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Paul B. Kreitman is an Associate Professor at Columbia University's Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. He specializes in 20th Century Japanese History, Environmental History, and the History of Science and Technology. 20th Century Japanese History Environmental History Commodity History Global Sovereignty Studies His research explores intersections between nature and sovereignty , with a focus on Japan's borderlands and trans-Pacific interactions. His 2018 article on Tokyo's wartime sanitation politics won the Leopold-Hidy Prize , and his 2023 monograph Japan's Ocean Borderlands redefines environmental sovereignty narratives. He teaches courses on Asian Mobilities , Indo-Pacific Geopolitics , and graduate seminars about Borderland Japan . Previously held positions include Junior Research Fellow at University of London's Institute of Historical Research and Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS. Publications: Environmental History (2018), Cambridge University Press monograph (2023) Media Appearances: The Financial Times, The Japan Times, The New Statesman Current projects examine trans-Pacific border controls with emphasis on Japan-Hawaii connections. His work integrates environmental, technological, and geopolitical perspectives to reshape historical understanding of sovereignty dynamics.

• 20th Century Japanese history
• Environmental history
• Global history
• +3 more

Michael Mejia is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Utah, where he teaches creative writing. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Western Humanities Review and co-founding editor of Ninebark Press . Mejia is the author of the novels TOKYO and Forgetfulness , with his work appearing in journals like AGNI , DIAGRAM , and Seneca Review . His creative practice bridges fiction, nonfiction, and visual media, interrogating narrative form and socio-cultural dynamics.

• Creative Writing
• Experimental Literature
• Hybrid Writing Forms
• +5 more

Takuya Tsunoda serves as Assistant Professor of Japanese Film and Media in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures at Columbia University, with prior teaching appointments at Colgate University and the University of Chicago. Currently on leave for spring 2022, he maintains his office in 416 Kent Hall (contact: (212) 854-5040, tt2101@columbia.edu). His academic credentials include: BA: Waseda University (2002), Columbia University (2005) MA: Columbia University (2008) PhD: Yale University (2015) Dr. Tsunoda's research centers on institutional-media interplay through historical and theoretical lenses, examining how technologies shape socio-cultural practices and knowledge formations. His seminal work investigates Iwanami Productions' evolution from educational/science film provider to New Cinema pioneer, arguing that Japan's 1960s cinematic revolution originated in institutionalized audio-visual pedagogy rather than political radicalism. Current explorations extend to media reflexivity, alpine photography, insect ecology, children's media engagement, and diegesis in contemporary visual culture. Teaching : Courses include East Asian Cinema, Japanese Contemporary Media Culture, Japanese New Wave Modernism, Documentary Film Studies, and Critical Approaches to East Asian Theory. His publication trajectory (2018-2022) reveals consistent focus on postwar Japanese media archaeology, connecting educational film, industrial cinema, and New Wave movements through archival analysis. Key themes include cross-medial academicism, mediascape transformations, and the socio-political dimensions of visual pedagogy in reconstructing cinematic modernism. Active research trajectories include transnational New Wave parameters, television documentary studies, and ecological media representations, with ongoing book project examining Iwanami Productions' institutional legacy.

• Japanese Cinema
• Media Archaeology
• Cinematic Modernism
• +8 more

Hiromi Tsuchiya Dollase is an Associate Professor of Chinese and Japanese at Vassar College since 2003. Her research focuses on Japanese women’s literature, girls’ magazine culture, and manga, with a particular interest in integrating popular media into language education. She teaches courses such as 'Japanese Popular Culture and Literature' and 'The Gothic and the Supernatural in Japanese Literature.' Dr. Dollase holds a PhD in comparative literature (Japanese and American) from Purdue University (2003), an MA from Illinois State University, and a BA/MA from Baika Women’s College. She authored *Age of Shojo: The Emergence, Evolution and Power of Japanese Girls’ Magazine Fiction* (2019) and has contributed to numerous edited volumes and refereed journals. Her work spans topics like child abuse depictions in manga, sex education in historical fiction, and queer reinterpretations of classic narratives. She co-edited *Women’s Voices in Manga* (2024) and *Manga!: Visual Pop-Culture in ARTS Education* (2020). Her research bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, emphasizing the intersection of gender, media, and education. Dr. Dollase has been featured in media discussions about Japanese literary icons like Nobuko Yoshiya. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary programs in Asian Studies, Media Studies, and Women’s, Feminist, and Queer Studies at Vassar.

