We are pleased to present the latest issue of Asian Ethnology. With this issue, we also mark an important transformation in how the journal is managed, produced, and published. Beginning with this volume, Asian Ethnology has transitioned to Scholastica, a web-based platform that streamlines editorial workflow, production, and open-access publishing.

This transition reflects our efforts to modernize the journal’s infrastructure while maintaining our commitment to editorial quality and accessibility. We have introduced several key changes:

  1. Submission and Review Process
    All article submissions are now handled through Scholastica’s peer review system. This platform allows for improved communication with authors and reviewers, and more efficient tracking of manuscripts. A modest submission fee of $10—paid directly to Scholastica—has been introduced to support the use of this system. Importantly, Asian Ethnology continues to operate without any other fees, including article processing charges (APCs), in keeping with our long-standing open-access principles.

  2. Production Services
    We now use Scholastica’s digital-first production services, which generate article files in PDF, HTML, and XML formats. These services provide professional typesetting, layout, and proofing support, enabling us to enhance consistency and reduce the time between acceptance and publication.

  3. Website and Hosting
    The journal is now hosted on Scholastica’s Open Access Publishing Platform. The new site offers a cleaner interface and easier navigation while preserving free access to all current and back issues. All future issues of the journal will be available for online viewing or downloadable in PDF format, providing greater flexibility for our readers and ensuring continued access across devices and platforms.

For many years, the editorial management and production of Asian Ethnology were carried out entirely at Nanzan University. This model offered a high degree of control and a close connection between the editorial team and the journal’s presentation. However, it also relied on labor-intensive processes — manual tracking of manuscripts, in-house layout and design using Adobe software, and extensive training for new staff — all of which became increasingly difficult to sustain over time.

The move to Scholastica allows us to focus more fully on editorial oversight and scholarly engagement, while outsourcing many of the technical aspects of production. We believe this transition not only ensures the long-term sustainability of the journal but also strengthens our ability to serve authors and readers around the world.

We are deeply grateful to Nanzan University for its continued support during this time of transition. We also extend our thanks to our contributors, reviewers, and readers for their ongoing commitment to the journal.