Ryo Morimoto

Ryo Morimoto is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University, affiliated with the History of Science Program and East Asian Studies. He is a first-generation scholar from Japan, focusing on nuclear impacts, environmental anthropology, and science and technology studies. His book Nuclear Ghost: Atomic Livelihoods in Fukushima’s Gray Zone (2023) explores radiation exposure and socio-political dynamics in post-2011 Fukushima. Morimoto directs the undergraduate-led Nuclear Princeton project, examining Princeton’s nuclear science legacy and its global impacts. He previously served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University’s Reischauer Institute, managing the Japan Disaster Digital Archive. His work bridges ethnography, digital humanities, and critical theory to address nuclear colonialism, techno-sensory politics, and post-disaster resilience.

Educated at Brandeis University (PhD Anthropology), Morimoto’s research integrates semiotic frameworks, disaster anthropology, and digital archiving. Notable projects include collaborations on Fukushima’s nuclear decommissioning challenges and U.S.-Japan robotics development. He is an active member of the Princeton Global Japan Lab and the U.S.-Japan Network for the Future.

Morimoto’s scholarship challenges dominant narratives of nuclear victimhood, emphasizing lived experiences and alternative futures. His writings on Fukushima’s ‘half-life politics’ and ‘atomic livelihoods’ highlight how residents navigate contamination, identity, and contested landscapes. Recent work explores the ethical dimensions of decommissioning labor and the social costs of nuclear energy.

Key contributions include critical analyses of radiation stigma, disaster memory practices, and interdisciplinary approaches to postfallout societies. He advocates for community-driven archival initiatives and global dialogue on nuclear legacies.