Staff Members
Academic Qualifications
- B.A. Kyoto Univ. 1991
- M.A. Kyoto Univ. 1993
- D. Litt. Kyoto Univ. 2000
Research Interests
- Anthropological Study on the Handicapped Culture
- HistoricalSstudy on New Eligions in Modern Japan
Current Research Topics
- I have been studying the history of new religions in Modern Japan, especially I am interested in Omotokyo. I have been also doing my fieldwork on biwa-hoshi (blind minstrel) and itako (blind shaman). Now I have started the new research on Reiyukai, one of the greatest Buddhism sects based on documents and interviews. In my study on new religions, I have focused on the welfare work of each religious society. I have also continued my fieldwork on blind religionists or biwa (lute) players in Japan. Besides this, I will try anthropological methodology on the handicapped culture. I am planning the inquiry into the occupation, life-style and history of the disabled in the U.S.A. and various countries. This comparative study will be very useful for the promotion of “barrier-free” or “universal design” system of museums.
Research Keywords
Japan, Tohoku, Kyushu, Kyoto, Japanese, History, Religion, Welfare, Culture
Publications (English publications only)
- 2010
- Various Possibilities of “Braille Power”: In Search of the New Image of Louis Braille in the 21st Century. MINPAKU Anthropology Newsletter 30: 10–11.
- 2010
- The Richness of Touch: The Paradoxical Meanings of Disability in Japanese Culture. THE EAST ASIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL 13 (2): 59–85. Princeton University.
- 2006
- Universal Museum: Efforts to Create and Passions for Opening. Mimpaku Anthropology Newsletter 23: 13.
- 2006
- Touch and Grow Rich: You Can Touch Our Museum! Mimpaku Anthropology Newsletter 22: 10.
- 2003
- Reconsidering Japanese Religious History: The Aum Incident and Blind Culture in Modern Japan. The Journal of the International Institute. University of Michigan.
- 2003
- “Judo” or “Aikido”: Propagation Strategies of Tenrikyo in the United States. Progress. Tenrikyo Mission New York Center.
- 1997
- The Cosmology of Mind and Body. Orient (July). Florida, U.S.A.