Matt James

Matt James is a Researcher at the University of East Anglia’s School of History and Art History and serves as the Japanese Arts Database Assistant at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures. His work bridges academic research and artistic practice, focusing on East Asian calligraphy, art history, and cultural relations between Japan and China. With a multidisciplinary background, he holds a PhD and a Master of Science (Honours) in Pure Mathematics from the University of Birmingham (1998).

His research interests include Japanese and Chinese calligraphy techniques, Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges, and the historical context of East Asian art. He has actively practiced calligraphy since 2000, winning national exhibition prizes and exhibiting in Japanese museums. His goal is to disseminate knowledge about calligraphy to English-speaking audiences through academic publications.

James is also a Trustee of the Kenshin Calligraphy Association, contributing to the promotion of calligraphic arts. His expertise spans Japanese language linguistics, Chinese poetry, and the broader East Asian cultural heritage.