Network of French and Japanese Legal experts

Nihon EuropA

Founded in 2014 following an initiative by Prof. Dr. Pierre-Yves MONJAL (Prof.Dr. of Public Law at the University of Tours – Chaire Jean MONNET) later joined by Prof. Dr. Emmanuel AUBIN (Prof. Dr. of Public Law at the University of Tours) and Prof. Dr. Loïc LEVOYER (Prof. Dr. of Public Law at the University of Poitiers), the Nihon EuropA network is an informal structure based in Tours (France), linked to the IRJI (Interdisciplinary Legal Research Institute) and the Faculty of Law of the University of Tours. Its aim is to bring together French and Japanese researchers through conferences, academic events, and research projects. The network also supports student mobility between Japan and France.

Some key figures : 19 French universities, schools and institutions (55 academics) and 27 Japanese universities (70 academics), bringing together nearly 125 academics.

45 students from the European Affairs Master’s programme at the University of Tours have completed a six-month mobility at our partner universities (9 in 2024 and 9 in 2025), resulting in an equal number of high-quality research dissertations.

Three doctoral these in public law on European and Japanese issues have been or are being prepared, two of which are funded.

Network of French and Japanese Legal experts

Nihon EuropA, a network of French and Japanese Legal experts

Nihon EuropA is a university cooperation network bringing together Japanese and French legal experts (academics and practitioners) who regularly meet to compare legal developments in both countries, as well as relations between the European Union and Japan. Since 2014, the network has organised five Franco-Japanese symposiums in Tours, Poitiers and Tokyo. It has also enabled French Master’s students in European Law to spend a semester studying at Japanese universities of Kobe and Chuo.

Partner researchers and organisations

The NihonEuropA network currently includes over 50 colleagues from 19 French universities, schools and institutions, and nearly 70 colleagues from 27 Japanese universities.

Academic exchange in Japan

In addition to its scientific dimension, the NihonEuropA network has led to the conclusion of mobility agreements with four Japanese universities, thereby offering students of the Master's programme in European Affairs at the University of Tours the opportunity to undertake a one-semester academic exchange in Japan.

Next academic gathering...

The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie : The Example of Japan

The NihonEuropA Netword Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary.

The NihonEuropA network is regularly organising a series of cross-perspective conferences, bringing together French and Japanese colleagues to engage in discussions on shared themes or present specific topics that consistently give rise to rich and stimulating exchanges.

The theme of this eighth edition, to be held at the Faculty of Law of the University of Tours on Thursday, 27 November 2025, will focus on : « The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie ».

France - Japan

Nihon EuropA celebrates its 10th anniversary!

The major symposium held at Meiji University in Tokyo on 18 and 19 March 2025, organised by Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Otsu, Hideki Eto, Loïc Levoyer and Pierre-Yves Monjal, was an occasion to celebrate ten years of Franco-Japanese scientific collaboration and friendship.

For a decade, the NihonEuropA network has bought together French and Japanese legal experts, united by a shared commitment to exchange knowledge and experiences. This aspiration has enabled numerous symposium on legal topics with common challenges, such as Francophonie, constitutional law, social protection and ageing, as well as gastronomy and local produces.

These ten years of meetings have forged unique bonds among researchers, overcoming the approximately 10,000 kilometres that separate them.

This thriving relationship is also supported by mobility agreements established between the Master’s programme in European Affaires at the University of Tours and several Japanese universities : Chuo University (Tokyo), Aoyama Gakuin University (Tokyo), Kobe University and Hiroshima University.

The journey continues, driven by the enthusiasm and dedication of all the partners involved, with the hope of celebrating together, in ten years’ time, the twentieth anniversary of the NihonEuropA network.

Years of Franco-Japanese cooperation

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Otsu (Meiji University), Loïc Levoyer (University of Poitiers), Pierre-Yves Monjal (University of Tours) et Hideki Eto (Meiji University)

Campus of Meiji University - Liberty Tower

Première table ronde réunissant Yasue Nukatsuka (Prof. émérite à l'Université de Tohoku), Hiroshi Otsu (Prof. à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo), Hajime Yamamoto (Prof. A l'Université Keio de Tokyo), Yukiko Ogawa (Maître de conférences à l'Université Teikyo de Tokyo), Samy Benzina (Prof. à l'Université de Poitiers) et Ken Hasegawa (Prof. émérite à l'Université Kogakuin de Tokyo) — First round table discussion with Yasue Nukatsuka (Prof. emeritus at Tohoku University), Hiroshi Otsu (Prof. Dr. at Meiji Université of Tokyo), Hajime Yamamoto (Prof. Dr. at Keio University of Tokyo), Yukiko Ogawa (Lecturer at Teikyo University of Tokyo), Samy Benzina (Prof. Dr. at the University of Poitiers) and Ken Hasegawa (Prof. Dr. emeritus at Kogakuin University of Tokyo)

Seconde table ronde réunissant Takashi Tokunaga(Prof. à l'Université Wako de Tokyo), Gaël Besson (Chargé de cours de l'Université Hosei de Tokyo), Hideki Eto (Prof. à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo), Takeshi Inoue (Prof. à l'Université Kwansei Gakuin de Nishinomiya), Loïc Levoyer (Prof. à l'Université de Poitiers) et Pierre-Yves Monjal (Prof. à l'Université de Tours) — Second round table featuring Takashi Tokunaga (Prof. Dr. at Wako University, Tokyo), Gaël Besson (Lecturer at Hosei University, Tokyo), Hideki Eto (Prof. Dr. at Meiji University, Tokyo), Takeshi Inoue (Prof. Dr. at Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya), Loïc Levoyer (Prof. Dr. at the University of Poitiers) and Pierre-Yves Monjal (Prof. Dr. at the University of Tours).

