Activities and projects
Designation as a Museum-Equivalent Facility
In March 2023, in line with Article 29 of the Museum Act, ISFJC was designated as a “Museum-Equivalent Facility.” The Jomin Bunka Museum has opened on the first floor of Building 3 of the Yokohama Campus.
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Jomin Bunka Museum’s “Approach to Folk Culture” -
Inside the museum
Publication of research findings
Research findings are continually publicized through various publications, seminars, workshops as well as databases and other information on the ISJFC website.
Collection, research, and publication of materials
Historical materials collected through field survey are compiled and catalogued with the cooperation of the material owners. Compilation and analysis of ISJFC’s own collection of materials is also in progress.
Research seminars
Since 1983, public seminars have been held to share research findings that have been verified and validated by Institute members. External researchers are also invite to report on their research to enhance research level.
Joint projects with other institutions
fishing nets in Yuasa, Wakayama Prefecture
ISJFC actively engages in collaborative research with various institutions in different regions and research fields.
Academic exchange initiatives
Ethnology, Japan (February 2020)
ISJFC conducts academic exchange with the following overseas research institutions to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation in folk culture studies.
- Taipei National University of the Arts School of Culture Resources
- National Museum of Ethnology
- Institute of Oceanic Culture, National Taiwan Ocean University,Taiwan
- China Marine Culture Research Center, Zhejiang Ocean University, China
- Center of Japanese Studies University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Korean Cultural Heritage, Chung-Ang University, South Korea
- Institution for Marine and Island Cultures (MIC), Mokpo National University,
South Korea - Youngnam Culture Institute, Kyungpook National University, South Korea
- Institute for Maritime Culture, Pukyong National University, South Korea
- Institute of Oceanic Culture, Ocean University of China, China
- Ocean Culture and Economic Research Center, Shanghai Ocean University, China
● Federation of Five Universities
- Institute of Folklore Studies Seijo University
- The Memorial Institute of Dr. Orikuchi, Kokugakuin University
- Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University
- Community Research Institute of Aichi University
- Anthropological Institute, Nanzan University
East Asian Island and Ocean Forum
Culture Network” (Pukyong National University/
November 2019)
The East Asian Island and Ocean Forum, inaugurated in FY2012 primarily by research institutes relating to the ocean cultures of Korea, China, and Japan, has been hosted each year by each participating institute in turn since FY2013, providing a space for important discussions regarding ocean culture. In FY2017, the 5th Forum was hosted in Matsuyama City,Ehime Prefecture, by the International Center for Folk Culture Studies/Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University. The theme of the forum was “The Diversity of Ocean Cultures.”
Research Center for Nonwritten Cultural Materials
enhance fighting spirit (collection of the Research
Center for Nonwritten Cultural Materials)
The Center was attached to the Institute to carry on the 21st Century COE Program “ Systematization of Nonwritten Cultural Materials for the Study of Human Society. ” It focuses on the forms in which human activities are recorded other than the written language. It has a broad geographical scope, covering non-Asian cultures as well as East Asian traditions.
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International Center for Folk Culture Studies (through March 31, 2022)
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 (Photo by Shen Te-Lung)
The Center was established as a joint usage and research center (certified period July 2009–March 2020) based within this institute. The Center has worked on interdisciplinary joint research projects to establish methodologies for the comprehensive, true-to-life investigation, research, and analysis of lifestyles and cultures and to explore pathways toward multicultural coexistence, sharing and making available the institute’s historical materials and databases to various external researchers. Its projects concluded their 13-year run on March 31, 2022.
