55^th Annual Conference of the Japan Association for African Studies
Circular No. 1

November 25^th, 2017

The 55th Annual Conference of the Japan Association for African Studies will be held from Saturday, May 26^th, 2018 through to Sunday, May 27^th at the Hokkaido University Conference Hall in Sapporo City. Those who wish to participate should apply using the enclosed postcard. We hope to see you there.

Conference Chair, Taro Yamauchi

1.Conference Venue

Hokkaido University Conference Hall, Sapporo City, Hokkaido

2.Conference Dates

May 26^th, 2018 (Saturday): Oral presentations, poster presentations (core time), general meeting, trustees’ meeting, banquet dinner

May 27^th, 2018 (Sunday): Oral presentations, public symposium

* Pre-Conference Side Event (Friday, May 25): The day before the official conference opening, the Hokkaido University African Students Association (HUASA) will hold their 4th Annual Africa Day event.

3.Research Presentations

The Conference will revolve around oral presentations, poster presentations and forums. Those who wish to present should select one of the presentation formats available. Additionally, sufficient time will be provided on the afternoon of Saturday, May 26^th solely for poster presentations (core time). This year, the executive committee will select and offer best poster awards. In the hope of deeper discussion, we hope to see proactive poster presentation entries. Should we receive a certain number of applications to present in English, we are considering holding an English language question and answer session at the conference.

4.Adjustment of Presentation Numbers

Due to venue limitations, we have been asked by our host institution to screen abstracts as approved at the 2008 Annual Conference. Therefore, kindly note that you may be asked to change the format of your presentation.

5.Presentation Application and Submission of Abstracts

Presentation applications will be done by postcard registration and submission of abstract. After sending your registration postcard, please send us an abstract of your presentation (further details below).

Deadline for postcard registration (delivery due date): Thursday, February 1st
(Please use the enclosed postcard. We are unable to accept registrations by email or phone.)

Deadline for abstracts (delivery due date): Thursday, February 15th
(Please format your abstract in accordance with the enclosed “Abstract Guidelines” and kindly send it by email.)

Since 2016, conference programs and abstracts have been posted on the JAAS official website. For a fixed interval before and after the meeting, this years’ program and abstracts will be viewable on the web. Kindly note that by submitting your abstract and content, you are granting full consent to JAAS to publish your work via this platform.

Non-member researchers on Africa who reside abroad are also welcome to present at this conference. However, this is limited to those researchers who can secure the support of a member in sending their registration postcard, abstract, and where required, obtain a visa. Non-member researchers residing abroad should include all necessary registration information (name, specialty, affiliation, presentation format, presentation topic, attendance/absence from the banquet dinner, etc.) as well as information about the member who is supporting them in their application (name, affiliation, address, phone number, and email address). The information should be written on a postcard or letter and sent to the Dogura Office. All other aspects of registration, including registration to participate or present, abstract submissions, methods of advance payment of registration fees, and deadlines shall be the same as for members.

6.Notes Regarding Presentations

1. Be sure to submit BOTH your registration by postcard and completed abstract by their respective deadlines. Registrations and abstracts will NOT be accepted if either or both are received after their delivery due dates.
2. Those wishing to make a poster presentation should also submit an abstract.
3. Those presenting collaborative works should enter the names of all contributors on the registration postcard and underline the name of the presenter. Additionally, presenters shall be limited to members only.
4. If you wish to hold a forum, a representative should circle “Forum” on their registration postcard, write the name of the forum under “Presentation Topic,” write the names of all presenters under “Presenters,” and circle the name of the representative. Each presenter should also circle “Forum” on their registration postcard and write the forum name and presentation topic under “Presentation Topic”. The maximum time allotment for a forum is 1 hour and 15 minutes (this limit is calculated based on a presenter limit of 5 individuals with 15 minutes allotted per presenter). Additionally, the forum representative should assemble abstracts from each presenter and submit them together. We are unable to accept presentations if the full set of abstracts is not submitted.
5. Non-members who wish to present (except for non-member researchers on Africa residing abroad who have the support of a member) must complete an application for membership before the end of December, 2017. If the board of directors agrees to admission, the new member may be asked to immediately submit membership fees for 2018. For more details, please visit the Japan Association for African Studies website at https://african-studies.com/. If anyone knows a non-member who wishes to present, please advise them to complete this process.
6. The time limit for oral presentations, including questions and answers, is 15 minutes.
7. Poster presentation (core time) is provided on the afternoon of Day 1. During this time, poster presenters will engage in discussions with attendees on their posters. More detailed guidelines will be provided shortly.
8. There shall be one (1) presentation per person for all oral presentations, poster presentations and forums.

7.Registration Fees (Prospective)

Early Registration

Conference Registration: ¥5,000 (Student ¥3,000)
Banquet Dinner: ¥6,000 (Student ¥4,000)

Standard/Onsite

Conference Registration: ¥6,000 (Student ¥4,000)
Banquet Dinner: ¥7,000 (Student ¥5,000)

* Registration and Banquet Dinner fees remitted prior to the designated date will be discounted by ¥1,000 each as shown above. Circular No. 2 will advise payment methods and deadlines. Kindly take note that the fees may change according to the number of registrations received.

8.Child Care

A day care area has been planned for the Conference. Circular No. 2 will provide more detailed information.

9.Information about Lodging Facilities, etc.

May is a busy tourist and conference season in Sapporo. Please be sure to make lodging reservations as early as possible.

We plan to post information regarding the 2018 Conference on the JAAS website. For inquiries regarding the conference, please contact us by the following means:

Executive Office for the 55th Annual Conference of the Japan Association for African Studies
C/o: Hokkaido University Graduate School of Health Sciences/Human Ecology Laboratory
5-Chome Kita 12 Jonishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 〒060-0812

E-mail: jaas2018@ml.hokudai.ac.jp (preferred contact)
Phone: 011-706-3379 (Prof. Taro Yamauchi)

Guidelines for Preparing Presentation Abstracts

Please prepare your abstract in the format described below and submit it to the abstract submission email address (abstract_jaas2018@ml.hokudai.ac.jp) as both a Word and PDF document (2 files in total). Abstracts will be printed in the form that they are submitted. If you are unable to submit an abstract in these two formats, please send an email to the above mentioned email address in advance to consult with the executive committee member in charge of abstracts.

1. Abstracts will be printed on A4 sized paper. Please use margins of 25mm on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right). For your convenience, an Abstract Template file has been posted for use on the 55th Conference homepage.
2. Please use the font MS Mincho (MS 明朝体) for Japanese text and Times New Roman for English text.
3. Please enter the title of your abstract in 12-point bold font and any subtitle and/or presenter name/s and affiliation/s in 11-point bold font.
4. Please use 10-point font for the main body of your text and use fixed 14-point line spacing. The language to be used is up to you; however, please limit your abstract to 1 page.

Caution!

1. The deadline for receipt of abstracts is Thursday, February 15^th (delivery due date). If your abstract does not arrive by the deadline, your presentation will be considered as cancelled.
2. We will not accept abstracts if we have not received your registration on the enclosed registration postcard by Thursday, February 1^st (delivery due date).
3. Since 2016, we have posted abstracts as-is on the JAAS website. Please be aware of this fact when you prepare your abstract.

Please send abstracts or inquiries concerning them to:
[E-mail: abstract_jaas2018@ml.hokudai.ac.jp]