日本アフリカ学会第57回学術大会

Greetings from the secretariat of the JAAS 57^th Annual Meeting

Due to the spread of the Covid-19, the JAAS Board of Directors and the secretariat of 57th Annual Meeting took an unprecedented decision to cancel the gathering of the Annual Meeting, originally planed at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and instead to hold it online. All presentations data are put on Dropbox (online storage service) and discussion is to be held using its capabilities. The public symposium is to be carried out through Zoom meeting system.

Although the online conference was an unwilling choice for us in the face of Covid-19, it has produced unintended positive effects. Announcement of the online Annual Meeting has attracted a considerable attention. Taking the great interest expressed on the internet into consideration, we decided to broadcast the data stream of the public symposium. Deserving for its name, the public symposium is now expected to widely promote debates beyond the JAAS members. Online data presentation shall also have merits, as participants have enough time to discuss with presenters. The Covid-19 has led us to a number of unexpected discoveries.

The JAAS Board of Directors and the secretariat of 57th Annual Meeting have been convinced of the absolute necessity for providing opportunities for academic exchanges even if the infectious disease prevents the physical gathering. We are proud of efforts we made for preparing the online conference, but we are also sure that there would be ample room for the improvement. What we fervently hope now is that JAAS members actively participate in this online event, discuss each other, and share their discoveries.

Shinichi Takeuchi
Secretariat of the 57th JAAS Annual Meeting

Entry into the JAAS 57th Annual Meeting

Please see Online meeting for all the access information.

Participants of the 57^th JAAS Annual Meeting

15 April 2020

Following the rapid spread of COVID-19, it was decided to hold the 57^th JAAS Annual Meeting online. All data to be presented will be put on Dropbox (an online storage service), and discussions will be held using its capabilities. The public symposium (in Japanese) will be carried out through Zoom.

1. Participation

All JAAS members may participate free of charge.

2. Meeting online

Presentations and discussions will be held online. The data to be presented will be put on Dropbox from Saturday the 23^rd to Sunday, May 31^st. Any JAAS member can visit and comment on the data during this time.

3. Details on the data

• The abstracts of the presentations will be put on the website of the 57^th JAAS Annual Meeting.
• The link to Dropbox will be put on the same website and will also be distributed through the JAAS mailing list.

4. Discussions

Questions, comments, and replies can be added to the data to be presented on Dropbox. The official HELP section of Dropbox is available with regards to the "comment" function.

5. Bulletin board

For the purpose of exchanging information, a bulletin board will be open on Dropbox; its use is strictly limited to JAAS members, and the link will be sent through the JAAS mailing list.

6. Open period

• Abstracts will be accessible on the website between Wednesday the 13^th and Sunday, May 31^st.
• The data to be presented and the bulletin board will be accessible between Saturday the 23^rd and Sunday, May 31^st.
• Following the end of the above-mentioned period, all data will be completely deleted.
• No Dropbox data are downloadable. Please contact each presenter if necessary.

7. Public symposium

• The public symposium will be held in Japanese, starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 24^th.
• Access will be enabled to a total of 300 people. Participants need to register. The registration form will be distributed afterward through the JAAS mailing list. Those who register will be invited to the Zoom meeting later on.

8. Contact information

Secretariat of the 57^th Japan Association for African Studies Annual Conference
c/o African Studies Center - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
3-11-1, Asahicho, Fuchushi, Tokyo 183-8534, Japan
Email: jaas2020.tufs@gmail.com

Presenters of the 57^th JASS Annual Meeting

15 April 2020

Following the rapid spread of COVID-19, it was decided to hold the 57^th JAAS Annual Meeting online. All data to be presented will be put on Dropbox (an online storage service), and the discussion will be held using its capabilities. The presenters are requested to create their presentation file and upload it by Wednesday, May 13^th, following the guidelines below.

1. Details on the data

• Only presenters whose names are on the program list can submit data.
• The data should be submitted in the form of a PDF file. Data in other formats, such as Word or Power Point, should be converted into a PDF file.
• The data size should be less than 20MB.
• There are no restrictions on the file name. First and last names will be automatically added to the file name when uploaded.
• Presenters are requested to put their email address on the data for discussions.
• Those who do not submit their data by Wednesday, May 13^th will be considered withdrawals.

2. Uploading the data

• Access the uploading page and upload the data to be presented. To change the language, please click the button below.
• Input the presenter's first and last names, as well as the email address, into the columns, and click the "upload" button. When co-authors submit the data, enter the name of the first author.
• After uploading, Dropbox will automatically send you an email.
• The secretariat will also send you an email.
• Please note that the uploaded file will not be replaced. When a presenter uploads two or more files, only the first file is shown on the Web.

3. Discussion

Questions, comments, and replies can be added to the data on Dropbox. The official HELP section of Dropbox is available with regards to the "comment" function.

4. Bulletin board

For the purpose of exchanging information, a bulletin board will be open on Dropbox; its use is strictly limited to JAAS members; the link will be sent through the JAAS mailing list.

5. Open period

• Abstracts will be accessible on the website between Wednesday the 13^th and Sunday, May 31^st.
• The data and bulletin board will be accessible between Saturday the 23^rd and Sunday, May 31^st.
• Following the end of the above-mentioned period, all data will be completely deleted.

