Studies (2006-). In 2008, the IAS Network was brought into the fold of the Japanese Ministry of Education and formally recognized by the Minister of Education as a “Joint Usage/Research Center”, where scholars from across the nation are encouraged to conduct research. The IAS Network is comprised of 5 centers, located at Waseda University, the University of Tokyo, Sophia University, Kyoto University, and the Toyo Bunko. These centers work to strengthen the community of IAS researchers, by complementing each other’s research activities, and by soliciting research on new themes.
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IAS Main Center General Office at Waseda University Organization for Islamic Area Studies (OIAS)
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IAS Center at The University of Tokyo Department of Islamic Area Studies, Center for Evolving Humanities, Graduate School of Humanities, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
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IAS Center at Sophia University Sophia Organization for Islamic Area Studies（SOIAS）
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IAS Center at Kyoto University Center for Islamic Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Studies, Kyoto
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IAS Center at The Toyo Bunko Documentation Center for Islamic Area Studies, The Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library)
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