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Research Activities

Team Research

At Nichibunken, researchers from different countries and regions as well as in various disciplines team up for interdisciplinary, i nternational, and comprehensive research on Japanese society and culture. In our collaborative research project, we have sought to liberate the study of Japan from a single nation framework, and reappraise its history, society and culture from a distinctly multi cultural, multi dimensional perspective. Such is the trajectory of our international Japan research.

Their work, while grounded in the basic scholarship of each discipline, pursues topics that tended to be marginalized previously and explores relati onships and mutual influences between Japan and other areas from global perspectives, thereby aiming to open up the frontiers of solid yet innovative research in the humanities.

Reflecting Nichibunken’s ideals, objective third party evaluation has been introduced to verify not only the interdisciplinarity and internationality but also the originality, the pioneering qualities, t he scholarly significance, and the academic value of the research.

Three Units of Nichibunken Team Research
Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
A “common humanities science” research model that aims for flexible collaboration between the two disciplines of the humanities and the sciences.
Power and Culture
Research that explores not only phases of merging and of mixing culture in times and spaces of divergence, but also the power relat ions and public aspects that inhere therein.
Developing Research into Popular Culture
Research that examines popular culture from chronological and transnational perspectives.

Team Research

2024
Title of Project Project Leader Unit
Solid “Impermanence”/Fragile “Impermanence”: The Transmogrification of the Classics and Future Prospects Professor ARAKI Hiroshi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
The Japanese Colonial Empire and the Global Linkage of Knowledge Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Mouths and Noses: A Cultural History of the Junctures between the Human Body and the Outside World in Japan Professor ISODA Michifumi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
City and Monument: Urban Planning and Memory in Japan, from the Perspective of Visual Culture Professor Timon SCREECH Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
From Womb to Tomb: Exploring Life and Death in Contemporary Japan Professor YASUI Manami Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Island Japan: Fluid Bodies, Senses, Imaginaries Associate Professor Edward BOYLE Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Studying Nichibunken’s Collection of Inoue Tetsujiro’s Correspondence: The Rise and Fall of the Nation-State Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Team Researcher KARITA Shinji
Power and Culture
Reconsidering the Early-Modern in the History of East Asia: In Search of a New Global History Professor ITŌ Takayuki Power and Culture
The Formation and Development of Western Perceptions of Japan Professor Frederik CRYNS Power and Culture
Japanese Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: The Formation of “Peace State” (1952–1972) Visiting Research Scholar HUANG Tzu-chin Power and Culture
Beyond the Postwar and Modernity: Japan in the 1970s Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako Power and Culture
The Formation and Transformation of the Cultural Commons Professor YAMADA Shōji Power and Culture
Anthologizing "Chi (Knowledge)" for the Future: An Interdisciplinary Perspective Associate Professor KATAOKA Mai Power and Culture
Comparative History of Cultural Mediators Professor ENOMOTO Wataru Developing Research into Popular Culture
The Transformation of "Bunjin Culture" in Modern Japan Professor ZHAN Xiaomei Developing Research into Popular Culture
Inner Palace, Oku, Harem―Comparative historical research on court women from the perspective of gender analysis― Visiting Associate Professor KANDA Yuri
Professor ENOMOTO Wataru
Developing Research into Popular Culture
A View on Global Japanese Studies Visiting Research Scholar SATO-ROSSBERG Nana Developing Research into Popular Culture
2023
Title of Project Project Leader Unit
The Japanese Colonial Empire and the Global Linkage of Knowledge Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Solid “Impermanence”/Fragile “Impermanence”: The Transmogrification of the Classics and Future Prospects Professor ARAKI Hiroshi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Japanese Style Education - from the Perspective of the History of Civilizations Professor TAKII Kazuhiro Power and Culture
What are Aristocrats, and What are Samurai? Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro Power and Culture
