The Scuola Italiana di Studi sull'Asia Orientale (Italian School of East Asian Studies, ISEAS) is a research centre devoted to the study of the cultures and societies of East Asia, in the fields of the humanities and social sciences. It co-ordinates research activities of Italian scholars and graduate students in Japan, acting as a bridge between Japanese and Italian universities. Since 2001 the ISEAS works in close contact with the Kyoto centre of the EFEO (which is located in the same building) on the basis of an official agreement. Together with the EFEO the ISEAS also co-operates with the Institute for Research of Humanities of Kyoto University for joint research programs. It organises seminars, lectures and workshops on a regular basis. Its library has an almost complete collection of journals in Western languages on Asian studies and all the basic reference tools for research on China and Japan. Through the ISEAS it is possible to have access to the major research libraries of Japan.

Principal activities

• Research programs concerning ancient and modern East Asia (archaeology, textual studies, cultural history, fine arts, religious studies, social sciences).
• Publication of the results of research activities in a few printed series (“Occasional Papers”, “Epigraphical Series”, "Monographs", "Essays").
• "Kyoto Lectures", co-hosted with the EFEO and other institutions.
• "Manabu" workshops for Italian graduate students and young researchers.