Communicate Widely and Seek New Research Seeds: Jinbunchi Communicator Roles and Rekihaku Databases

Sachiko Kawai
Location: Zoom Meeting; Contact for meeting information

It is challenging to communicate widely about highly specialized research, especially something foreign to your targeted audience. In this workshop, we will discuss how to effectively communicate specialized research across disciplines.

I will draw on my experience in pursuing this challenging task as a jinbunchi communicator (人文知コミュニケーター) at the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku) and the National Institutes for the Humanities. First, I will introduce what is a jinbunchi communicator. Who created this position and how did it develop? What are these specific roles expected of jinbunchi communicators? What kinds of joys and challenges that did I encounter while carrying out such roles?

As part of my experience, I will also discuss my own research. Additionally, I will share useful information for future Japan studies, such as ongoing database projects at Rekihaku, tools, and their plans. Specifically, I will introduce the Digital Engi shiki (デジタル延喜式) and the Japanese Medieval Documents WEB (日本の中世文書WEB). These are tremendously valuable tools for specialists in premodern Japanese history, but I believe that they are great for teaching at college and have the potential to encourage non-specialists to get interested in the field.