Reconsidering the Early-Modern in the History of East Asia: In Search of a New Global History Professor ITŌ Takayuki Power and Culture
Studying Nichibunken’s Collection of Inoue Tetsujiro’s Correspondence: The Rise and Fall of the Nation-State Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Team Researcher KARITA Shinji
Power and Culture
The Formation and Development of Western Perceptions of Japan Professor Frederik CRYNS Power and Culture
Reconstructing Modern East Asian Cultural History I: Focusing on the 19th Century Professor LIU Jianhui Developing Research into Popular Culture
Sports as Civilization, Sports as Culture Professor USHIMURA Kei Developing Research into Popular Culture
Yanagita Kunio as a connecter Professor ŌTSUKA Eiji Developing Research into Popular Culture
Mouths and Noses: A Cultural History of the Junctures between the Human Body and the Outside World in Japan Professor ISODA Michifumi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
From Womb to Tomb: Exploring Life and Death in Contemporary Japan Professor YASUI Manami Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
City and Monument: Urban Planning and Memory in Japan, from the Perspective of Visual Culture Professor Timon SCREECH Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Imagining Islands in Japan Associate Professor Edward BOYLE Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Beyond the Postwar and Modernity: Japan in the 1970s Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako Power and Culture
Japanese Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: The Formation of “Peace State” (1952–1972) Visiting Research Scholar HUANG Tzu-chin Power and Culture
The Power of Culture in the Japanese Empire and Cold War Asia: Intersecting Ideologies and Symbolism in Ch’oe Sŭng-hŭi’s Dance Visiting Professor PARK Sang Mi
Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
Developing Research into Popular Culture
2022
Title of Project Project Leader Unit
Reconstructing Modern East Asian Cultural History I: Focusing on the 19th Century Professor LIU Jianhui Developing Research into Popular Culture
Sports as Civilization, Sports as Culture Professor USHIMURA Kei Developing Research into Popular Culture
The Japanese Colonial Empire and the Global Linkage of Knowledge Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Solid “Impermanence”/Fragile “Impermanence”: The Transmogrification of the Classics and Future Prospects Professor ARAKI Hiroshi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Formation and Changes of Correspondence-Texts as Seen in the Principle of 'As If'-Transpositions: The Term Monjo, Its Styles, Signs, Representations, and Intentions Professor Markus RUTTERMANN Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Cultural Creativity in a Shrinking Society: Individuals, Networks, Capital, and Systems Professor YAMADA Shōji Power and Culture
Japanese Style Education - from the Perspective of the History of Civilizations Professor TAKII Kazuhiro Power and Culture
What are Aristocrats, and What are Samurai? Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro Power and Culture
Reconsidering the Early-Modern in the History of East Asia:In Search of a New Global History Professor ITŌ Takayuki Power and Culture
Studying Nichibunken's Collection of Inoue Tetsujiro's Correspondence: The Rise and Fall of the Nation-State Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi Visiting Professor KARITA Shinji Power and Culture
The Formation and Development of Western Perceptions of Japan Professor Frederik CRYNS Power and Culture
Mouths and Noses: A Cultural History of the Junctures between the Human Body and the Outside World in Japan Professor ISODA Michifumi Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
Yanagita Kunio as a connecter Professor ŌTSUKA Eiji Developing Research into Popular Culture
The Geological Characteristics of Japanese Culture Visiting Associate Professor SUZUKI Hisashi
Associate Professor ENOMOTO Wataru
Perspectives on Nature/Perspectives on Humanity
A Popular Cultural History of Labor and the Human Body: On the Connectivity of Wartime and Postwar Visiting Associate Professor HOSHINO Yukiyo
Professor ŌTSUKA Eiji
Developing Research into Popular Culture
2021
Title of Project Project Leader Unit
A Theory of Culture during the Ōei and Eikyō periods: Between Popular Views of History on “Kitayama Culture” and “Higashiyama Culture”

Team Reseacher
OOHASHI Naoyoshi

Priority
Reconstructing Modern East Asian Cultural History I: Focusing on the 19th Century Professor LIU Jianhui Priority
Sports as Civilization, Sports as Culture Professor USHIMURA Kei Priority
Reconsidering the Early-Modern in the History of East Asia:In Search of a New Global History Professor ITŌ Takayuki International
Imaging Japan in International Cultural Transmissions: An Interdisciplinary Study of Yanagisawa Ken (Takeshi)

