Geographical Research Bulletin | J-STAGE Open Access

Geographical Research Bulletin is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access platform dedicated to advancing and disseminating high-impact research at the frontiers of geography and its interdisciplinary interfaces. The Journal invites original, unpublished manuscripts—including those previously disclosed through patents or recognized preprint platforms—that contribute to global scholarship in physical geography, human geography, and integrated geospatial sciences. The thematic scope encompasses, but is not limited to:

- Physical Systems and Processes: Landform evolution, hydrology, climatology, biogeography, and ecosystem dynamics in the context of global environmental change.

- Human and Regional Dynamics: Urbanization, demographic and cultural transformations, economic geography, regional development, and spatial planning.

- Environment and Sustainability: Human–nature coupling systems, natural resource governance, environmental risk assessment, and sustainability science.

- Geospatial Technologies: Geographic Information Science (GIS), remote sensing, geocomputation, and spatial modeling, as well as the application of Big Data and Large Language Models (LLMs) in geographic analysis.

Guided by the "First Principles" of academic publishing, the journal aims to share research findings globally at maximum speed and minimum cost. By integrating AI-driven automation with a community-led, transparent peer-review system, we have established an ecosystem that redefines traditional publishing standards.

(1) Standard APC: 1,000 USD

Rather than covering legacy administrative overhead, this fee represents an investment in our "Ultra-Fast, High-Value" publishing process:

- AI Pre-screening: Verification of formatting, data integrity, and novelty within minutes of submission.

- Hybrid Peer Review: A transparent, fair, and rapid evaluation process powered by AI and a community of experts.

- Dynamic Publishing: Upon acceptance, manuscripts undergo digitally optimized typesetting and are immediately released for real-time global distribution.

(2) Community Contribution: "APC Credit" System

The journal values peer contribution as a tangible asset. Researchers who contribute to our review and discussion processes are awarded "Peer Credits":

- Constructive Peer Review: A 500 USD discount credit is issued for each completed high-quality review.

- Academic Discussion: Exceptional contributions to open-review discussions may qualify for a full APC waiver at the editor’s discretion.

Credit Utilization Rules:

- Validity: Credits are valid for 24 months from the date of issuance.

- Eligibility: Credits can be applied to any paper where the holder is the lead author or a co-author.

(3) Global Inclusion (Waiver Policy)

Based on our core conviction that "financial constraints should never hinder scientific progress," the journal commits to maintaining an open and accessible academic platform.

- Waivers for Underfunded Researchers: Authors from low-income regions or those without access to institutional/grant funding may apply for partial or full APC waivers.

- Application Process: Waiver requests must be submitted at the time of initial manuscript submission. Each request will undergo a rapid individual review based on the author's specific circumstances.

(1) Original Papers

Original Papers are comprehensive, full-length reports of primary research that present novel empirical findings, theoretical advancements, or significant methodological innovations. Each manuscript must articulate a clear research problem grounded in contemporary geographical or interdisciplinary discourse, employing rigorous, transparent, and reproducible methodologies. Beyond descriptive reporting, Original Papers are expected to provide in-depth analytical discussion and demonstrate substantial scientific or practical contributions to the advancement of geographical sciences.

(2) Review Papers

Review Papers offer authoritative and critical syntheses of established research domains or emerging scientific frontiers. Moving beyond simple narrative summaries, high-quality reviews should conduct a systematic, bibliometric, or meta-analysis of existing literature to identify key theoretical controversies, methodological limitations, and knowledge gaps. Furthermore, they are expected to synthesize future research agendas, conceptual frameworks, or policy implications that provide strategic guidance for subsequent studies in the field.