Japanology Publication Ethics

Japanology is a peer‑reviewed academic journal that adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. This policy affirms the principles of integrity, fairness, neutrality, and academic responsibility that apply to all parties involved in the publication process — authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers.

  1. Authorship and Contributors
  • Authors are individuals who have made substantial contributions to the design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research.
  • All qualifying authors must be listed, while minor contributors may be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgment” section.
  • Authors must not submit a manuscript that is currently under review or has been published elsewhere and must ensure the work is free from plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification.
  • All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and be prepared to provide data or clarification when requested by the editor.
  1. Complaints and Appeals
  • Japanology provides a fair and transparent mechanism for handling editorial decisions and ethical misconduct allegations.
  • Complaints may be submitted via email and will be processed in accordance with COPE guidelines and flowcharts.
  • Editors review and resolve all cases objectively while maintaining confidentiality of the involved parties.
  1. Conflicts of Interest
  • All parties (authors, editors, and reviewers)  are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial, professional, or personal relationships that may influence objectivity.
  • Individuals with a conflict must withdraw from the review or decision‑making process.
    Editors ensure that conflicts of interest do not compromise the integrity of editorial evaluation.
  1. Data Sharing and Reproducibility
  • Authors are encouraged to provide adequate data or supporting evidence to allow verification and replication of their research findings.
  • Where possible, data should be made publicly accessible and accompanied by sufficient methodological transparency to ensure research reliability.
  1. Ethical Oversight
  • Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive materials must receive ethical clearance from an authorized institution or ethics committee.
  • Authors must include evidence of ethical approval and informed consent procedures within the manuscript.
  • Editors and reviewers reserve the right to reject manuscripts that fail to meet ethical research standards.
  1. Intellectual Property
  • Copyright of the published work remains with the authors. Articles are published under an appropriate Creative Commons license for academic distribution.
  • All sources must be appropriately cited to prevent plagiarism.
  • Re‑use or reproduction of previously published materials requires explicit acknowledgment and permission from the original copyright holder.
  1. Role of Editors
  • Editors are responsible for the accuracy, quality, and scholarly merit of published content.
  • They evaluate manuscripts objectively, without discrimination based on authors’ institutional affiliation, gender, beliefs, or political views.
  • Editors maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and personal information, and may communicate with other editors or reviewers to reach a fair decision.
  • They also issue corrections, clarifications, or retractions when ethical breaches or major errors are identified.
  1. Role of Reviewers
  • Reviewers evaluate the scientific quality and relevance of manuscripts objectively, providing constructive and reasoned feedback.
  • They must maintain confidentiality and refrain from using unpublished content for personal gain.
  • Reviewers should decline invitations where conflicts of interest exist or when the manuscript is outside their area of expertise.
    Timeliness and professionalism are expected throughout the review process.
  1. Post‑Publication Discussions and Corrections
  • Japanology supports post‑publication academic discussion through letters, comments, and editorial correspondence.
  • If ethical violations or significant errors are identified after publication, the journal will issue corrections, errata, retractions, or expressions of concern according to COPE procedures.
  1. Commitment and Implementation
  • All parties involved in journal management must uphold integrity, objectivity, and consistent academic standards.
  • Publication ethics policies are made publicly available on the official Japanology website.
  • All editorial, review, and ethical decisions strictly follow protocols and flowcharts established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
    (https://publicationethics.org/).
  1. Prevention and Handling of Research Misconduct
  • Japanology is fully committed to preventing the publication of articles that involve misconduct such as plagiarism, citation manipulation, or data fabrication.
  • Editors and publishers must neither encourage nor tolerate such behavior.
  • When allegations of misconduct involve a published article, Japanology follows COPE procedures by:
    • Conducting initial assessment and investigation of the claim.
    • Requesting clarification from the author(s).
    • Taking appropriate action in accordance with the COPE flowcharts and international standards.
      If misconduct is verified, corrective action may include publication of an erratum, expression of concern, or retraction of the article.
      These measures are obligatory for all participants in the Japanology publication process.