Nissim Otmazgin

Prof. Nissim Otmazgin is a Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Department of Asian Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he also serves as Acting Director of the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. His research focuses on Japanese popular culture, East and Southeast Asian regionalization, and cultural policy.

• PhD in Japanese Studies from Kyoto University (2007), awarded the Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize
• Author of Regionalizing Culture: the Political Economy of Japanese Popular Culture in Asia (2013) and co-author of The Anime Boom in the US (2017)
• Co-editor of influential books on Japanese and East Asian culture and policy

His work explores the interplay between cultural industries and state policies in Japan and South Korea, with fieldwork conducted in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok, and Seoul. He has received grants from the European Union's Marie Curie Program, Israel Science Foundation, Japan Foundation, and Korea Foundation.

Scientific Awards:

• Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize (2007)
• Hebrew University President Prize for Outstanding Young Researcher (2012-2013)
• Included in Israel's Young Academy (2015)
• Listed in Outstanding Teachers List (2009-2015)

Prof. Otmazgin founded the Israeli Association for Japanese Studies and chaired it from 2012–2015. He regularly publishes in journals such as Pacific Affairs, Media, Culture & Society, and Contemporary Japan.