Objectives

The goal of this research is to consider the history of anthropological research in Japan. Anthropological studies in Japan have a long history dating back to the establishment of the “Anthropological Society of Nippon” (Jinrui Gakkai) (Anthropological Society of Tokyo, Tokyo Jinrui Gakkai) by Shogoro Tsuboi during the Meiji era. Prior to the Second World War most anthropological research focused on colonial possessions within Japan’s empire. For that reason, we need to question the degree to which anthropology in Japan was tied up with colonialism. Since the war, anthropology has enjoyed civil rights at universities, and this anthropology has built on the fruits of prewar anthropology, while researching in line with new methods and theories and expanding the geographical loci of study. Elucidating the continuity and non-continuity between the prewar and postwar anthropology studies is an important consideration when looking at the history of anthropological research in Japan. Anthropology in this country has recorded research on other cultures while at the same time having an aspect of cooperation with ethnography to research its own native culture. We also need to ask about the significance of this simultaneous research by Japanese into alien cultures while they also research their own culture as cultural anthropologists. In this manner, our research aims to adopt a multifaceted perspective in considering the history of anthropological research in Japan.

Research Results

This research group met 13 times over a two and a half year period, plus two more times during an additional year. The results have been published. The book and its contributors are as follows.

Part I　Colonial anthropology

Part II　Descriptions and Approaches to Alien Cultures

Part III　The Postwar Reconstruction and Development of Anthropology