The closing symposium of the project titled “Bridging Mystical Philosophy and Arts in Sufism,” led by the Kyoto University Kenan Rifai Center for Sufi Studies—celebrating its 10th anniversary—and conducted in partnership with the Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies, will take place on September 13–14, 2026, at the Üsküdar University Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.
The project, “Comprehensive Study of Sufism: Through Metaphysics, Literature, Music and Rituals,” has been supported since 2021 by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The Project Coordinator and Director of the Kyoto Kenan Rifai Center for Sufi Studies at Kyoto University ASAFAS is Prof. Yasushi Tonaga.
The opening ceremony will be attended by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, and Cemalnur Sargut, Advisor to the Rector. International speakers include Prof. Yasushi Tonaga (Kyoto University, Japan), Prof. Masayuki Akahori (Sophia University, Japan), Prof. Oman Fathurrahman (Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Indonesia), Prof. Alexandre Papas (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Pratique des Hautes Études, France), Prof. Mona Farouk (Busan University, South Korea), Dr. Rohman al-Bantani (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, Indonesia), Dr. Manami Suzuki (Kyoto University), and Kotoko Madono (Kyoto University). Participants from Türkiye include Prof. Dr. M. Baha Tanman (Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Istanbul Research Institute), Prof. Dr. Vasfi Emre Ömürlü (Yıldız Technical University), along with Prof. Dr. Emine Yeniterzi, Prof. Dr. Reşat Öngören, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hatice Dilek Güldütuna, Asst. Prof. Dr. F. Cangüzel Güner Zülfikar, Asst. Prof. Dr. Arzu Eylül Yalçınkaya, Dr. Esin Tümer Kurnaz, and Dr. İlahe Kurşun Memmedova from the Üsküdar University Institute for Sufi Studies.
Schedule
Sunday, September 13: 09:30–17:15
Monday, September 14: 09:30–16:00
The event is open to the public and no pre-registration is required.