Jens Sejrup

Jens Sejrup is a tenure-track Assistant Professor jointly appointed at the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. His academic work bridges anthropology, cultural studies, and Japanese area studies, with a focus on heritage, media, and political narratives in Japan and East Asia.

• Ph.D. in Asian Studies, University of Copenhagen (2011)
• M.A. in Japanese Studies, University of Copenhagen (2005)

His research centers on modern Japanese society, particularly the interplay between cultural heritage, architecture, and political discourse. He investigates how historical narratives are instrumentalized in public and political rhetoric, especially in postcolonial contexts like Japan-Taiwan relations. His work also explores media representations and the role of museums as spaces of memory and identity formation. He employs critical and transcultural theoretical frameworks to analyze these dynamics.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend in the study of reconstructed heritage, museum design, and the symbolic politics of architecture in Japan. These works span disciplines including anthropology, art history, cultural studies, and area studies, often examining how global cultural forms are localized and reinterpreted. His editorial work on Global Art in Local Art Worlds highlights his interest in shifting hierarchies of cultural value in transnational contexts.

He has been recognized with two major awards:

• EastAsiaNet Award for Best Academic Article (2014)
• Young Scholar Award (1st place), European Association of Taiwan Studies (2012)

Jens actively contributes to the academic community through peer review, conference participation, and public engagement. He serves on the Steering Committee of the Nordic Association for the Study of Contemporary Japanese Society (NAJS) and is a national external examiner for Japanese Studies in Denmark. He has advised on curriculum and evaluation and frequently contributes expert commentary to Danish media on Japanese current affairs, including topics such as MeToo in Japan, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and political controversies.

He previously held research and teaching positions at the University of Oslo and Lund University, demonstrating a strong regional and international academic network. His work is supported by a deep engagement with both scholarly and public audiences, reflecting a commitment to impactful, interdisciplinary research.