Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) was pleased to host Yuzuru Shimada from University of Tokyo for an academic visit and discussion. Prof. Shimada is a Japanese scholar specializing in Southeast Asian politics and governance, with particular interests in decentralization, local politics, and state–society relations in Indonesia. Through his extensive research, fieldwork, and publications on democratic processes and regional autonomy, he has contributed significantly to the study of contemporary political developments in Southeast Asia. His visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange research perspectives and explore potential avenues for future academic collaboration.