• Japanese Women’s Literature
• Girls’ Magazine Culture
• Japanese Popular Culture
• +3 more

Timothy Webster serves as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development at Western New England University's School of Law, with prior academic appointments at Yale Law School, Case Western Reserve University, and international institutions including University of Paris—Dauphine and National Taiwan University. His educational qualifications include: B.A., Yale University M.A., Yale University J.D., Cornell Law School LL.M., Cornell Law School Webster's research focuses on intersections between international law and East Asian domestic legal systems (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), examining human rights frameworks, international trade mechanisms, foreign investment regulations, and transnational litigation strategies. His scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with historical justice issues and contemporary legal challenges in the region, delivered through presentations at over 175 international conferences conducted in English, French, Japanese, and Mandarin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on war reparations, state immunity doctrines, corporate liability frameworks, and civil society's role in transnational redress movements, with empirical studies of litigation patterns across East Asia forming a distinctive methodological thread. His professional recognition includes: Catherine Jones Professor of the Year award (2023 and 2024) Asia Scholars Network fellowship (Luce Foundation) U.S.-Japan Network for the Future membership (Mansfield Foundation) Public Intellectuals Program selection (National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) As Associate Dean, Webster mentors law students in international legal studies while directing faculty development initiatives. His research is substantially supported by elite fellowships from the Luce Foundation, Mansfield Foundation, and National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, enabling extensive international collaboration. Webster has testified before Congress regarding China's WTO compliance and contributes legal analysis to major media outlets including The Conversation, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.

• International Law
• East Asian Legal Systems
• Human Rights
• +3 more

Miryam Sas is a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work bridges Japanese literature, film, theater, and avant-garde arts with critical theory. She specializes in 20th-century cultural movements, postwar Japanese experimental arts, and media theory. Her research includes studies on surrealism, intermedia, and post-Holocaust representation, with notable works like Feeling Media: Potentiality and the Afterlife of Art (2022) and Experimental Arts in Postwar Japan (2010). Her research interests span Japanese modernism, intermedia art, feminist film analysis, and photographic theory. She has curated exhibitions for institutions such as MoMA, the Getty Museum, and the Mori Art Museum, contributing essays on postwar avant-gardes and Japanese photography. Recent projects include translations of modernist poets Sagawa Chika and Ema Shōko, and collaborative archival work on Finding Zbaraż . Prof. Sas has been awarded the UC President’s Research Fellowship for her media theory work. Her teaching focuses on critical theory, Japanese cinema, and media studies, offering courses on infrastructural aesthetics and transnational Asian media. She actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogues through lectures and radio programs like France Culture’s La Fabrique de l’Histoire .

• Japanese Literature
• Film Studies
• Theater Studies
• +7 more

Professor Mari Yoshihara is a bilingual scholar and writer affiliated with the University of Hawaii as a Core Faculty member. She serves as Editor of American Quarterly , the journal of the American Studies Association, and collaborates with international scholars. Her research focuses on U.S. cultural history, U.S.-Asian relations, Asian American studies, gender studies, and literary studies. She holds a BA from the University of Tokyo and a PhD from Brown University. Her work bridges academic and popular audiences, with notable publications including Embracing the East (2003), Musicians from a Different Shore (2007), and Dearest Lenny (2019). She also writes extensively in Japanese on topics ranging from graduate education to contemporary American culture. Her interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis, ethnography, and personal narratives to explore cultural exchanges, identity, and music. Professor Yoshihara actively engages with classical music as an amateur pianist, participating in prestigious competitions like the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Her writings and fieldwork on music competitions highlight themes of civic engagement and cultural significance. Her blog and website further showcase her interests in U.S. affairs, classical music, and cross-cultural relationships.

• U.S. Cultural History
• U.S.-Asian Relations
• Asian American Studies
• +2 more

Takashi Miura is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona specializing in Japanese religions from the early modern to modern periods. His work explores millenarian movements, Shinto practices, and Buddhist visual culture. He holds degrees from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (B.A./M.A.) and Princeton University (Ph.D.). Dr. Miura's research examines religious innovations like the rise of 'yonaoshi' renewal gods and deified peasants. His 2019 monograph Agents of World Renewal analyzes apocalyptic concepts in Japanese history. Current projects include a study on early modern peasant deification and its societal impacts. He teaches courses on Buddhism and Japanese religious practices, including EAS 160A1 and JPN 220. His publications span academic journals and edited volumes, addressing topics from Meiji-era polemics to post-war new religions. His work frequently bridges textual analysis with visual and material culture studies.