6. Contact

Secretariat of the 57^th Japan Association for African Studies Annual Conference
c/o African Studies Center - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
3-11-1, Asahicho, Fuchushi, Tokyo 183-8534, Japan
Email: jaas2020.tufs@gmail.com

About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) and the JAAS Annual Meeting

7 April 2020

Dear JAAS members,

The gathering, which had been originally planned for the 57th annual meeting at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, was cancelled due to the spread of the Covid-19. The alternative to such a gathering will be organized on the web, and the detailed information will be provided later. This email is to inform you of the JAAS members' General Meeting, which is the supreme institution for the decision making.

1. The General Meeting will be held through the Zoom. The Board of Directors will provide the detailed information later.
2. Those who will not attend the General Meeting are requested to submit a letter of attorney, which designate a person to whom you entrust decisions of the Meeting. You have two ways to submit a letter of attorney.

   (1) In coming days (probably in the beginning of the next week), all JAAS members will receive a reply-paid postcard from the new president, Professor Eisei Kurimoto. The postcard informs you of the changes in organizing the 57th Annual Meeting and the General Meeting. The reply of the postcard is a letter of attorney. Please just detach it, fill necessary information, and post it.

   (2) As mentioned above, the Board of Directors will post an email to the JAAS mailing list, providing information about the General Meeting and the Meeting of the Board Councilors. The JAAS members will be able to submit the letter of attorney by replying the email.

If you have any inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact the secretariat of the JAAS 57th annual meeting.

Sincerely.

Shinichi Takeuchi
Secretariat of the 57th JAAS Annual Meeting
E-mail: jaas2020.tufs(at)gmail.com

3 April 2020

Dear JAAS members,

As noticed in the email posted on 31 March, the gathering at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies that had originally been planned for the 57th JAAS annual meeting was cancelled due to the spread of the Covid-19. The pre-conference event as well as the welcome banquet that were originally planned on 22 and 23 May, respectively, will not be held. It was a very sad decision, but we thought such gatherings would be impossible considering the serious effects of the infectious disease.

Instead of a physical gathering, we are now preparing for an online meeting, in which presentation materials (PDF files) will be put on the web, and discussion (comments, questions, and answers) will be also made on the web. Detailed information will be provided as soon as it will be ready.

The followings are important notices for presenters of the 57th JAAS meeting.

1. As the way of the meeting has been changed, you may wish to withdraw your presentations. In such cases, please let us know as soon as possible.
2. Those who have not yet paid the membership fee do not have a right to make a presentation. Persons concerned are required to make the payment immediately.

If you have any inquiry, please contact the secretariat of the JAAS 57th Annual Meeting.

Shinichi Takeuchi
Secretariat of the 57th JAAS Annual Meeting
E-mail: jaas2020.tufs(at)gmail.com

31 March 2020

Dear JAAS members

We have examined the possibility to organize the JAAS 57th annual meeting amid the spread of the Covid-19 infectious disease. However, following the meeting held on 29 March, the JAAS Board Members achieved the consensus that it would be impossible to hold the annual meeting in gathering at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies on 23 and 24 May as planed, as the spread of the Covid-19 has been continuing and no sign to subside in Tokyo. As a consequence, the secretariat of the 57th JAAS annual meeting has decided to examine an acceptable alternative for an opportunity of academic exchange without gathering in a physical meeting place.

The followings are urgent announcements that we can make currently.

1. We will NOT organize the JAAS academic meeting at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies on 23-24 May, as previously planed. The welcome banquet is also cancelled.
2. Instead of the gathering, we make efforts to create an opportunity for the presentation and exchange of the research on the web.
3. During the period of the 57th annual meeting (23-24 May), meeting of the Board of Councilors and the General Meeting of the JAAS members will be held without gathering at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
4. Detailed information about the above points 2 and 3 will be provided as soon as it will be possible.

We would thank for your kind understanding.

Sincerely.

Itaru Ohta (President of the JAAS, until 31 March 2020)
Eisei Kurimoto (President of the JAAS, from 1 April 2020)
Shinichi Takeuchi (Secretariat of the JAAS 57th annual meeting)

14 March 2020

Dear JAAS members,

Considering the uncertainty caused by the spread of Covid-19, we postpone the opening of payment procedure for the JAAS 57th annual meeting. Other information including that about the program can be seen on the website. We will provide detailed information about payment procedure as soon as we have a clearer view on whether to hold the annual meeting, and will send an official payment slip to members who has completed registration on the web.

Shinichi Takeuchi
Secretariat of the 57th JAAS Annual Meeting

26 February 2020

Dear JAAS members,

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 has been spreading, it is still unclear whether the 57th JAAS annual meeting can be held as planned. At this stage, we, the secretariat of the 57th JAAS annual meeting, want to clarify our policy for the organization of the annual meeting. The decision of organizing or cancelling the annual meeting shall be taken on the basis of the following principles.

• Top priority for the health and safety of participants.
• Close consultation with the Board of Directors.

Whereas the issue of the second circular and the opening of payment procedure (the conference fee and the banquet) are planned in late March, the secretariat continues to examine these points and provide the information in due course.

Shinichi Takeuchi
Secretariat of the 57th JAAS Annual Meeting