The Passing of Prof. Nobuhiro Shiba 柴宜弘 (1946 – 2021)

It is with great sadness that we announce that Professor Nobuhiro SHIBA, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Professor of Jōsai University passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 28, 2021, at the age of 75 in Tokyo. Professor Shiba was one of pre-eminent Japanese historians of Southeastern and Central Europe and an excellent expert on the history of the former Yugoslavia. For his merits in his historiographical work on the Balkans and Slovenia's position in the region, in 2017 the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor awarded him »the medal for merits« for his contribution in informing the Japanese public about the historical social circumstances of Slovenia's path to independence.

His research path is closely connected with research institutions in Slovenia, such as the long-term project cooperation with the Institute of Contemporary History. His personal and professional ties connecting Japan and Slovenia also left a mark on the Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, since its establishment 25 years ago, and we will remember him as a warm and open-hearted man, an excellent historian, mentor and a friend.