Find Academic Supervisors

Kaoru Tamaoka serves as Professor of Literature at Osaka University of Arts, concurrently holding significant cultural leadership roles including Director of Osaka City Museum Organization (since 2017) and Council Member of Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (since 2006). His institutional engagements span governmental bodies (Ministry of Land Infrastructure committee 2010-2020), media (Sun Television review committee since 1995), and cultural preservation initiatives across Hyogo Prefecture. His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts from Kobe College (1979), which catalyzed a dual career in literary creation and cultural stewardship. Tamaoka's research centers on Japanese literary traditions through two interconnected lenses: rigorous historical reconstruction of periods like Tenpyō and Edo, and contemporary explorations of familial/social transitions. His methodology blends archival research with narrative innovation, examining cultural memory through seasonal symbolism and spatial metaphors across urban/rural settings. Professor Tamaoka's publication trajectory reveals evolving thematic depth from debut work 'Blue Goodbye of the Dream-Eating Fish' (1989) to recent historical novels. Early works focused on contemporary alienation, gradually incorporating biographical elements ('Empress Kōken', 2015) before culminating in award-winning maritime history ('Sail God', 2021). This progression demonstrates increasing scholarly rigor within creative frameworks, consistently addressing Japanese identity through material culture and environmental relationships. His distinguished recognition includes: Nitta Jiro Literary Award (2022) for 'Sail God: Matsuemon Kuraku' Oda Sakunosuke Prize (2009) for 'Oie-san' Kobe Literature Prize (1989) for debut novel Yamamoto Shugoro Prize nomination (1997) As an educator, Tamaoka leverages 30+ years of literary practice to mentor emerging writers, with committee roles reflecting commitment to institutional cultural development. His Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education service (2007-2020) and Arts Council membership demonstrate applied pedagogy beyond campus, shaping regional cultural policy while maintaining active creative output. Current priorities focus on maritime history narratives and seasonal transition themes through both academic supervision and public cultural leadership.

• Japanese Literature
• Historical Fiction
• Literary Criticism
• +3 more

Mario Wenning serves as a Full Professor in the Department of Humanities and Philosophy at Loyola University Andalusia, where he leads the Human Rights, Jesuit Tradition, and Social Transformation research group. His academic profile spans multiple continents, reflecting appointments at research universities across Asia, Europe, and North America. PhD in Philosophy, New School for Social Research, New York (2007) MA in Philosophy, Concordia University, Montreal and University of Münster (2003) BA in Philosophy, History, and Politics, University of Münster (2001) Professor Wenning's research centers on social, political, and environmental philosophy within the Critical Theory tradition, with distinctive expertise in Chinese philosophy and Sino-European dialogue. His work consistently examines intersections between Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, particularly regarding ethics, recognition theory, and environmental thought. Recent scholarship explores Buddhist and Daoist motifs in Western literature, religious toleration in Enlightenment philosophy with Chinese influences, and comparative approaches to ecocide responses. His publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated intercultural analysis, with recent works demonstrating deep engagement with both classical Chinese texts and contemporary Western philosophy. The 2025-2024 publications particularly highlight his focus on comparative religious thought and ethical frameworks across cultural contexts. Associate Editor, Revista de Cultura (2020-present) Editorial Board Member, Existenz (2017-present) Editorial Board Member, Kritike (2018-present) Editorial Board Member, Critical Gambling Studies (2019-present) Professor Wenning has secured significant research funding for projects examining philosophical dimensions of quarantine ethics ('The Moral Roots of Quarantine: East and West'), gambling philosophy, and environmental philosophy ('Nature, Time, Responsibility'). His supervisory approach likely emphasizes rigorous comparative methodology and intercultural perspective-taking, reflecting his own scholarly practice. As a Humboldt Research Fellow at Frankfurt University, he has established strong international research networks that inform his current work at Loyola University Andalusia. His research group 'Human Rights, Jesuit Tradition, and Social Transformation' provides an institutional framework for his interdisciplinary work connecting philosophical inquiry with practical ethical concerns and social justice issues.

• Social Philosophy
• Political Philosophy
• Environmental Philosophy
• +7 more

Professor Christoph Anderl is a distinguished scholar of Chinese Language and Culture at Ghent University, where he has served as Professor since February 2015. He leads the Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies and is affiliated with the DiaLing research group for Diachronic and Diatopic Linguistics within the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy's Department of Languages and Cultures. His international academic journey includes significant appointments at Ruhr University Bochum, University of Oslo, and Kyoto University. Professor Anderl's research focuses on Medieval Chinese as reflected in Buddhist texts, particularly early vernacular Chinese and Buddhist Hybrid Chinese, with emphasis on syntax, semantics, and rhetorical devices in Dunhuang manuscript material. His work also explores Buddhist iconography in Central Asia and China, examining text-image relations in Buddhist narratives. Additional research interests include Chan/Zen Buddhism, Classical Chinese syntax, Asian religious history, Buddhist lexicography, Digital Humanities, and Chinese historical phonology. His scholarly output shows a clear focus on the intersection of language, religion, and material culture in medieval China, with particular attention to Dunhuang manuscripts and Buddhist textual traditions. Recent publications demonstrate his ongoing commitment to both linguistic analysis of medieval Chinese texts and the study of Buddhist religious practices, including ritual texts and iconographic programs. Marie Curie Pegasus Fellowship recipient Principal investigator for the Ghent Database of Medieval Chinese Texts (DMCT) Lead organizer of multiple international Doctoral Schools on Chinese Buddhist studies Active participant in the 'From the Ground Up: Buddhism and East Asian Religions' project Professor Anderl maintains an active supervisory role for numerous PhD and postdoctoral projects while also engaging in extensive international collaboration. His work bridges linguistic analysis, religious studies, and digital humanities approaches to create a comprehensive understanding of medieval Chinese Buddhist culture. He regularly organizes conferences, delivers guest lectures worldwide, and conducts fieldwork at significant Buddhist sites across Asia.

• Medieval Chinese Linguistics
• Buddhist Hybrid Chinese
• Dunhuang Manuscripts
• +8 more