UBC Asian Studies Class of 2025 Graduates Yearbook

Specialization: Korean History

Thesis title: Between the Pillar of State and Social Stigma: Military Reform and Military Exile in Chosŏn Korea, 1863-1894

Supervisor: Dr. Nam-lin Hur

Specialization: Japanese

Thesis title: Beneath the Healing Islands: Corporeal Memory and Decolonial Writing in Medoruma Shun’s War Fiction

Supervisor: Dr. Christina Yi

My time in Asian Studies at UBC provided rigorous academic training that transformed how I approach knowledge itself. Instead of learning about Asia, I learned from Asia about who we are and what we do. The community have taught me that responsible scholarship begins not with speaking, but with learning to listen to stories that challenge our perspectives and privileges. As students from increasingly diverse backgrounds develop interest in Asian languages and cultures, I envision a future where the department continues training scholars who engage with places and peoples with humility and openness to diverse and historically marginalized voices.

My deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Christina Yi, whose unwavering guidance illuminated paths I couldn't see alone. Her intellectual rigor and compassionate mentorship profoundly shaped not just my research but my understanding of what scholarship can achieve. I am forever indebted to my committee members and professors whose wisdom nurtured my academic growth. To my cohort—companions through long nights of writing and moments of discovery—your friendship made this journey meaningful. To everyone who offered a kind word, a challenging question, or a moment of connection: you've woven yourselves into the fabric of who I've become. This achievement belongs to all of us.

Specialization: Gender and Women Studies

Thesis title: Women’s education under Taliban rule in Afghanistan: a political and socio-cultural analysis

Supervisor: Dr. Rumee Ahmed

Studying Asian Studies exposed how deeply culture and politics shape people’s lives. Through my thesis on the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education, I explored the painful realities many women face and the roots of those challenges. This work strengthened my voice and deepened my commitment to advocating for education and gender justice. I’m leaving this degree with a clearer purpose—and I hope to continue this path by working with organizations that support women in conflict-affected regions.

I’m deeply grateful to my supervisor, Professor Rumee Ahmed—his support, guidance, and belief in me made this journey possible. I also want to thank the entire Asian Studies department for creating such an encouraging and intellectually rich environment. Most of all, I’m thankful for my husband's unwavering love and support, who stood by me through every challenge. This accomplishment is as much his as it is mine.

Specialization: Japanese film

Thesis title: A New Wave of Cult: Japanese Horror Distribution and Reception Post-J-Horror

Supervisor: Dr. Colleen Laird

Asian Studies is a major that asks you not to focus on just a region (e.g. Japan) nor a discipline (e.g. film) but to contemplate the two in combination, to utilize your creativity to find out how two disparate subjects of interest can be brought together to demonstrate how they speak to some small sliver of the human experience. After UBC, my only guarantee in life is my eternal pursuit of uncovering that next sliver.

This degree is more than mine; it is some beautiful homunculus of all of the love so many people poured into me in my time here. Thank you.

Specialization: Premodern Japanese Literature

Thesis title: Sounds of Parting and Longing: Music and Narrative in Genji monogatari

Supervisor: Dr. Christina Laffin

Specialization: Chinese Literature

Thesis title: To be a shameful/shameless scholar: The decline of Confucian moral authenticity in the scholars

Supervisor: Dr. Alison Bailey

Major in Asian Language and Culture (Chinese)

Major in Asian Area Studies, Minor in Asian Language and Culture (Korea)

Major in Asian Area Studies

Major in Asian Language and Culture (Chinese)

Major in Asian Area Studies 

Double Major in Asian Area Studies & English Literature

Major in Asian Area Studies

Major in Asian Language and Culture (South Asia), UBC-Sciences Po Dual BA Programme
My motivation to study Ancient and Medieval South Asian History comes from a deep desire to understand my own culture. Through this programme, I have realised how little we truly know about this vast region and how much it has to offer. I am eager to continue exploring South Asian History, Literature, Religion, and Culture, and contribute to preserving its rich heritage. As a Tamil proverb says, what we know is a fistful of sand; what we do not know is the whole world. With that spirit, I look forward to uncovering more.

I am deeply grateful for the guidance of the many professors at UBC over the past few years. I would especially like to thank Dr. Adheesh Sathaye, Dr. Janet Um, Dr. Sebastian Prange, Dr. Naveena Naqvi, and Dr. Sunil Kumar Bhatt for unravelling the world of South Asian History and Languages to me and for their unwavering support. I am also thankful to my friends and parents for being my sun on even the greyest of days.

Major in Asian Language and Culture (Japan)

Major in Asian Area Studies

Thank you so much to the kindest professors in the Asian Studies Department! 🙂 You made my undergraduate journey truly memorable and created such a supportive learning environment. I’ve learned so much from everyone and will carry this knowledge with me for life.

Major in Asian Area Studies