Visiting Professor SHIBASAKI Atsushi
Associate Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako

Priority
Imagining and Developing Images of the Body in Medicine, Art, and Folk Religion

Professor YASUI Manami
Team Researcher Lawrence MARCEAU

International
The Japanese Colonial Empire and the Global Linkage of Knowledge Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko International
Avidya on a Spider’s Web: Toward the Future of the Somatic Experience under the Ecology of Social Network System Visiting Professor INAGA Shigemi International
Studying Nichibunken's Collection of Inoue Tetsujiro's Correspondence: The Rise and Fall of the Nation-State

Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Visiting Professor KARITA Shinji

International
Solid “Impermanence”/Fragile “Impermanence”: The Transmogrification of the Classics and Future Prospects Professor ARAKI Hiroshi International
Japanese Subcultures and Diversity: The Contribution of International Japanese Studies's Research Methods and Pedagogies to a Global Multicultural Society Visiting Research Scholar Edmond ERNEST DIT ALBAN International
Formation and Changes of Correspondence-Texts as Seen in the Principle of 'As If'-Transpositions: The Term Monjo, Its Styles, Signs, Representations, and Intentions Professor Markus RUTTERMANN Foundational
Cultural Creativity in a Shrinking Society: Individuals, Networks, Capital, and Systems Professor YAMADA Shōji Foundational
The Scars of Post-war Japan

Professor TSUBOI Hideto
Team Researcher UNODA Shōya

Foundational
Japanese Style Education - from the Perspective of the History of Civilizations Professor TAKII Kazuhiro Foundational
What are Aristocrats, and What are Samurai? Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro Foundational
The Formation and Development of Western Perceptions of Japan Professor Frederik CRYNS Foundational
Reconstruing Honzōgaku as an East Asian Multidisciplinary Science: New Developments in Empirical Research on the Fusion of Arts and Sciences

Visiting Associate Professor ITŌ Ken
Professor ISODA Michifumi

Foundational
2020
Title of Project Project Leader Unit
Popular Culture as Social Movement Professor ŌTSUKA Eiji Priority
A Theory of Culture during the Ōei and Eikyō periods: Between Popular Views of History on “Kitayama Culture” and “Higashiyama Culture”

Visiting Associate Professor OOHASHI Naoyoshi
Assistant Professor GOZA Yūichi

Priority
Popular Culture and “Civilization and Enlightenmentˮ: The Position and Role of Mass Media in the Turbulent Transition from Edo to Meiji Visiting Research Scholar Alistair SWALE Priority
Reconstructing Modern East Asian Cultural History I: Focusing on the 19th Century Professor LIU Jianhui Priority
Sports as Civilization, Sports as Culture Professor USHIMURA Kei Priority
Imagining and Developing Images of the Body in Medicine, Art, and Folk Religion

Professor YASUI Manami
Team Researcher
Lawrence MARCEAU

International
The Creation and Development of Philosophy in East Asia: An Intercultural Perspective

Visiting Research Fellow
LIAO Chin-ping

International
Living on the Frontier of the Japanese Empire: Migration, Travel and Cultural Representation in the Japanese Empire and the East Asia

Team Researcher ARARAGI Sinzō
Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko

International
The Japanese Colonial Empire and the Global Linkage of Knowledge Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko International
Avidya on a Spider’s Web: Toward the Future of the Somatic Experience under the Ecology of Social Network System Professor INAGA Shigemi International
The Current State of Shamanism and Divination: The Propagation and Development of Folk Beliefs in the East Asian World

Visiting Associate Professor YOSHIMURA Mika
Associate Professor ENOMOTO Wataru

International
A Historical Study of Manners and Customs in Modern East Asia

Professor LIU Jianhui
Team Researcher SAITŌ Hikaru

Foundational
Formation and Changes of Correspondence-Texts as Seen in the Principle of 'As If'-Transpositions: The Term Monjo, Its Styles, Signs, Representations, and Intentions Professor Markus RÜTTERMANN Foundational
Cultural Creativity in a Shrinking Society: Individuals, Networks, Capital, and Systems Professor YAMADA Shōji Foundational
The Scars of Post-war Japan

Professor TSUBOI Hideto
Team Researcher UNODA Shōya

Foundational
Japanese Style Education - from the Perspective of the History of Civilizations Professor TAKII Kazuhiro Foundational
What are Aristocrats, and What are Samurai? Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro Foundational

For past information through March 2019, please click here.