Troisième table ronde réunissant Emmanuel Aubin (Prof. à l'Université Tours), Maki Kobayashi (Prof. à l'Université Aichi de Nagoya), Sho Mizubayashi (Prof. adjoint à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo), Misato Tanaka (Maître de conférences à l'Université Seijo de Tokyo) et Ryuichi Ozawa (Prof. émérite à l'Université des médecins Tokyo-Jikei-Kai de Tokyo) — Third Round Table featuring Emmanuel Aubin (Prof. Dr. at the University of Tours), Maki Kobayashi (Prof. Dr. at Aichi University, Nagoya), Sho Mizubayashi (Prof. Assistant at Meiji Univesrity, Tokyo), Misato Tanaka (Lecturer at Seijo University, Tokyo) and Ryuichi Ozawa (Prof. Dr. emeritus at the Tokyo-Jikei-Kai University School of Medecine, Tokyo)

Quatrième table ronde réunissant Hitoshi Terao (Fellow à l'Université de Niigata), Yugen Kudo (Prof. à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo), Coline Marquet (Ingénieure d'études à l'Université de Poitiers), Béatrice Jaluzot (Maître de conférences à Sciences-po Lyon, Directrice de l'Institut d'Asie orientale), Aya Ohsawa (Prof. à l'Université Hosei de Tokyo), Keiko Yoshii (Prof. à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo) et Mitsuo Tsuzuki (Prof. à l'Université Meiji de Tokyo) — Fourth Round Table featuring Hitoshi Terao (Fellow at the University of Niigata), Yugen Kudo (Prof. Dr. at Meiji University, Tokyo), Coline Marquet (Research Engineer at the University of Poitiers), Béatrice Jaluzot (Lecturer at Science-Po Lyon, Director of the Lyon Institute of East Asian Studies), Aya Ohsawa (Prof. Dr. at Hosei University, Tokyo), Keiko Yoshii (Prof. Dr. at Meiji University, Tokyo) and Mitsuo Tsuzuki (Prof. Dr. at Meiji University, Tokyo)

Cinquième table ronde réunissant Takumaro Kimura (Prof. à l'Université de Chiba), Pierre-Yves Monjal (Prof. à l'Université de Tours), Gaël Besson (Chargé de cours à l'Université Hosei de Tokyo), Yusuke Kubota (Prof. adjoint à l'Université Sensyu de Tokyo) et Masahito Tadano (Prof. à l'Université Hitotsubashi de Tokyo) — Fifth Round Table featuring Takumaro Kimura (Prof. Dr. at the University of Chiba), Pierre-Yves Monjal (Prof. Dr. at the University of Tours), Gaël Besson (Lecturer at Hosei University, Tokyo), Yusuke Kubota (Prof. Dr. Assistant at Sensyu University, Tokyo) and Masahito Tadano (Prof. Dr. at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo)

Sixième table ronde réunissant Masato Iwagaki (Prof. adjoint à l'Université départementale de Nara), Yuki Sekine (Prof. à l'Université de Kobe), Hitomi Nagano (Prof. à l'Université Sophia de Tokyo) et Loïc Levoyer (Prof. à l'Université de Poitiers) — Sixth Round Table featuring Masato Iwagaki (Prof. Dr. Assistant at the Regional University of Nara), Yuki Sekine (Prof. Dr. at the University of Kobe), Hitomi Nagano (Prof. Dr. at Sophia University, Tokyo) and Loïc Levoyer (Prof. Dr. at the University of Poitiers)

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Nihon EuropA

Nihon EuropA, a network of French and Japanese Legal experts

The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie : The Example of Japan

Nihon EuropA celebrates its 10th anniversary!

Latest News

The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie: The…

Law as a vector of F/francophonie : The Example of Japan

15th Franco-Japanese Seminar on Public Law

Institut de Recherche Juridique Interdisciplinaire
(IRJI, EA 7496) François RABELAIS

Nihon EuropA

Nihon EuropA, a network of French and Japanese Legal experts

The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie : The Example of Japan

Nihon EuropA celebrates its 10th anniversary!

Latest News

The Transfer of Legal Concepts as a Dimension of Legal Francophonie: The…

Law as a vector of F/francophonie : The Example of Japan

15th Franco-Japanese Seminar on Public Law

Institut de Recherche Juridique Interdisciplinaire (IRJI, EA 7496) François RABELAIS

Institut de Recherche Juridique Interdisciplinaire
(IRJI, EA 7496) François RABELAIS