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István Janó is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Japanology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest, Hungary. With a distinguished career spanning over four decades, he has established himself as a leading scholar in Japanese studies, comparative literature, and cross-cultural research between Japan and the West. His academic journey began at József Attila University where he earned his MA in English and German literature and linguistics in 1978, followed by his doctoral degree in comparative literature in 1980. His educational background includes: MA in English and German literature and linguistics (1978) from József Attila University PhD in Comparative Literature (1980) from József Attila University with dissertation on 'Far Eastern influences in the poetry of imagism' Continuing doctoral studies at the Doctoral School of Literary Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2008-) Additional studies at Eötvös Loránd University, Humboldt University in Berlin, and Osaka University of Foreign Languages Janó's research focuses on the intricate connections between Japanese and Western literary traditions, with particular expertise in classical and modern Japanese prose, Japanese literary theory, classical Japanese grammar, and linguistic problems. His scholarly work reveals a deep engagement with how Japanese poetic forms like haiku influenced Western literary movements such as Imagism and Vorticism, particularly through the works of Ezra Pound and Amy Lowell. He has made significant contributions to understanding the cultural dialogue between Japan and Hungary, as evidenced by his involvement in the Japanese-Hungarian Dictionary project since 2000. An analysis of his publications spanning from 1980 to 2022 shows a consistent scholarly trajectory exploring Japanese-Western literary connections, with recent works delving deeper into Vorticism's Eastern roots and the synthesis of Japanese haiku with French symbolism. His research demonstrates remarkable continuity in examining how Japanese aesthetics have shaped and been shaped by Western literary traditions. Throughout his career, Janó has been actively involved in academic service, including serving as an examiner for Japanese language exams at ELTE from 1992-2000, revising significant Japanese language learning materials like 'Kanji and Kana' (1995), and developing university textbooks on basic Japanese (1997). His international research fellowships at Osaka University of Foreign Languages (1990-1991) and Yokohama University (1995) under Japanese government sponsorship highlight his recognition in the field. Janó maintains active participation in the Hungarian Association of Japanese Language Teachers and has presented extensively at academic conferences, including notable appearances at the Károli Gáspár Reformed University's Literary Studies Conferences and the 20th anniversary celebration of the Japanology department in 2014. His work continues to bridge Japanese and Hungarian academic communities through translation, lexicography, and scholarly research.

• Comparative Literature
• Japanese Literary Theory
• Classical Japanese Grammar
• +7 more

Beatrix Mecsi , Associate Professor at Eötvös Loránd University , serves as Head of the Department of Korean Studies within the Institute of East Asian Studies. Her academic career spans decades of research and teaching in Korean art history, Buddhist studies, and intercultural competence. Research Interests Professor Mecsi specializes in Korean art history with particular focus on: Chan/Zen Buddhist iconography and its transmission East Asian tomb murals and cultural heritage Postcolonial interpretations of Korean art Korean language pedagogy in Central Europe Religious syncretism in East Asian contexts Publication Trends Her scholarship reveals consistent exploration of: Korean-Japanese intercultural exchange patterns Material culture analysis in Hungarian museum collections Buddhist visual narratives across East Asia Post-war cultural diplomacy through art exhibitions Educational approaches to Korean studies in Central Europe

• Korean Studies
• East Asian Art History
• Buddhism
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Noemi Szabo (b. 1984, Hungary) is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Japanese Studies , Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , Károli Gáspár Reformed University . She teaches Japanese history, geography, art history, and language, with research focusing on Hungarian-Japanese relations and European-Japanese interactions. Her projects include the 2025-2026 KRE research team 'Perceptions of Japan in Hungary after 1945'. Education MA in German Language and Literature (2009) MA in History (2009) MA in Japanology (2014) Research Themes include: Historical press coverage of Japan in Hungary Cultural and diplomatic exchanges between Hungary and Japan Edo-period Japan's global interactions Analysis of 17th-19th century European perceptions Academic Activity Trends (based on publications 2014-2025) show expertise in: 19th-century Hungarian press analysis Edo period diplomatic history Comparative cultural reception studies Transnational media representation Scientific Awards Researcher Prize International Research Experience : Waseda University (2022) University of Vienna (2019) Japan Foundation, Kansai (2016-2017)

• Japanese History
• Hungarian-Japanese Relations
• European-Japanese Relations
• +3 more

Monika Lehner is a faculty member at the Department of History, University of Vienna. She teaches courses such as 'Cultural History of the Euro-Atlantic Region' and 'Research Techniques and Academic Writing'. Her research focuses on pre-1700 Europe-China relations, Austro-Hungarian political cartoons, and cultural history in a global context. 1996 PhD in History 1993 MA in History/Chinese Studies Her scholarly work explores the integration of China into Western knowledge systems, historical film analysis, and Austro-Hungarian foreign relations. She collaborates on projects like Bibliotheca Sinica 2.0 and contributes to exhibitions on cross-cultural art.

