Abstract: Japanese research on ethnic minorities in Southwest China initially began with the history of South China or the history of South China's ethnic groups. The studies of Zhuang were only regarded as a part of South China history or South China ethnic history, with no special researchers and works coming along. Seiyuki Tsukada's monograph on Zhuang can be considered as the pioneer study of Japanese scholars, and it has laid the foundation for the study on the history of Zhuang in Japan, or the history of local ethnic groups in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A brief review of his research will contribute to the grasp of the latest research developments in Japan as well as a boost to Zhuang studies in China.

Key words: Seiyuk Tsukadai, the Zhuang people, social change, cultural change, ethnic relations