2024 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Japanese Ethnogenesis: Oka Masao's Theory of Cultural Strata as a Hybrid Outcome of Scholarly Exchange between Austria and Japan
| Project/Area Number |
23K12262
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
Weiss David 九州大学, 人文科学研究院, 講師 (80830273)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2028-03-31
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| Keywords | Volkskunde / Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl / Torii Ryuzo / concept of "Volk" / practical ethnology |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I conducted research on the emergence and development of ethnology and folklore studies in Germany, focusing especially on changing definitions of the concept of "Volk" and changes in the methodologies and primary research objects of the disciplines. Special attention was given to Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl, sometimes considered one of the founders of German folklore studies, since he exerted major influence on Oka's methodology during the wartime period.
I also conducted preliminary research on the emergence of anthropology in Japan, paying special attention to Torii Ryuzo and his theory of Japanese ethnogenesis, which Oka encountered as a student at Tokyo Imperial University. I presented my findings in several guest lectures and at an international conference.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
I was able to visit the Tokushima Prefectural Torii Ryuzo Memorial Museum and the Anthropos Institute in St. Augustin (Germany) to conduct archival research. I presented my findings at the 17th Annual International Conference on Comparative Mythology at Kokugakuin University and in guest lectures at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna and at the University of Tuebingen. I also joined another Kaken project and a research project at the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) on the history of Japanese anthropology, which enabled me to become a member of a network of cultural anthropologists and obtain valuable insights about research literature and archives that are relevant for my research.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In August 2025, I will present my findings at the 19th Convention of German-Speaking Japanologists in Frankfurt. In February 2026, I intend to conduct an international symposium on the reception of the German concept of "Volk" in various academic disciplines at Kyushu University. I have already invited researchers from multiple disciplines, including, literary studies (German literature in Japan and Japanese literature), art history, religious studies, folklore studies, and cultural anthropology to present on the development of the concept of "Volk" and its adoption in Japanese academia. I also intend to visit Meiji University for archival research on Oka Masao.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The remaining amount will be used to support the international symposium in February 2026.
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