• Cultural History
• European History
• Chinese History
• +5 more

Huba Bartos is an Associate Professor at the Institute of East Asian Studies , Eötvös Loránd University , specializing in Department of Chinese Studies . His research focuses on syntax theory, Mandarin-Hungarian phonological comparison, and second language acquisition for Hungarian learners of Chinese. He has co-edited major Hungarian-Chinese dictionaries and leads acoustic studies on tonal coarticulation. Key Research Areas : Syntax-semantic interface, tonal language teaching, cross-linguistic phonetics. Teaching : Courses on Chinese syntax, Japanese structure, and minimalist theory. Publications : Over 76 works, including bilingual dictionaries and studies on Mandarin intonation.

• Syntax Theory
• Phonology
• Hungarian Linguistics
• +5 more

Molnár Pál is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Japanology, Institute of Oriental Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest, Hungary. Holding a PhD in Educational Sciences and Network Research (2016), he specializes in networked learning, knowledge creation communities, and Japanese studies. His interdisciplinary work bridges educational technology with Japanese cultural studies, focusing on collaborative learning environments and network analysis methodologies. 1991-1994: Electrical Engineering (Computer Science specialization) from Kandó Kálmán Technical College (now part of Óbuda University) 1998-2000: Japanese Language and Culture Studies from Károli Gáspár Reformed University 2000-2001: Scholarship studies at University of Tsukuba, Japan 2016: PhD in Educational Sciences and Network Research from University of Szeged Molnár's research centers on networked learning communities , examining how social networks form and function in educational contexts. His work explores collaborative knowledge creation through digital platforms, with particular focus on Japanese character networks and their visualization. He investigates how network structures influence learning outcomes, scientific thinking development, and writing processes in higher education. His research integrates educational psychology with network science methodologies to understand collaborative learning dynamics in both Hungarian and Japanese educational contexts. His publication record shows a strong focus on network analysis in education (65%), collaborative learning methodologies (20%), and Japanese studies (15%). Recent work increasingly incorporates disability studies and rehabilitation pedagogy , particularly examining cerebral palsy interventions. His research demonstrates consistent methodological rigor using network visualization and analysis techniques to study educational communities. Molnár has been actively involved in curriculum development, creating multiple courses on networked learning, Japanese culture, and research methodology. His work on the Japanese-Hungarian Dictionary Creation Workgroup demonstrates his commitment to cross-cultural academic collaboration. He has supervised numerous student research projects focused on networked learning environments and Japanese studies.

• Networked Learning
• Learning Communities
• Social Network Analysis in Education
• +7 more

Veronica Samu serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Japanology within the Institute of East Asia at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Károli Gáspár Reformed University in Budapest, Hungary. Specializing in linguistics and translation studies with particular expertise in Japanese onomatopoeia, she maintains regular reception hours on Tuesdays from 12:00-13:00 (currently conducted online by prior arrangement). MA in Japanology (2011) from Károli Gáspár Reformed University PhD in Linguistics (defense scheduled for 2024) from University of Pécs Dissertation: "A sound-schema-based analysis of Japanese and Hungarian onomatopoeias in a contrastive approach – with special regard to the semantic domains mapped by sound schemes" Dr. Samu's research centers on Japanese onomatopoeia, investigating its morphosemantic structures, cognitive foundations, and pedagogical applications. Her work explores how sound schemas map semantic domains across Japanese and Hungarian languages, revealing cross-linguistic parallels. She extends this research to translation studies, particularly regarding culture-specific words between Japanese and Hungarian, and develops innovative approaches to teaching Japanese onomatopoeia through artistic methods and visual aids. Her scholarship bridges theoretical linguistics with practical language instruction, focusing on how onomatopoeic elements enhance language acquisition. Analysis of Dr. Samu's publications from 2012-2022 reveals a clear scholarly trajectory from theoretical linguistic analysis toward practical pedagogical applications. Her early work focused on translation strategies for Japanese phraseologisms and onomatopoeia, while her more recent publications (2021-2022) explore the artistic dimensions of onomatopoeic expressions across media—from children's literature to audiovisual arts. This evolution demonstrates her commitment to applying linguistic theory to enhance Japanese language teaching methodologies in Hungarian educational contexts, particularly through multimodal approaches that leverage artistic expression. Dr. Samu has participated in significant professional development opportunities, including Japanese language programs at the Japan Foundation in 2015 and 2017, which have informed her cross-cultural research and teaching practices. Her linguistic expertise spans Japanese (advanced), English (intermediate), and Serbian (advanced), supporting her comparative research between Japanese and Hungarian languages. She has organized academic events such as the "Translation, not distortion" translators' workshop in 2016 and has contributed to the scholarly community through book reviews and conference organization. Her research demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical linguistic frameworks and practical language teaching applications, particularly in the specialized domain of onomatopoeia across Japanese and Hungarian languages. This dual focus positions her work at the intersection of cognitive linguistics, translation studies, and language pedagogy, contributing to both academic discourse and practical educational methodologies in Japanology.

