Cornelia Reiher

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Reiher is a full professor of Japanese Society at the Department of History and Cultural Studies, Freie Universität Berlin. She leads research projects on urban-rural migration, food systems, and rural revitalization. Her work bridges anthropology and political science, focusing on Kyushu, Japan. She holds a Ph.D. from Leipzig University and has held visiting positions at Sophia University and Kyushu University. Reiher teaches courses on Japanese society, food studies, and research methods. Notable projects include the DFG-funded 'Urban-rural migration and rural revitalization in Japan' and the monograph 'Lived experiences of crisis in rural Japan'. She has advised doctoral candidates, including Elena Korshenko and Xuan Wen. Her research emphasizes transnational connections and the impact of globalization on Japanese rural areas.

• Education: M.A. (FU Berlin/Leipzig), Ph.D. (Leipzig University)
• Research: Urban-rural migration, food safety, culinary globalization
• Grants: DFG, Einstein Foundation
• Publications: Over 20 journal articles and books

Her articles span migration dynamics, food systems, and post-Fukushima governance. She co-authored a methodology handbook for Japanese Studies and edited an anthology on rural Japan during the pandemic. Reiher’s work appears in journals like Journal of Rural Studies and Contemporary Japan. She is affiliated with the Graduate School of East Asian Studies (GEAS) and has served as its Vice Director.