Todd S. Munson

Todd S. Munson is Professor and Chair of Asian Studies and Director of Japanese Studies at Randolph-Macon College. He holds a Ph.D. in Japanese Studies (2004) and an M.A. in Asian Studies (2000) from Indiana University, complemented by a B.A. in English/Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (1991). His research explores Japanese visual/media culture, historical narratives, and cross-cultural exchanges across Asia.

Research interests span:

• Japanese history and Edo-period societal structures
• Film as historical documentation and cultural artifact
• Transnational influences via Silk Road trade routes
• Asian diaspora literature and identity formation
• Mathematical traditions in premodern Japan

Recent publications demonstrate multidisciplinary approaches: mathematical anthropology in Edo-period texts (2022), Silk Road cultural transmission (2022), and sociohistorical analysis of Korean-Japanese literature (2019).

Teaching portfolio includes 20+ courses:

• Japanese language (Elementary to Advanced levels)
• Cultural studies: Weird Japan, Manga!, Traditional Japanese Civilization
• Interdisciplinary topics: Japanese Film as History, Asian American, Cambodian History & Society
• Capstone experiences and study-travel programs