• Linguistics
• Translation Studies
• Japanology
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Dr. Gregory Attila is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , Károli Gáspár Reformed University , specializing in Japanese society, politics, and East Asia. He earned his DrUniv in Sociology (1982) and MA in History/Sociology (1974–1975) from Eötvös University. His academic career spans roles at Eötvös University (1988–1992), Pázmány University (1992–1999), and Károli University (since 2000). Research Focus : Japanese politics, international relations, modernization studies, EU-Japan interactions, and East Asian regional dynamics. Publications : Authored/edited 15+ works on topics like Japanese identity, energy security, and post-war nation-building (1982–2016), with 4 independent citations. International Engagement : Research Fellow at University of Tokyo (1983–85), Visiting Professor at Waseda University (1992, 1996–97), and Jagiellonian University (2018). Honors : Recipient of the Higher Education Merit Medal (Eötvös University, 1975). Active in the Kőrösi Csoma Society . Supervised Emilia Fábián’s doctoral thesis (2015) on Japan’s international relations.

• Japanese Society
• Japanese Social History
• Japanese Economy
• +3 more

Anna Reka Matyas is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chinese Studies under the Faculty of Humanities at Károli Gáspár Reformed University. She holds an MA in 'certified historian' from the same institution and is currently pursuing her PhD. Her work focuses on the historical and cultural intersections between Hungary and China, with a strong emphasis on diplomatic relations and cross-cultural narratives. MA: Certified Historian (Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, 2024) PhD: In progress Her research explores the history of Hungarian-Chinese relations, analyzing diplomatic interactions and cultural influences from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy era through the early 20th century. Teaching responsibilities include philology, indicating a focus on linguistic and literary analysis within sinology. Recent publications examine topics such as fictional representations of China in Hungarian media, historical myths in the press, and the translation of Chinese political texts. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with history, literature, and cultural studies. 2023: OTDK 1st Place 2021-2023: Multiple OTDK Distinctions and MTA Award Previously serving as a librarian (2022-2024), she remains active in the KRE Sinology Research Group. Language proficiency in German (advanced), Chinese and Japanese (intermediate) supports her research in multilingual historical sources.

• History of Hungarian-Chinese Relations
• Sinology
• Philology
• +1 more

József Szurcsik is an Associate Professor at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts with a distinguished career spanning over four decades in graphic arts and contemporary visual culture. His academic foundation was established at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts where he earned his degree in reproduced graphics (1980-85) followed by advanced art training (1985-88). His research interests center on Graphic Arts , Printmaking , and Visual Satire , with significant contributions to contemporary Hungarian art through innovative techniques blending traditional and modern approaches. His work explores symbolic representation, urban narratives, and philosophical dimensions of visual culture. Szurcsik's publications from 2000-2005 reveal consistent engagement with the evolution of graphic arts, examining intersections between traditional techniques and digital media while maintaining strong connections to Hungarian artistic traditions. His writings frequently address conceptual frameworks for understanding visual symbolism in contemporary society. Munkácsy Award (1997) 4th International Cairo Biennale first prize (1992) BEIJ '01 Japanese Illustration Biennale 2nd prize (2001) Rome Scholarship (1993) Bavarian Government Scholarship (1993) Derkovits Scholarship (1988-90) Szurcsik has maintained extensive exhibition activity globally, with works held in major collections including the Hungarian National Gallery, Prague National Gallery, and institutions in Finland, Germany, and the United States. His involvement in artistic communities includes founding the Art-Reaktor art and music group (1986), membership in the Hungarian Artists Association, and service on the National Cultural Fund's Fine Arts Board of Trustees.

• Graphic Arts
• Printmaking
• Contemporary Art
• +3 more