Nichibunken’s NIHU Transdisciplinary Projects

Projects are classified as: (I) Institute-based projects, (II) Multidisciplinary collaborative projects, and (III) Network-based projects. Research results are made widely available to the academic community and the public at large through publications, databases, films, exhibitions, and the like. They are planned in such a way as to make them useful for new university-level educational programs.

Nichibunken’s NIHU Transdisciplinary Projects

Past projects under the Third Mid-Term Plan (FY2016–2021)

Nichibunken Research Projects

International Research Center for Japanese Studies Research Projects (Nichibunken Projects) fall into three categories: (1) projects conducted in accordance with Nichibunken’s founding purposes or its mid-term objectives and plans; (2) projects conducted either as part of NIHU inter-institutional research projects or as projects related mainly to international collaborative research on Japan-related documents and artifacts overseas; and (3) projects carried out with funds from outside sources (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, revenue for commissioned activities, and donations).

Nichibunken Research Projects

2021
Title of Project Project Leader
Compilation of the Database of Overseas Images of Japan and Analysis of Japanese Culture through Overseas Image Documents Director-GeneralINOUE Shōichi (Professor LIU Jianhui)
Study of Western Books on Japan Director-General INOUE Shōichi (Professor Frederik CRYNS)
Kaii and Yokai Culture Materials Database Project

Professor YAMADA Shōji
Professor YASUI Manami

International Collaborative Research on Japan-related Documents and Artifacts Overseas:
Ongoing Research Project on Overseas Sources on Modern Japanese Migrants and Their Milieu: A Survey and Study
Professor LIU Jianhui
Digital Humanities Research Project Professor YAMADA Shōji
Development of a Field of Comprehensive Bibliographical Studies from an Interdisciplinary Perspective "Visual Images as the Intersection of Cultute and Information" (Multidisciplinary Collaborative Project) Professor YAMADA Shōji
Heian-Period Chronicles Database Project Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
Historical and International Research into Popular Culture to Pursue New Images of Japan (Institute-based Project) Director-General INOUE Shōichi
NIHU Area Studies Project for Northeast Asia
(Network-based Project)
Professor LIU Jianhui
Coordination between Projects to Make Effective Use of Research Results (Network-based Project “Japan-related Documents and Artifacts Held Overseas:
NIHU International Collaborative Research and Utilization”)
Director-General INOUE Shōichi
Issues Pertaining to State Theory Japan-style Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
International Research into Japan's Ancient History Director-General INOUE Shōichi
A Critical Commentary on the Database of Inoue Tetsujiro’s Collected Correspondence and its Dissemination throughout East Asia

Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Professor ITŌ Takayuki

The Reconstruction and International Expansion of Research on Classical Japanese Literature:Buddhist Perspectives and Networks Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
2020
Title of Project Project Leader
Compilation of the Database of Overseas Images of Japan and Analysis of Japanese Culture through Overseas Image Documents

Director-GeneralINOUE Shōichi
(Professor LIU Jianhui)

Study of Western Books on Japan

Director-General INOUE Shōichi
(Professor Frederik CRYNS)

