Current Position

Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (ASAFAS, Kyoto University)
Special Research Fellow, Institute for Art Anthropology (Tama Art University)
Board Member, Commission on Visual Anthropology (IUAES)

Field of Specialization

Theory and Practice of Anthropological Film-making, African Area Studies

Lecturer (Temporal)

2009-	University of Shizuoka, Faculty of International Relations (Theory and Practice of Anthropological Filmmaking) Miyagi Gakuin Women's University, Department of Music (Musical Anthropology in Africa) Kobe College, School of Letters (Africa and Visual Representation)
2008-	Sonoda Women's University, Department of Culture Development (Digital Archiving)
2007	Komazawa Women's University, Department of Visual Communication (Theory and Practice of Anthropological Filmmaking)

Previous Support for Research

2009-2011	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan (research collaborator). "Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Africa"
2007-2009	Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science “The Visual Anthropological Research on the Change and Continuity of the Folkloric Performing Arts in Africa”
2006-2007	UNESCO/Norway funds-in-trust “The Audio-visual Documentation of Traditional Ethiopian Dances in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia”
2006	Sasagawa Scientific Research Grant, Japan Science Society, "The Visual Anthropological Research on the Change and Continuity of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Local Societies in Africa”
2005-2007	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan (research collaborator). "The Study on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Local Societies in Africa: challenges and prospects for preservation"
2003-2004	21st Century COE Program -Aiming for Center of Excellence of Integrated Area Studies-, “Anthropological Study on the Performance-Making process of Azmari and Lalibala”

Award

2008	"Premio per il film più innovativo (Prize for the Most Innovative film)", for the film “Room 11, Ethiopia Hotel”, Sardinia International Ethnographic Film Festival, NUORO, Italy

Jury

2009	The 11th Royal Anthropological Institute International Festival of Ethnographic Film, Intangible Culture Film Prize Section, (Leeds, UK)

Organizer of International Academic Events

2009	“Visualizing ‘Japan’-Investigation of Epistemology and Methodology based on Dialogues with Filmmakers” Workshop hosted by Kyoto University GCOE program "Reconstruction of the Intimate and Public Sphere in 21st Century Asia" (Kyoto University, Faculty of letters) Coordinator with An van. Dienderen
2008	“Preserving local knowledge in the Horn of Africa: Challenges and prospects for collaborative research in oral literature, music and ritual practices” Workshop organized by African Local Knowledge Research Group and Global COE Program of Kyoto University (Harari Cultural Center, Harar, Ethiopia) Co-organizer with Masayoshi Shigeta and Simone Tarsitani “The New Wave of The Japanese Anthropological Cinema” Screening section of “Aspect-The Festival of Visual Anthropology” (Torun Ethnographic Museum, Poland) Film Selection
2007	“Rethinking Ethiopian Studies through Film Presentation” 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Film Panel, (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim) Organizer with Wolbert Smidt
2006	“Expanding the Horizon of Area Studies through Film Presentation” Kyoto symposium: Crossing Disciprinary Boundaries and Re-visioning Area Studies, Satellite Workshop (Kyoto University) Main organizer “Toward the New Age of Anthropological Media” The seminar of 21st Century COE Program (Kyoto University) Main organizer