Border Island Studies
My research examines border phenomena—both physical and psychological—focusing on how spatial boundaries are constructed and experienced. In particular, I explore the history of warfare and boundary changes in border island regions, and the resulting transformations in human mobility and everyday life. My long-term fieldwork has centered on Sakhalin, a border island shared historically by Japan and Russia. In recent years, my research has expanded to include the neighboring Kuril Islands, while also encompassing Japan’s southern border islands, especially the Amami Archipelago.

Courage and Imagination