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Dr Alexander Jacoby is a Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies at Oxford Brookes University, affiliated with the School of Education, Humanities and Languages. He is also the Director of the Europe Japan Research Centre, where he promotes academic collaboration between Europe and Japan. His teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering Japanese cinema, manga, anime, classical arts, and translation. Research Interests: Alexander's primary research focuses on classical and contemporary Japanese cinema. He explores themes such as family dynamics, gender, space, and national identity in Japanese film. His work bridges academic scholarship and public film criticism, contributing to both scholarly journals and major cultural publications. Publication Trends: His recent articles examine socio-cultural themes in modern Japanese cinema, particularly family structures and contested national narratives. These works reflect a consistent engagement with postwar Japanese society as portrayed through film, with an emphasis on directors like Hirokazu Koreeda and Yoshimura. Notable Presentations: 'Hirokazu Koreeda's Family Values' (2021) 'Crime and Punishment in the Films of Hirokazu Koreeda' (2018) 'Female Self-Determination in Yoshimura's Kyoto' (2017) Professional Engagement: Jacoby has curated Japanese film retrospectives at prestigious institutions including the British Film Institute (London), Museum of Modern Art (New York), Il Cinema Ritrovato (Bologna), and Giornate del Cinema Muto (Pordenone). He has also served as Year Abroad Tutor, supporting student exchanges and international learning. Labs and Research Groups: He chairs the Europe Japan Research Centre, a hub for interdisciplinary research on Japan-Europe relations in media, culture, and society.

• Japanese Cinema
• Classical Japanese Film
• Contemporary Japanese Cinema
• +7 more

Dr. Brigitte Steger is a Senior Lecturer in Modern Japanese Studies at the University of Cambridge, where she serves as a Fellow in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Downing College. She teaches modern Japanese society courses and directs graduate affairs while serving as Secretary of the Degree Committee. MA, MPhil, PhD in Japanese Studies (University of Vienna) Visiting researcher at multiple Japanese universities Co-founder of Cambridge Creative Circular Plastics Centre sub-project Her research focuses on cultural anthropology of Japanese daily life, particularly sleep practices (inemuri), gender dynamics in urban spaces, disaster response rituals, and cleanliness/waste practices. She conceptualizes sleep as socio-cultural performance and examines temporal practices in premodern Japan. Recent publications analyze Heian-era sleep patterns, 2011 tsunami shelter hygiene, and plastic consumption in consumer societies. She leads international research on historical timekeeping and contemporary waste practices. Her edited volumes explore Japanese gender diversity, including 'herbivore boys' and manga girl culture. Scientific awards: Bank Austria Prize (2002) Vorarlberg Science Award (2005) University of Cambridge weekly research contributor She supervises graduate research projects and serves on the European Association for Japanese Studies and Japan Anthropology Workshop councils. Her 2025-26 sabbatical focuses on completing Heian-period sleep research.

• Japanese society
• Cultural anthropology
• Gender studies
• +5 more

Dr. Matt Jacobsen is a Lecturer in Film Studies at Queen Mary University of London's School of History. He holds a BA in English Literature from King's College London (2000) and an MA in Film and Communication from QMUL. Since 2002, he has taught Film History and Theory, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing student learning experiences. From 2012 to 2017, he served as Student Experience Manager within the School. Education: BA English Literature (King's College London), MA Film & Communication (QMUL) Roles: Lecturer, Former Student Experience Manager His research focuses on science fiction, fantasy, and horror cinema, with particular emphasis on Japanese animation and digital media within socio-historic frameworks. His doctoral work explored representations of adolescence in Japanese anime, video games, and horror films at the turn of the millennium. Publicly engaged through media appearances, Jacobsen serves as a weekly film critic for BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Solent, and a regular contributor to BBC Radio Cambs.

• Science Fiction Cinema
• Fantasy and Horror Film Studies
• Japanese Animation
• +3 more

