The Ritsumeikan Trust established the Ritsumeikan Center for Asia Pacific Studies (RCAPS) in July 1996 with a mission to promote and foster research into the multifaceted developments and challenges that face the Asia Pacific region in the 21st Century.

RCAPS provides research grants to APU academics, sponsors an annual conference and coordinates smaller fortnightly seminars.

Dissemination of research is encouraged by the RCAPS Journal and the Contemporary Asia Pacific Monograph Series, the three RCAPS seminars and through linking with other research institutions to establish a global academic network.