2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Experiences at the Edge of Science and Religion: a Comparative Research on Exorcism in Contemporary Japan, Italy and Austria
| Project/Area Number |
15K16905
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| Research Institution | Ritsumeikan University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | Exorcism / Spirit Possession / Religious Healing / Ritual / Psychiatry |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During the AY 2017, I focused on fieldwork both in Italy and in Japan. I went to Italy in late August-early September and in March, whereas I went to fieldwork in Japan in February, August and September.
As for Italy, I met several exorcists and continued participant observation as a helper during Roman Catholic exorcisms in Central Italy. I started a collaboration with the possessed woman I have followed in these years, with the purpose of publishing a book together. I also collaborated for the realization of a documentary (NHK) on Catholic exorcism in Italy. At the moment, I am confident that I have enough data about the exorcists' side, on the "structural" aspects of exorcism and on the intersections and collaborations with psychiatrists. I also gathered more data on possessed people's experiences.
As for Japan, I continued my fieldwork in Kenmi Jinja (Tokushima Pref). The fieldwork has given very good results both about (inugami) possession and ritual healing.
I also continued bibliographic and archival research both in Italy and in Japan.
I started publishing research results. An article was published as part of a special issue of the Japanese Review of Cultural Anthropology that I co-edited, and two book chapters as well as one Journal article are currently under review. I also gave a number of presentations at International Conferences, as well as at an International Workshop that I co-organized in Ritsumeikan University (January 2018).
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