Kaii and Yokai Culture Materials Database Project

Professor YAMADA Shōji
Professor YASUI Manami

International Collaborative Research on Japan-related Documents and Artifacts Overseas: Ongoing Research Project on Overseas Sources on Modern Japanese Migrants and Their Milieu: A Survey and Study Professor LIU Jianhui
The Reconstruction and International Expansion of Research on Classical Japanese Literature Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
Digital Humanities Research Project Professor YAMADA Shōji
Development of a Field of Comprehensive Bibliographical Studies from an Interdisciplinary Perspective (Multidisciplinary Collaborative Project) Professor YAMADA Shōji
Heian-Period Chronicles Database Project Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
Historical and International Research into Popular Culture to Pursue New Images of Japan (Institute-based Project) Director-General INOUE Shōichi
NIHU Area Studies Project for Northeast Asia (Network-based Project) Professor LIU Jianhui
Coordination between Projects to Make Effective Use of Research Results
(Network-based Project “Japan-related Documents and Artifacts Held Overseas: NIHU International Collaborative Research and Utilization”)
Professor INAGA Shigemi
Issues Pertaining to State Theory Japan-style Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
International Research into Japan's Ancient History Director-General INOUE Shōichi

For past information through March 2019, please click here.

Theory and Methodology Seminars

The purpose of these seminars is to share various skills necessary for researchers engaged in the study of Japanese culture. Examples of such skills are reading and deciphering historical manuscripts, proficiency in other languages, analysis of visual materials, familiarity with cultural theory, and so on.

Theory and Methodology Seminars

2024
Title of Project Project Leader
An Introduction to Chinese Classics Professor ITŌ Takayuki
Perusing English Monographs on Japanese History Professor USHIMURA Kei
Reading Documents and Studies of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako
Study in Modern Historical Documents Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
Practical Korean Language (Intermediate) Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
2023
Title of Project Project Leader
Perusing English Monographs on Japanese History Professor USHIMURA Kei
Reading Medieval Japanese Literature Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
Practical Korean Language (Intermediate) Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
Fundamental Research of Old Diaries Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
French language(Beginners) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
French language(Intermediate) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
Study in Modern Historical Documents Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
An Introduction to Chinese Classics Professor ITŌ Takayuki
Introduction to the History of Modern Religious Thoughts Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Reading Documents and Studies of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako
2022
Title of Project Project Leader
Perusing English Monographs on Japanese History Professor USHIMURA Kei
Reading Medieval Japanese Literature Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
Practical Korean Language(Intermediate) Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
Fundamental Research of Old Diaries Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
French language(Beginners) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
French language(Intermediate) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
Study in Modern Historical Documents Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
An Introduction to Chinese Classics Professor ITŌ Takayuki
Introduction to the History of Modern Religious Thoughts Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Reading Documents and Studies of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako
2021
Title of Project Project Leader
Perusing English Monographs on Japanese History Professor USHIMURA Kei
Reading Medieval Japanese Literature Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
Practical Korean Language(Elementary, Intermediate) Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
Fundamental Research of Old Diaries Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
French language(Beginners) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
French language(Intermediate) Assistant Professor MATSUGI Hiromi
Introduction to Theory of Literature and Culture Professor TSUBOI Hideto
Study in Modern Historical Documents Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
An Introduction to Chinese Classics Professor ITŌ Takayuki
Introduction to the History of Modern Religious Thoughts Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Reading Documents and Studies of Japanese Political and Diplomatic History Associate Professor KUSUNOKI Ayako
2020
Title of Project Project Leader
Perusing English Monographs on Japanese History Professor USHIMURA Kei
Reading Medieval Japanese Literature Professor ARAKI Hiroshi
Practical Korean Language(Elementary, Intermediate) Professor MATSUDA Toshihiko
Basic Research on Ancient Documents Professor KURAMOTO Kazuhiro
Basic French Language Professor INAGA Shigemi
French Reading Support: Lessons in Essay Writing (Intermediate) Professor INAGA Shigemi
Introduction to Theory of Literature and Culture Professor TSUBOI Hideto
Study in Modern Historical Documents Professor TAKII Kazuhiro
An Introduction to Chinese Classics Professor ITŌ Takayuki
Introduction to the Study of Religions Professor ISOMAE Jun'ichi
Practical and Theoretical Research in Mind-Mental Technique Professor INAGA Shigemi

For past information through March 2019, please click here.

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