Perry Hinton is a Professor (Teaching Focused) in the Centre for Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick, part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He contributes to the interdisciplinary degree in Language, Culture and Communication, drawing on his expertise in psychology and cultural studies. University: University of Warwick School: Faculty of Social Sciences Department: Centre for Applied Linguistics Academic Rank: Professor Email: P.R.Hinton@warwick.ac.uk His research centers on the psychology of interpersonal perception, especially the interplay between cognition and culture. Key areas include stereotyping as a cognitive and cultural phenomenon and Western (particularly British) interpretations of Japanese culture, including media portrayals and anime. He also has a strong commitment to statistical education, having authored multiple textbooks on SPSS and data analysis. The recent publications reflect a consistent focus on cultural psychology, intercultural communication, and social representation. Themes include the construction of identity, media influence, cultural stereotypes, and cognitive biases in person perception. His work often takes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating insights from psychology, linguistics, and media studies. Perry Hinton has authored and co-authored several influential books in his field, particularly on stereotypes and statistical methods. While no formal scientific awards are listed, his sustained publication record in peer-reviewed journals and with major academic publishers (Routledge, Bloomsbury, Palgrave) indicates significant scholarly recognition. He has supervised or co-edited collaborative works, such as the 2023 volume on intercultural relations, suggesting advisory and mentoring roles. His career path includes positions at five British universities, progressing from lecturer to Head of Department, with extensive experience teaching psychology across disciplines including linguistics, education, and media studies. He joined Warwick's Centre for Applied Linguistics at the inception of its Language, Culture and Communication program in 2014. Hinton works within a multidisciplinary academic environment, contributing to a research culture that bridges psychology and applied linguistics. His collaborations, particularly with Troy McConachy, suggest active participation in intercultural research teams and scholarly networks focused on global communication and cultural understanding.

• Psychology of Interpersonal Perception
• Cultural Psychology
• Cognition and Culture
• +7 more

Ho Lok Victor Fan is a Research Professor in Film and Media Philosophy at King's College London's Department of Film Studies. He previously served as Assistant Professor at McGill University's Department of East Asian Studies (2010–2012), where he also chaired the Equity Subcommittee on Queer People. His expertise spans Chinese cinema (including Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Cantonese film histories), queer theory, Hollywood studies, and Buddhist film philosophy. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Education) through academic research and pedagogy. Education: PhD: Film Studies, Yale University (2010) MFA: Film & TV Production, USC (1999) Bachelor of Music: University of Rochester (1996) Research Interests: Fan explores comparative world cinemas, Chinese film theory, Sino-Hollywood co-productions, queer theories, and Buddhist media philosophy. His work interrogates spatiality in Chinese cinema and the intersections between film and Buddhist thought. Recent talks include lectures on 'Karma: Cinematic Technicity-Consciousness' and 'Extraterritorial Life in Hong Kong Cinema.' Notable Works: His 2000 thesis film The Well won international acclaim. His 2022 book Cinema Illuminating Reality redefines media philosophy through Buddhist frameworks. Recent articles analyze Hong Kong's media politics and labor narratives in hybrid film-anime forms. Awards: Third Prize, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (2000) Grants/Advising: Supervised 8 academic works (details omitted). Active in editorial and peer-review roles for film studies journals. Engaged in interdisciplinary projects bridging media philosophy and cultural studies. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with King's College's Queer@King's initiative and global film studies networks. Research focuses on East Asian cinematic histories and transnational media dynamics.

• Chinese Cinema
• Film Theory
• Queer Theory
• +5 more

Griseldis Kirsch is a researcher at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics (LAC) at SOAS University of London. Her work focuses on Japanese media and popular culture, with particular emphasis on gender, transnationalism, and identity politics. She has edited and contributed to key publications such as the Handbook of Japanese Media and Popular Culture in Transition (2022) and Assembling Japan: Modernity, Technology and Global Culture (2015). Her research spans visual culture, historical memory, and media's role in constructing national identities. Recent articles examine topics ranging from imperial nostalgia in Japanese television to the representation of cultural otherness and gender dynamics in propaganda films. She has supervised or collaborated on theses exploring single motherhood, anime music, and Korean-Japanese media remakes. Notable trends in her publications include critiques of Japanese nationalism, analysis of transpacific cultural flows, and investigations into minority representations. Her work bridges film studies, anthropology, and cross-cultural communication, often addressing tensions between local and global influences in media. Current affiliations include contributions to the JAPAN DOCUMENTS publication series and ongoing scholarly engagement with Japanese television dramas, anime, and their socio-political implications.

