Recently, the Office of National Philosophy and Social Sciences announced the list of approved projects for the 2025 National Social Science Fund Youth Program. The project titled “A Study on Post-War Japanese Society’s Historical Perception of the ‘Comfort Women’ Issue”, led by Associate Professor Li Min from the SFL, has been successfully approved for funding.

Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, this project systematically examines the evolution of societal perceptions regarding the “comfort women” issue in post-war Japan. It holds significant academic value and real-world relevance. Li Min has been dedicated to this research topic for over a decade. She has previously received funding from the Tianjin Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning Project and the Ministry of Education’s Youth Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences. The current approval by the National Social Science Fund represents both a well-deserved recognition of her sustained scholarly efforts and a testament to her ongoing academic exploration.

The National Social Sciences Fund is the most prestigious and authoritative research funding program in the field of philosophy and social sciences in China. Its project approvals directly reflect the research strength and academic influence of universities and research institutions. The youth project specifically supports outstanding young scholars under the age of 40 in conducting innovative and original research, serving as a vital platform for cultivating the next generation of social science researchers. Li Min’s successful approval not only highlights her individual academic excellence but also reflects the SFL’s continuous efforts in strengthening its research team and supporting the professional development of young faculty.

The “comfort women” issue is a significant historical issue of human rights violations committed by Japanese militarism during World War II, involving multiple dimensions including history, law, gender, international relations, and literature. Studying how this issue has been perceived in post-war Japanese society contributes to a deeper understanding of historical memory and wartime responsibility. It also plays an important role in promoting a more just and objective historical narrative, offering new theoretical insights and empirical references for related research in China.

This successful project approval exemplifies the effective integration of the university’s “Top Tust Plan”with the SFL’s systematic support for young faculty development. Under the university’s strategic guidance, the SFL has fully leveraged the political core and ideological leadership of the Party organization, promoting the deep integration of Party building with academic research. The SFL places high importance on the academic growth and career planning of young faculty, guiding them through organized research initiatives and targeted support to focus on national strategic needs and cutting-edge international scholarship. Under the overall guidance of the “Top Tust Plan”, the SFL will further strengthen support for young scholars, continuously optimize research management mechanisms, stimulate innovation, and enhance its overall research capacity and academic impact, making greater contributions to the prosperity of philosophy and social sciences in China.