• Japanese Religions
• Early Modern and Modern Japanese History
• Millenarianism
• +3 more

James Wicks serves as Professor of Media & Film Studies and Assistant Dean at Point Loma Nazarene University's School of Humanities, Arts, and Public Engagement. Teaching since 2009 and joining the Department of Communication Studies in 2021, he holds a Ph.D. in Film Studies with emphasis on Chinese Cinema from UC San Diego (2010). His academic career bridges administrative leadership with specialized instruction in narrative film, documentary production, and screenwriting. Dr. Wicks' educational background includes: Ph.D. in Film Studies (Cultural Studies section), University of California, San Diego, 2010 M.A., Oregon State University B.A., Oregon State University His research centers on Taiwan cinema history from the 1950s-1980s, exploring transnational representations, philosophical dimensions of martial arts films, and cultural identity. Additional interests include street culture in Hollywood, surf cinema history, and gender negotiation in early Taiwanese films. His methodological approach combines historical analysis with cultural studies frameworks. Publication trends reveal sustained focus on Taiwan cinema scholarship since 2010, with significant expansion into interdisciplinary urban studies (2019-2020) and contemporary director analyses (Ang Lee, Hou Hsiao-Hsien). His 2022-2016 output demonstrates consistent engagement with Cold War-era cinematic narratives while incorporating newer interests in ecological representation and punk cinema aesthetics. Notable recognitions include: Excellence in Teaching Award (PLNU, 2019) Two PLNU RASP grants for film preservation (2018-2019) Taiwan Ministry of Education research grant (2011) Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation fellowship (2009-2010) As an active researcher, Dr. Wicks has secured substantial external funding for film preservation projects and maintains strong community engagement through the San Diego Asian Film Festival. His administrative role as Assistant Dean complements his scholarly work in media studies curriculum development. Through co-organization of the San Diego Asian Film Festival's Taiwan Showcase (2012) and UCSD Taiwan Film Festival (2009), he has built collaborative networks across academic and cultural institutions. His ongoing film reel preservation project demonstrates commitment to safeguarding historical cinematic materials.

• Film Studies
• Chinese Cinema
• Taiwan Film Studies
• +5 more

Kuiyi Shen is Professor of Asian Art History, Theory, and Criticism at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he also serves as Vice Chair and Director of the PhD Program in the Department of Visual Arts. He is affiliated with the Division of Arts and Humanities and maintains an active research, teaching, and curatorial practice focused on Chinese and Japanese art, particularly modern and contemporary Chinese art and Sino-Japanese artistic exchanges. BA in Fine Arts, Shanghai Normal University MA and PhD in Art History, The Ohio State University Shen's research centers on the evolution of Chinese art in the modern era, with emphasis on ink art, unofficial art movements, and the interplay between tradition and modernity. His work explores how political, social, and transnational forces have shaped artistic expression in China, particularly during transformative periods such as the late Qing, Republican era, and post-Cultural Revolution decades. He is deeply engaged in the study of literati painting, Buddhist art, and mass visual culture, including posters and illustrated magazines. The 15 most recent publications and exhibition catalogs reflect a consistent focus on modern and contemporary Chinese ink art, unofficial art practices, and cross-cultural dialogues. Key themes include the reinvention of tradition, the role of Japan in modern Chinese art, and the emergence of independent artistic voices during politically repressive periods. His scholarly output spans academic monographs, co-edited volumes, and curatorial projects that bridge East and West. Notable scientific achievement: 2013 ICAS Book Prize in Humanities for Arts of Modern China Shen has advised numerous exhibition projects and served on international juries, including the Guggenheim Museum and the International Awards for Art Criticism. He has held academic positions at Ohio University, SUNY Buffalo, Rice University, and the University of Oregon before joining UCSD. He is Managing Editor of Brill’s Modern Asian Art and Visual Culture book series, underscoring his leadership in the global academic community. His teaching includes courses on Chinese and Japanese art, landscape painting, and contemporary art and mass culture. Shen has curated or consulted on over 20 major exhibitions worldwide, including A Century in Crisis (Guggenheim), Blooming in the Shadows (China Institute), and Light before Dawn (Asia Society), demonstrating his dual expertise in scholarship and curatorial practice.

• Asian Art History
• Chinese Art
• Japanese Art
• +12 more

Jeffrey Ruoff is an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at Dartmouth College. His research focuses on documentary filmmaking, film festivals, and North African cinema. He authored Telluride in the Film Festival Galaxy (2016) and edited works on film programming and travel cinema. Ruoff teaches documentary production, video mashups, and courses on New Waves in Film. His films, including the 2012 documentary Still Moving: Pilobolus at Forty , explore dance and cultural history. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.F.A. from Temple University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. In 2015-16, he participated in the OpEd Public Voices Fellowship. Ruoff’s writing appears in academic journals and popular outlets like The Huffington Post and Fortune .

