Antonio Manieri

Antonio Manieri is an associate professor at the University of Naples L'Orientale, Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean, specializing in Japanese Philology. He teaches Ancient and Medieval Japanese Civilization and the Japanese Language. His academic work focuses on historical Japanese documents, particularly from the Nara period (8th-10th centuries), with emphasis on bureaucratic and geographical texts and their role in early Japanese state formation.

Manieri earned his PhD in Japanese Philology from Daito Bunka University (Tokyo) in 2012, with a thesis on practical documents, terminology, and literature related to horses in Japan during the "State of Codes" (8th-10th centuries). His educational journey includes extensive research periods in Japan supported by prestigious fellowships, demonstrating his deep engagement with Japanese language and culture.

His research interests span Japanese Philology, Ancient and Medieval Japanese Civilization, and historical documents of Japan. Manieri specializes in fudoki (geographical-bureaucratic texts), court protocols, and technical education systems of the Nara period. His work reveals how multilingual aspects of early Japanese documents reflect complex administrative structures and cultural exchanges between Japan and continental Asia. He examines how Japanese officials incorporated Chinese writing systems while maintaining indigenous terminology, providing insights into Japan's early state formation processes.

Analysis of Manieri's recent publications shows a consistent focus on historical Japanese documents from the 8th-10th centuries, particularly bureaucratic and geographical texts. His work demonstrates expertise in translating and interpreting complex historical materials, with emphasis on multilingualism in early Japanese documents. A recurring theme is how geographical knowledge was used for political control in ancient Japan, revealing the connection between administrative structures and cultural development during the Nara period.

Manieri has received numerous scientific awards and fellowships:

• Japan Foundation fellowship (2004)
• MEXT fellowships (2007-2009 and 2009-2012)
• Research fellowship at the Institute for Research in Language Teaching in Tokyo (2006)
• Research grant at the University of Naples L'Orientale (2014-2018)
• Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship 2023
• Monbukagakushō shōgakukin (2007, 2009)

Manieri actively participates in academic service, serving on editorial boards for journals such as "LE FORME E LA STORIA," "LINGUE E LINGUAGGI," and "IL GIAPPONE." He has been involved in multiple research projects including PRIN 2022 "Environmental Anomalies & Political Legitimacy in Global Eurasia, 12th-14th century" and JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research. His academic leadership extends to organizing international symposia on Japanese language education and historical documents.

Manieri is a member of several research centers (CESET, CETEFIL, CSAO) and international research projects (PRIN, KAKEN). He participates in the "Senchū Wamyōruijushō Study Group" (Tokyo/Kyoto) and is part of the Classical Japanese-English Digital Dictionary Concept Development Team (Yanai Initiative, UCLA/Waseda). These affiliations demonstrate his integration into both Italian and international academic networks focused on Japanese studies and philology.