The Anthropological Institute, Nanzan University was established on September 1, 1949, when Nanzan University was founded, succeeding the former Nagoya School of Foreign Languages. Initially called the Institute of Anthropology and Ethnology, its name was changed to the Anthropological Institute in 1954. The institute was established to continue the legacy of Dr. W. Schmidt of the Anthropos Institute (now in Germany), a member of the Society of the Divine Word, and has over 60 years of tradition. Initially aiming for a comprehensive anthropology involving experts in ethnology, physical anthropology, and linguistics, since its reorganization in 1978, it has primarily conducted comparative studies on specific themes centered on the anthropological study of religion, focusing on the traditional ethnic cultures of various regions in Asia.
The institute aims to fundamentally examine the various issues humanity faces today from a global perspective, actively integrating cultural anthropology and archaeology for a comprehensive, long-term understanding of humanity, and expanding its regional focus to include Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
The Anthropological Institute, Nanzan University is one of the few institutions in Japan to bear the name "anthropology." Anthropology seeks to study humanity from a broad perspective, both temporally and spatially. To this end, the institute aims to actively collaborate with the Nanzan University Museum of Anthropology.
The institute's achievements have been published in the "Nanzan University Anthropological Institute Series" and the "Anthropological Institute Newsletter." Since 2010, it has contributed to the development of anthropological research with the peer-reviewed "Annual Review of Anthropology," which accepts external submissions. It also plays a role in dissemination scholarship of Asian studies, folklore, and anthropology worldwide through the editing and publication of the English-language peer-reviewed journal "Asian Ethnology" (formerly "Asian Folklore Studies").
Furthermore, the institute actively contributes to the anthropological community in the Chubu region of Japan by organizing public lectures, symposiums, joint research meetings, and social gatherings, and aims to be an institute open to the general public through events such as anthropology festivals and film screenings.
For further enquiries concerning the Institute's activities, you may contact the Institute by e-mail at ai-nu@ic.nanzan-u.ac.jp.
Anthropological Institute, Nanzan University