• Japanese Media
• Popular Culture
• Gender Studies
• +3 more

Akane Kawakami is a Professor of French at Birkbeck, University of London, where she has taught since 2006. Prior to this, she held lectureships at the Universities of Cambridge and Warwick. Her research and teaching focus on twentieth-century and contemporary French and Francophone literature, with particular interest in travel narratives and exoticism, photography and the photographic, contemporary fiction, and intersections between literary and visual culture. BA Hons in Philosophy and Modern Languages (French), University of Oxford (1991) MPhil in English and French, University of Oxford (1993) DPhil in French Literature, University of Oxford (1996) Senior Fellow, Advance HE (2017) Her research explores how photographic and visual elements intersect with literary texts, especially in French postmodern and contemporary fiction. She investigates transnational narratives, focusing on Franco-Japanese cultural exchanges, and examines the role of autobiography in photobiography (works by Proust, Guibert, Ernaux, and Macé). She has published extensively in refereed journals and authored three monographs, including Photobiography (2013) and a revised edition of her Modiano study (2015), which reflects on his Nobel Prize-winning work. Recent publications highlight trends in French literature post-2000, including analyses of Michael Ferrier’s transnational narratives and Patrick Modiano’s treatment of trauma and memory. Her work engages with Deleuzian concepts (e.g., rhizomatic poetry) and examines how literary forms challenge capitalist ideologies. She is a member of the steering group for the Centre for Research in Aesthetics of Kinship and Community and serves on the executive committee of the Association of University Professors and Heads of French . Senior Fellow, Advance HE (2017) Kawakami supervises PhD students working on themes such as contemporary French Catholic novels, rhizomatic poetry, and representations of South Asians in Japanese animation. She welcomes supervisees in her specialist areas: contemporary French fiction, travel narratives, and literature-photography intersections. Her academic collaborations include discussions with Japanese novelist Horié Toshiyuki on Modiano’s works.

• Contemporary French Fiction
• Twentieth-Century French Literature
• Travel Narratives and Exoticism
• +5 more

Dr. Sharon Kinsella is a Lecturer in Japanese Studies at the University of Manchester, specializing in Japanese subcultures, media, and gender dynamics. She holds a DPhil in Sociology from the University of Oxford and has previously held positions at Yale, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, and Manchester. Current research focuses on 'otoko no ko' (boy daughters), male cross-dressing culture, and the political economy of cuteness in Japan. Her work bridges manga studies, subcultural analysis, and feminist sociology. Recent publications analyze male subcultures in low-fertility Japan, cross-dressing in 2D/3D contexts, and materialist youth styles. She contributes to UN SDGs related to gender equality and social inclusion through her cultural critiques.

• Japanese Cultural Studies
• Subcultures and Youth Movements
• Manga and Visual Culture
• +6 more

Fabio Gygi serves as Senior Lecturer and Chair in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS, University of London. Born in Switzerland, he spent formative years in Japan, Germany, and England before earning his PhD in social anthropology from UCL. Prior to joining SOAS, he worked for three years as an assistant professor of sociology at Doshisha University in Kyoto. MA in European Ethnology and Japanese Studies from University of Tübingen PhD in Social Anthropology from University College London (UCL) Dr. Gygi's research centers on material culture, particularly examining human-object relationships through three interconnected lenses: how people engage with possessions and the cosmologies they create, the cultural construction of hoarding as pathology (following its 2013 DSM-V classification), and the materialization of gender in Japanese contexts. His work bridges historical anthropology with contemporary ethnographic studies, often employing participant observation methods such as assisting with apartment clean-ups in Tokyo to study hoarding behaviors. His recent publications reveal consistent thematic trajectories across Japanese cultural studies, with particular emphasis on material agency, waste practices, and the social life of objects. The 2022-2023 publications demonstrate expanding interest in robotics and human-technology interaction alongside continuing work on gender performance and material culture in Japan. As a dedicated supervisor, Dr. Gygi currently guides fifteen PhD students across diverse topics including Japanese sex work activism, transgender existence in Kansai, assistive technology in Japan, and queer feminist kinship in Taipei. His supervision portfolio reflects his interdisciplinary approach connecting material culture studies with gender, technology, and mental health anthropology. His fieldwork primarily conducted in Tokyo informs his theoretical contributions to understanding materiality, while his earlier work on trench art from World War I established foundations for examining how traumatic experiences become embodied in material culture across historical and contemporary contexts.

• Material Culture
• Japanese Studies
• Anthropology of Hoarding
• +6 more

Filippo Cervelli is Lecturer in Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature at SOAS University of London. After completing his doctorate at Oxford, he researches representations of social crises in Japanese literature and popular media, examining phenomena like hikikomori, otaku culture, and precariousness through narrative frameworks. His research explores: Violence, obsession and sexuality in reader/viewer responses Otaku as narrative tools for social critique Post-3/11 literary discourse and meta-representation Publications analyze temporal immediacy in post-1995 cultural productions and otaku portrayals in works by Abe Kazushige. Recent co-edited journal issues examine 'lonely nerd' archetypes across cultures. Dr. Cervelli supervises doctoral research on Korean War narratives and assistive technology in Japanese workplaces, welcoming comparative projects across literary traditions.

