Marco Di Francesco

Marco Di Francesco is a Lecturer in East Asian Studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds. He holds an MSc in Japanese Studies from the University of Oxford and a BA in East Asian Studies from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and is currently completing his DPhil in Anthropology of Japan at St Antony’s College, Oxford. His research focuses on contemporary Japanese society, particularly the revival of rakugo (Japanese oral storytelling) as a lens to examine tradition and modernity, gender, class, and political satire.

• Education:
  • BA in East Asian Studies, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
  • MSc in Japanese Studies, University of Oxford
  • DPhil candidate in Anthropology, University of Oxford

At Leeds, he teaches Japanese language, culture, and society, as well as transnational courses in East Asian Studies. His fieldwork in Tokyo was conducted as a visiting researcher at Sophia University, and his research has been supported by the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies and St Antony’s College.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Clarendon Scholarship

His expertise spans Japanese Studies, anthropology, ethnographic methods, performing arts, and media studies. He supervises undergraduate and MA-level final year projects in East Asian and Intercultural Studies.