Kyoto 2027

Call for Papers

The International Society for First World War Studies and the Faculty of Law, Kyoto University are delighted to announce ISFWWS’ 15th conference, to be held at Kyoto University from 29 September – 1 October 2027. Japan’s military activity during the First World War was relatively limited, mainly reserved to the takeover of Qingdao, intervention in Siberia and policing the Mediterranean. Japan was also a keen observer during the war and the lessons learned impacted Japanese military tactics, political organization, imperial policy, media and society. Thus, fitting Japan’s position on the periphery of the First World War, the theme of the conference will be ‘observation’ and the lessons we can learn from those who witnessed the ‘European Conflagration’.

While all First World War related themes are welcome, we encourage proposals touching on any aspect of the war connected to the theme of observations. Potential subjects connected to the theme of observations may include but are not limited to:

• Impressions of the War in East Asia

• Extra-European Impressions of the war

• European impressions of the Extra-European dimensions of the war

• The Siberian Intervention

• Captivity

• Military Analyses of the enemy/ally

• Post-War Lessons

• Occupation Armies

• Cultural Military Encounters

• The Peace Conferences

• Veterans

• Neutral Powers

• Front line labourers

• Media and Popular Culture

All presenters will be expected to become members of the Society before the conference date. The working language of the conference and all submissions is English.

Potential presenters are encouraged to submit a 300-word abstract of their paper accompanied by a one-page CV to isfwwskyoto2027@gmail.com by 1 May 2027. If you have any questions about the conference, please, contact Mahon Murphy at the same email address.

If your proposal is accepted a 2500-3000 word short paper will be due 29 August 2027 so that papers can be pre-circulated and leave as much time as possible dedicated to discussion during the panels.

Held at Kyoto University, Japan