Working with university department, graduate school, and curator course
The Department of History and Folklore Studies in the Faculty of Cross-Cultural and Japanese Studies was established in April 2020
The new Department of History and Folklore Studies is grounded in the traditions of the Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture and systematically linked to the existing program of the Graduate School of History and Folklore Studies. Its programs facilitate studentsʼ learning in “history” by exploring changes of the times from antiquity to the contemporary Japan, “folklore studies” by investigating the customs and beliefs of various regions of Japan through field research, “culture vitalization” by deploying these cultural resources for regional revitalization projects and tourism.
The new Minato Mirai Campus was opened in April 2021.
Distinctive Approaches to Learning
During the July 2019 Open Campus, our faculty members held events and hands-on classes for the Department of History and Folklore Studies.
Historical Documents / Mingu Study Experience / Educational Tour
Our faculty members Maeda Yoshihiko and Sekiguchi Hiroo held a tour as part of the educational activities of the Department of History and Folklore Studies, allowing visitors to browse and observe items in the institute’s collection. Participants were able to physically touch mingu (folk implements), observe ongoing training in the restoration of historical documents, decipher parts of texts written in kuzushiji (cursive script), and practice making koyori (twisted paper strings) that bind historical documents.
Historical Documents / Mingu Study Experience / Educational Tour
Hands-on Lessons
Maeda Yoshihiko and Yasumuro Satoru conducted hands-on lessons, hosted by the Department of History and Folklore Studies, titled “Youth of Heiankyo” and “Introduction to Folklore—Looking at ‘July Zoni Soup.’ ” The following video provides an introduction to Prof. Yasumuro’s class.
“Introduction to Folklore—Looking at ‘July Zoni Soup.’ ”
Graduate School of History and Folklore Studies,
Kanagawa University
Kanagawa University Graduate School of History & Folklore Studies is an educational arm of ISJFC. Here, education and research activities are carried out in close relation with ISJFC and the Research Center for Nonwritten Cultural Materials.
Curator Course
ISJFC also supports the operation of the Curator Course, which provides basic and practical training on collecting, compiling, studying, and exhibiting materials at museums to develop curators specializing in the handling of mingu and historical documents.
