Osamu Wada

Osamu Wada is an Associate Professor at Waseda University's School of Culture, Media and Society, specializing in Cultural Anthropology, Folklore Studies, and History of Japanese Drama. His work bridges Japanese Literature and Traditional Performing Arts, focusing on the transmission of Edo-period cultural practices.

• Degree: Master of Arts in Japanese Literature (Waseda University)
• Sub-affiliations: Global Education Center

Research Interests include:

• Aesthetics of traditional Japanese arts and their semiotic significance
• Historical spread of Edo-period stage entertainments across regional Japan
• Digital archiving of Bunraku (puppet theater) and local Joruri (narrative chanting)
• Comparative studies of rice cultivation rituals in Tsushima and Bali
• Mask traditions in Southwest Chinese Nuo-xi and their cultural substrata

Notable grants and research projects include long-term JSPS funding for documenting Edo-period cultural transmission (2001-2006), as well as cross-disciplinary studies on rice field societies in East Asia (2002-2003) and Chinese mask traditions (1999-2003). His teaching responsibilities span graduate and undergraduate courses on History of Japanese Dramatic Arts, Digital Content Technology, and Cultural Body Studies, where he explores embodiment in traditional performance.

His publications reveal a focus on regional theatrical preservation (Kabuki, Bunraku, Bon Odori), visual documentation through actor prints, and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural transmission. Collaborative efforts with Chinese scholars and Waseda's Theater Museum underline his commitment to global cultural preservation and digital humanities.