Faculty

Archaeology and Ethnology
Japanese Archaeology, Museology

My basic concept toward research is to study nearby archaeological and material cultural objects and then to interpret the results in terms of wider historical contexts. At Keio University, and especially on Mita and Hiyoshi Campuses, there are many multifarious artifacts that range from the prehistoric to modern period. I have researched all of the objects I thought meaningful to research regardless of the period. Recently I have primarily studied the later modern period structures and remains at Mita and Hiyoshi, especially those related to the Asia-Pacific War. I would like to conduct 'public history' activities by linking the results of my studies with discourses and narratives told from the various standpoints of many people related to Mita and Hiyoshi.

Archaeology and Ethnology
Zooarchaeology, Ethnoarchaeology

In order to decipher the history of the relationship between humans and nature, I have conducted extensive research on and analyzed animal remains unearthed from archaeological sites. I have focused my research on a comprehensive view of culture and nature and surveyed the history of the Quaternary Period, and I have considerable field-work experience at sites in Hokkaido, northern Honshu and Siberia.

Archaeology and Ethnology
Comparative Culture Studies, Folklore Studies, Kumagusu Minakata Studies

My research focuses on the biologist and ethnologist Kumagusu Minakata. My goal is to study Kumagusu's writings, manuscripts, and specimens in order to understand the people who promoted the development of modern science, and the social infrastructure that supported it. I am also interested in the issue of extinction of living organisms, and would like to approach it from both the perspective of the environment and human culture.

Archaeology and Ethnology
Archaeology of West Asia and South Asia, Prehistoric Archaeology, Archaeological Theory, Interdisciplinary Studies of Pottery

My research interests are in the prehistoric archaeology of West Asia and South Asia. In particular, I am interested in the period from the emergence of farming and pastoralism to urbanization and civilization. During this period, humans continued to search for various “shapes” of societies, entangled with various things and people from various regions. Drawing on artifacts, I seek to reconsider the social transformation during this period. I am eager to conduct interdisciplinary research collaborating with various natural science fields to extract as much information as possible from artifacts. I also attempt to broaden perspectives on the history of humankind through artifacts drawing attention to recent trends in philosophy and cultural anthropology. Following these policies, I am conducting excavations and surveys of archaeological sites in Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Oman, and Pakistan.

Archaeology and Ethnology
Geoarchaeology, Historical and Museum Anthropology in Oceania

I have been concerned with geoarchaeological studies of Oceania and the Yaeyama Islands, Japan, to disentangle dynamic interactions between two agencies, natural and human, in the island landscape. My research project of Pukapuka Atoll, Nothern Cooks, is now in progress. I'm also interested in historical and museum anthropology of the Oceanic arts collected in the colonial period from the mid-18th century to the early 20th century.

Archaeology and Ethnology
Palaeolithic Archeology, Ancient Japanese History, Public Administration and Protection of Cultural Properties

The main theme of my research is to clarify the relation with past people and neighboring natural environments through the investigation of the cave and quarry sites. Apart from this, I am interested in Japanese ancient history and public administration and protection of cultural properties.