Tamaki Endo

Tamaki Endo is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics at Saitama University, specializing in urban development and poverty dynamics in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Her research bridges economics and area studies, focusing on the informal economy, risk resilience, and urban poor communities in Bangkok.

Her research interests include urban development, informal economies, risk and resilience in low-income urban communities, gender and labor, migration, and comparative Asian urbanization. She emphasizes a dynamic understanding of poverty, examining how individuals and communities respond to risks such as fire, illness, and unemployment in contexts with weak social security systems.

The two major publications highlight her long-term fieldwork in Bangkok, analyzing how urban poor populations survive under precarious conditions. Her work reveals the complex interplay between individuals, households, communities, and policy frameworks, showing how community structures absorb shocks and reorganize under stress. The research spans disciplines including economics, sociology, and urban planning.

• The 28th Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize

Dr. Endo has conducted extensive fieldwork in Thailand, including a two-and-a-half-year stay, and has been involved in joint research comparing urban dynamics across Asian cities. She has also studied labor-intensive industries, gender roles, and immigrant workers. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Economics from Kyoto University and research fellowships with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Her work is grounded in interdisciplinary field research, emphasizing local perspectives and lived experiences in urban poor communities. She continues to contribute to understanding the challenges of rapid urbanization, inequality, and survival strategies in the Global South.