Michael Dylan Foster

Michael Dylan Foster is a Professor of Japanese at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. His research focuses on Japanese folklore, monsters/yōkai, festivals, and intangible cultural heritage. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and has taught at multiple institutions including Indiana University and UC Riverside.

Education includes a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University, M.A. in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley, and Ph.D. in Japanese from Stanford. His work bridges folklore studies, literature, and popular culture, with a focus on how supernatural beliefs and cultural heritage are mediated through media and ritual.

Recent projects include co-editing volumes on disaster narratives and Japanese festivals, as well as ongoing ethnographic research on masked rituals and UNESCO heritage practices. His media appearances include serving as a cultural expert for NHK World's 'Yōkai' documentary series and interviews with France 24 and podcasts.

Honors include the Chicago Folklore Prize for his book Pandemonium and Parade and multiple teaching awards. Current research includes a monograph on masked deities and a project on early 20th-century spiritual practices in Japan.