The purpose of this project is to build on and refine the gains and advances made in previous Nichibunken collaborative research projects such as the preceding project titled, “Tradition and Creation of Yokai Culture in Japan.” In addition, this research project will encourage and promote the development of interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches to further advance this growing field of study.The activities and topics this research project will pursue and focus on are:1. The study of horror, strange phenomena, monsters and ghosts has made significant gains in recent years. Yet because these subjects are represented in a variety of mediums, they have an essence and character that cannot be captured or defined in one exclusive traditional scholarly framework.The growth of specific vocabularies and concepts associated with specific scholarly disciplines has exacerbated this situation and stands as the main cause preventing the application of more interdisciplinary approaches. Accordingly, this project will examine concepts and methodologies from a variety of fields to encourage the development of interdisciplinary approaches.2. To organize and examine the wealth of accumulated materials associated with pre-modern Yokai studies by Kokugaku scholars and essayists of the Edo period.3. Research generated to this point has exclusively focused on horror, strange phenomena, ghosts and monsters within Japan. Many guest speakers will be invited to participate in this project as a means to expand the parameters of research beyond Japan. Comparative analysis and the broadening of viewpoints based on topics associated with Yokai culture in foreign and global contexts will be encouraged and explored.4. The project will continue to uncover and examine materials traditionally associated with Yokai culture and promote their application in Yokai studies research. This research project is scheduled for a period of three years.During the final year,the research team plans to host an international conference.overseas researchers on Yokai culture will be invited to participate in this event. Papers generated from the project are scheduled to be compiled into a collaborative volume to be published by a commercial press.

Research Representative	小松　和彦	国際日本文化研究センター・所長
Organizer	山田　奨治	国際日本文化研究センター・教授
Team Researcher	アダム・カバット	武蔵大学人文学部・教授
〃	今井　秀和	大東文化大学・非常勤講師
〃	香川　雅信	兵庫県立歴史博物館・主査（学芸員）
〃	木場　貴俊	甲南大学・非常勤講師
〃	小林　健二	国文学研究資料館研究部・教授
〃	近藤　瑞木	首都大学東京都市教養学部・助教
〃	齋藤 真麻理	国文学研究資料館研究部・准教授
〃	佐々木　高弘	京都学園大学人間文化学部・教授
〃	清水　潤	泉鏡花研究会・会員
〃	志村　三代子	早稲田大学演劇博物館・研究員
〃	高橋　明彦	金沢美術工芸大学・教授
〃	堤　邦彦	京都精華大学人文学部・教授
〃	常光 徹	国立歴史民俗博物館・教授
〃	徳田　和夫	学習院女子大学国際文化交流学部・教授
〃	永原　順子	高知工業高等専門学校・准教授
〃	正木　晃	慶応義塾大学・非常勤講師
〃	安井　眞奈美	天理大学文学部・教授
〃	横山　泰子	法政大学理工学部・教授
〃	大塚　英志	国際日本文化研究センター／神戸芸術工科大学大学院・客員教授／教授
〃	飯倉　義之	国際日本文化研究センター・機関研究員
〃	中野　洋平	国際日本文化研究センター・技術補佐員
〃	徳永　誓子	総合研究大学院大学文化科学研究科・博士後期課程
〃	魯　成煥	国際日本文化研究センター・外国人研究員
Team Researcher Overseas	マーク・オンブレロ	グアム大学・専任講師
〃	朴　銓烈	中央大学校文科大学・教授
〃	マティアス・ハイエク	パリ第七大学・准教授