International Center for Folk Culture Studies

This project aims to conduct a basic study regarding the Attic Museum and researchers at this institute in order to gain insight into the nature of the Attic based on the academic activities of its founder, Keizo Shibusawa, and materials obtained through these activities. In particular, their groundbreaking research on Oki will be closely examined.

Specifically, the objective of this project is to examine why and how the Oki research was conducted and the results it produced. The effect of the research on the Attic Museum as an organization and its influence on subsequent studies by its researchers will also be discussed from a historical point of view. Changes in various aspects of folk culture in Oki and the nearby areas from the time of the Attic research to present day will be recorded and observations will be made on folk culture events in the past and at present.

One goal of this project is to compile a comprehensive collection of photographs, videos and mingu relating to the Attic research on Oki. An anthology of papers by all group members on their new findings and discussions on relevant topics will also be published.

（FY2015-2016）

Reports on Field Studies by the Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture No. 26
(International Center for Folk Culture Studies joint research project [incentive project] research report)

 

	Name	Specialty	Affiliation
PL	KOBAYASHI Koichiro	Japanese Folklore	Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University
PM	HAKETA Tomoyuki	Folklore, Museology	Yokohama History Museum
PM	KASHIMURA Kenji	Folklore	Tottori Prefectural Archives
PM	KIMURA Hiroki	Folklore, Study of mingu	Ryukoku University
PM	MAEDA Yoshihiko	Ancient Japanese History	Kanagawa University
PM	NAGAI Miho	Japanese Folklore	Shibusawa Memorial Museum

PL-Project leader   　PM-Project member　

• [Second Term] Joint research projects(regular projects)
  1. Research on the history of maritime areas and people
• An Ethnographical Study of Traditional Female Divers in Taiwan Called Hailu, with the Aim of Developing Research on Traditional Female Divers in East Asia and the Pacific Rim
• Comparison of traditional wooden boat building and sailing techniques of East Asia

• 2. Research on mingu materials
• Fundamental Research on Functional Analysis of Mingu

• 4. Research on folk culture
• Research on the activities of Shibusawa Fisheries History Laboratory in the prewar period

• [Second Term] Joint research projects (grant project)
• Japanese Immigrants in Brazil and Their Lives As Seen through Mingu in Registro, the State of Sao Paulo
• Comprehensive Study of Archival Documents on a Kumano Pirate Clan – the Koyama Family
• Acceptance and Use of Folklore Studies by the Young Generation in the Prewar Showa Period
• Historical Study of Deep Sea Fishing in Oshima, Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture: Focus on Materials Salvaged from Great East Japan Earthquake
• Basic study on the research activities of the Attic Museum —Examination, analysis and folkloristic observations on the Oki research
• Study on Moriharu Kawarada’s application of herbal knowledge in modern industry

• [First Term]
  1. Integrated research on traditional maritime communities
• Comparative Research on Fishing Ground Use
• Integrated Research on the History of Marine Products in the Waters around the Japanese Archipelago
• Comparative Research on Traditional Boat-Building Techniques around the Pacific Rim

• 2. Presentation of folk implements and artifacts as cultural resources
• Basic Research on Nomenclature of Mingu (Folk Implements)
• Comparative Cultural History from the Perspective of East Asian Mingu and Material Culture

• 3. Systematization of nonwritten materials (Ebiki, physical techniques, landscape design)
• Comparative Study of Asian Ritual Performing Arts

• 4. Presentation of film materials as cultural resources
• Objects, Bodies, and Representation in the Attic Films and Photographs

• 5. Development of systems for sharing folk culture materials
• Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology during World War II and the Occupation