EDITORIAL

By Paul van der Velde
Editor-in-chief

The second issue of IIASN has been somewhat enlarged and several new headings
have been introduced such as People, Books, Vacancies, and Museums. The
editorial staff also welcomes a new member, Paul Wijsman, Librarian at the
Centre for Japanese and Korean Studies of Leiden University. He will cover
news in the field of Asian Studies pertaining to Japan and Korea. It is clear
that in addition to regional editors there is room for editors for specific
countries. Dick van der Meij, the Southeast Asian editor, is looking for
re-enforcement for several other countries in that area. Fortunately almost
50 people have contributed to this issue, which was of great assistance.  

EAJS and IIAS
As of 1 April, 1994, the European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS),
will take up rooms at the office of IIAS. A grant from the Japan Foundation
will enable EAJS to run a secretariat on a professional basis for a period of
at least five years.  This is an important development for both IIAS and EAJS
who will profit not only from the increase in scale but also of the synergy
resulting from  good neigbourship. Members of EAJS will receive this issue of
IIASN in order to get better acquanted with IIAS.

AKSE
The members of the Korean sister organization of EAJS, The Association for
Korean Studies in Europe (AKSE) will likewise receive a copy of IIASN. A word
of thanks should be extended to the President of AKSE, Dr Robert. C. Provine
of the University of Durham, who has closely co-operated with us in making
this mailing possible.

Excerpta Indonesica and the Linschoten Society
Likewise we should like to thank R.S. Karni, editor of Excerpta Indonesica,
and Dr Els van Eyck van Heslinga, Secretary of the Linschoten Vereeniging
(Linschoten Society) for giving us the opportunity to introduce our newsletter
to their readership.

Circulation
Whereas the circulation of the first IIASN was 2000, the circulation of the
present issue has risen to 5000. Our readership is still predominantly
European but in the past year we have also received many requests from
researchers and institutes in Asia, Australasia, and America to put their name
on our mailing list. Naturally we are delighted with this development. In this
context we also want to thank our readership for the many positive reactions
to the first issue IIASN.

IIAS Database
As readers may already be aware there is also an electronic version of IIASN
available. In future all interested parties should be able to consult our
database electronically. At the moment our database has been installed and the
first mailing to Dutch Asianists will take place soon. 

Asian Studies in Global Perspective
Edited versions of the speeches given on 13th of October, 1993, during the
official opening of IIAS have been printed in the supplement of this issue of
IIASN. It must be seen as contribution to the effort to come to grips with
Asian Studies in line with examples given by French and British Asianists. In
the next supplement the outcome of our findings concerning Asian Studies in
Europe will be given.

West Asia?
In the next issue of IIASN Sandra Evers, who recently obtained a M.A. degree
in Anthropology on a thesis concerning slavery in Madagascar at the University
of Amsterdam, will become our editor West Asia, an area which is usually
defined as the area covering the West Indian Ocean, still a very little known
but nonetheless interesting region.

IIAS Lecture
The first IIASN lecture shall be given by Professor Denys Lombard, Director
of the the Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, on 27 May, 1994, in Amsterdam.
His lecture will certainly contribute to a better understanding of Asian
Studies in the world today.