• Documentary filmmaking
• Film festivals
• North African cinema
• +3 more

Justin McDaniel is the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Professor of the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Religious Studies. His research focuses on Lao, Thai, Pali, and Sanskrit literature, Buddhist rituals, manuscript studies, and Southeast Asian history. He has authored multiple award-winning books and published over 100 articles and reviews. Education includes a BA from Boston College (1993), MTS from Harvard Divinity School (1998), MA and PhD in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University (2001, 2003). His research explores intersections between Buddhism, material culture, and social history. Recent work includes studies on Siamese manuscripts and Thai Buddhist art. He has held grants from NEH, Mellon, Rockefeller, and others. Awarded teaching excellence at multiple institutions, McDaniel’s innovative courses like Existential Despair and Living Deliberately have been featured in national media. He serves as co-editor for Buddhism Compass and Journal of Lao Studies . Publications include Cosmologies and Biologies (2024), Wayward Distractions (2023), and Architects of Buddhist Leisure (2015), supported by NEH and Kyoto University. Forthcoming projects address Thai manuscripts and Buddhist biographies.

• Buddhist Studies
• Southeast Asian Buddhism
• Lao Literature
• +6 more

Dong Hoon Kim is an Associate Professor in the Cinema Studies department at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences . His work bridges media history and cultural studies, focusing on the ideological and visual frameworks of cinema in East Asia and beyond. Research Interests: His scholarship critically examines colonial cinema , socialist cinema , transnational media flows , and the intersection of media spectatorship with national identity. His studies span East Asian film, media, and popular culture, emphasizing historical and discursive formations. University of Oregon | Cinema Studies Email: donghoon@uoregon.edu Office Hours: Mondays 12-1:30p.m., Winter 25 Key Publications: Kim authored Eclipsed Cinema: The Film Culture of Colonial Korea (2017) and co-edited The Bloomsbury Handbook of North Korean Cinema (2025). His articles explore topics like socialist star-making in North Korea, transcolonial benshi practices, and the global impact of South Korea's Parasite . Teaching: Courses include Introduction to Korean Cinema , Studio Ghibli Animation , and seminars on Japanese New Wave cinema, transnational film genres, and violence in Korean cinema. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to East Asian cultures.

• Film Studies
• Media History
• Cultural Studies
• +6 more

Junko Yamazaki is an Assistant Professor of Japanese Media Studies at Princeton University, specializing in postwar Japanese cinema, media aesthetics, and cultural mediation. Her research interrogates the intersection of film spectatorship, sensory politics, and historical reckoning in 20th-century Japan. Ph.D. in Cinema & Media Studies & East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago (2016) M.A. in Humanities with emphasis in Cinema & Media Studies, University of Chicago (2013) B.A. in Film Studies & Cognitive Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara (2010) Her work critically examines: Jidaigeki films as contested cultural artifacts in postwar Japan Role of film music in shaping emotional and historical consciousness Intellectual debates around media's capacity for social transformation Postwar sensory politics and democratic reconstruction Recent publications analyze: 1950s Toei jidaigeki's aesthetic innovations Tsurumi Shunsuke's media theory through autobiographical criticism Ichikawa Kon's musical integration strategies in early postwar cinema She co-founded the interdisciplinary working group Gender and Criticism Workshop: Japan in the Trans-Pacific World (2019-), fostering transnational academic collaboration.

• Film Studies
• Media Aesthetics
• Technological and Cultural Mediation
• +6 more

Melissa McCormick, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Japanese Art and Culture at Harvard University, holds a Ph.D. in Japanese Art History from Princeton University (2000) and a B.A. in art history and Japanese from the University of Michigan (1990). She has taught at Columbia University as the Atsumi Assistant Professor of Japanese Art (2000-05) and at Harvard since 2005, where she was promoted to Professor with tenure in 2009. She has held visiting professorships at the University of Zurich and Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. Education : University of Michigan (B.A.), Princeton University (Ph.D.), Gakushūin University (1996-98) Affiliations : Harvard Art Museums, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NHK Documentaries, Getty Foundation Her research explores the interplay of text and image in Japanese art, focusing on emaki (narrative scrolls), The Tale of Genji , and Buddhist themes. Her 2018 monograph The Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion and 2009 book Tosa Mitsunobu and the Small Scroll in Medieval Japan established new frameworks for analyzing scroll format and narrative. Current projects examine Buddhist nun-artist Ōtagaki Rengetsu and bridal manuscript traditions. Selected articles highlight her work on Hakubyō (ink-line painting), medieval Genji genealogies, and the poetics of chigo (novice) tales. She has contributed to exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum. Scientific Awards : Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities (1990) At Harvard, McCormick teaches courses ranging from introductory surveys ( Arts of Japan ) to advanced seminars on gender, tea culture, and museum research. She co-curated the 2019 Tale of Genji exhibition at the Met, which received critical acclaim, and developed an edX course with over 20,000 enrollments. Her consultancy work extends to opera and dance companies, including Japan Society and Asia Society of Texas.

• Japanese Art History
• Visual Storytelling
• Text-Image Relationship
• +7 more