• Modern Japanese Literature
• Contemporary Japanese Literature
• Japanese Popular Culture
• +5 more

Maxine Gee is a Principal Academic in Screenwriting at Bournemouth University, Faculty of Media and Communication, where she teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs in film and scriptwriting. She is an internationally produced playwright and screenwriter with a PhD by Creative Practice from the University of York (2018). Her work spans stage adaptations, web series, and science fiction short films, including the acclaimed Tales of Bacon and Terminal . Her research focuses on posthumanism, science fiction, horror (especially folk horror), Japanese media, adaptation, and the evolving role of AI in creative storytelling. She explores how narrative forms, particularly screenwriting, can interrogate identity, genre, and technological change. Her creative practice is deeply intertwined with theoretical inquiry, exemplified in her PhD work on posthuman noir. Maxine's recent publications and conference presentations highlight a growing emphasis on human-AI collaboration in media creation, as seen in her 2024 AHRC BRAID-funded project Shared Post-Human Imagination . Her scholarly output includes articles in Cinema: Journal of Film and Philosophy , Journal for Cultural Research , and the Palgrave Handbook of Script Development . She has been recognized with awards for her short film Terminal , including Best Short Sci-Fi Film and Best Writer at the Queen Palm International Film Festival (2019). Her external roles include serving as an external examiner for MA Screenwriting programs at several UK universities and as leader of the Screenwriting Research Network’s Practice Based/Led Working Group since 2018. Maxine is actively engaged in public outreach, including events like Rise of the Robot and Which One of Us Is Human? , and has delivered invited lectures at institutions such as UC Riverside and the University of York. Her work bridges academic research, creative production, and public discourse on the future of storytelling.

• Screenwriting
• Posthumanism
• Science Fiction Film and Television
• +7 more

Tomoko Tamari is Reader in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, affiliated with the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ICCE). She joined Goldsmiths in 2013 after serving as a research fellow at Nottingham Trent University. Her academic background spans sociology, mass communication studies, and women's studies, with current interests intersecting sociology, cultural studies, and body studies. She serves as Managing Editor of Body & Society (Sage Publications) and coordinates the Theory Culture & Society 'New Encyclopaedia Project'. Tamari's research interests encompass Japanese culture and society, consumer culture, visual culture, and technology's relationship with the body. Her current working areas include animation and human perception (particularly affect in digital aesthetics and hand-drawing moving images), technology and modern architectural design (exploring Japanese Metabolism movement), food culture and lifestyles in 20th century Japan, the body and medicine (focusing on probiotics industry), body image and prosthetic aesthetics in Paralympic culture, techno-animism, and human-machine integration. Her work consistently examines how technology reshapes bodily experience and cultural practices. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining the intersections of digital technologies, human perception, and embodiment. The majority of her work from 2023-2025 focuses on AI, digital aesthetics, animation, and the materiality of the body in technological contexts. This represents an evolution from her earlier work on Japanese consumer culture and department stores toward contemporary digital and technological questions while maintaining her core interest in embodiment and cultural practices. Tamari has been actively involved in academic leadership through her editorial roles, including co-editing special journal issues on the Tokyo Olympics and post-university scholarly apparatus. Her conference presentations reflect engagement with cutting-edge discussions about AI, embodiment, and the future of knowledge production in digital society. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided texts, her extensive publication record and editorial positions indicate significant research activity and scholarly recognition.

• Japanese culture & society
• Consumer culture
• Visual culture
• +8 more

Professor Oliver Edward Craig serves as Deputy Head of Department and Professor of Archaeological Science at the University of York, where he also directs the BioArCh facility (a center of excellence in Bioarchaeology) and leads BIOARC-HS as part of the UK's Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science. He holds multiple leadership roles including Chair of the Department Research Committee and membership on both Faculty and University research committees. Craig's academic journey began with a Biochemistry and Genetics degree from Nottingham, followed by an MSc in Osteology, Palaeopathology and Funerary Archaeology from Sheffield, and a PhD in Organic Geochemistry from Newcastle. After completing postdoctoral work and a Marie Curie Fellowship at the University of Rome II, he joined York in 2007 and was promoted to Professor in 2016. In 2020, he received a JSPS visiting professorship at Japan's Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and maintains an honorary researcher position at the British Museum. His research specializes in biomolecular archaeology, focusing on protein, lipid, and DNA recovery from ancient remains to understand past human activities. Key interests include temporal transitions in human diets, cuisine, and subsistence practices, with expertise in stable isotope analysis of human bone and organic residue analysis of ceramics. His work spans prehistoric sites across the UK, Central/Eastern Europe, and Atlantic/Baltic/Mediterranean coastlines, along with Roman diet studies and early pottery use from diverse regions including North America, Patagonia, and Japan. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on innovative biomolecular approaches to archaeological questions, particularly in dietary reconstruction across different historical periods and geographical regions. His work increasingly integrates multiple analytical techniques to provide comprehensive insights into past human behaviors and environmental interactions. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship JSPS visiting professorship Founding member and secretary of International Society of Biomolecular Archaeology (2022-24) Academic Associate at Sainsbury Institute for Japanese Arts and Cultures Honorary fellow at Aix-Marseille Université Professor Craig has supervised 35 PhD students and hosted 8 Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows, directing the Chemarch network that trained 15 PhD students in prehistoric artifact analysis. His current research portfolio includes active projects such as 'Unlocking culinary records from prehistoric Britain' and 'Bioarch-HS,' demonstrating continued leadership in archaeological science methodology development. His work at BioArCh has established York as a major international center for biomolecular archaeological research.

• Biomolecular Archaeology
• Paleodiet Analysis
• Stable Isotope Analysis
• +5 more

James Rendell is a Lecturer in Creative Industries at the University of South Wales, affiliated with the Faculty of Business and Creative Industries and the Creative Industries Research and Innovation Group. He serves as course leader for the Media, Culture and Journalism undergraduate programme and teaches on the MA in Visual Journalism. His research focuses on screen media audiences, participatory cultures, digital media technologies, horror/cult media, and media inclusion/diversity, including projects like dementia-friendly cinema initiatives and analyses of race/gender representation. Teaching modules: Contemporary Popular Television, TV Drama, Media Audiences and Fandom, Transmedia Industry collaborations: RNIB, Aardman, Fictioneers, The Democracy Box Professional roles: HEA/Advance HE Fellow, Industry Liaison Officer for Media/Culture/Journalism Research highlights include publishing in journals like New Review of Film and Television Studies , East Asian Journal of Popular Culture , and his monograph Transmedia Ters in Post-TV Horror . He has led projects like the Audience of the Future initiative collaborating with Fictioneers on Wallace and Gromit. Awards: HEA/Advance HE Fellow Grants/Projects: Sensory Impairment & Digital Tech Engagement (Swansea University/RNIB), Making Media Collaborative (AHRC)

• Screen Media Audiences
• Fan Studies
• Digital Media Technologies
• +4 more

Dr. Stefano Vaglio is a Reader in Animal Behaviour at the University of Wolverhampton, affiliated with the School of Life Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He leads the Animal Behaviour & Wildlife Conservation research group and serves as Principal Investigator on multiple funded research projects, including the EU Erasmus+ InterZooMaster and the University’s Research Investment Fund project. He previously held a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at Durham University and maintains an honorary association with the Primatology Group there until 2021. PhD, Biological Anthropology (Primatology), University of Florence MS, Biological Sciences (Behavioural Neurobiology), University of Pisa FHEA, University of Wolverhampton His research centers on primate sensory ecology, particularly chemical communication, and extends to zoo animal welfare, reproduction, and conservation. He employs interdisciplinary methods including semiochemistry, bioacoustics, endocrinology, and digital imaging. His work spans both captive primates in European zoos and field studies in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The recent publications reflect a strong focus on olfactory enrichment, fertility signalling, and welfare assessment in primates and other zoo animals. Trends include the use of synthetic scents to enhance breeding, non-invasive monitoring of hormonal and behavioural responses, and evaluating the impact of environmental changes such as zoo closures during the pandemic. 2018 Project Support Office's Bidding Excellence Award 2021 VC Award for Staff Excellence - Outstanding Contribution to Research Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Dr. Vaglio has supervised several PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, including Emily Elwell, Rachel Sawyer, and Sara Fontani. He has secured significant grant funding from the European Commission, British Academy, and internal university sources, supporting research in primate communication, disease recognition, and conservation. He actively mentors students and integrates research into teaching. He leads the Animal Behaviour & Wildlife Conservation research group and collaborates with institutions such as Garda Zoological Park, Durham University, and multiple European zoos. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the EU LIFE20 Northern Bald Ibis project and advises on conservation initiatives through InterLife ONLUS and other organizations.

• Animal Behaviour
• Primate Sensory Ecology
• Chemical Communication in Animals
• +10 more