• happiness and well-being in Japan
• rural Japan
• sociology of sport and the body
• globalisation
• gambling and betting studies
• Japanese overseas communities in Latin America
• migration and diaspora studies
• anthropology of emotions and the senses 

Profile

I am Professor of Japanese Studies and Vice Head of the Department of East Asian Studies. As a self-trained social anthropologist, my research focusses on the study of contemporary culture and society. I have been interested in processes of cultural globalization long before the term gained currency. Most of my research has been concerned with aspects of sports, emotions, work and migration in a globalising world. I have authored several books and numerous articles and book chapters on sport, mega-events, transnationalism and social issues in contemporary society. My research also extends into the larger East Asian Region, the transnational networks of the Japanese Diaspora, and most recently into the rural periphery of Japan where I have been conducting fieldwork with students, colleagues and scholars from Japan.

Current research projects

Happiness and wellbeing in rural Japan

Aso 2.0

Recent publications

Deputy Head of Department

Director Japan Research Unit

Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques, Advisory Editorial Board (seit 2015)

International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Editorial Board (2014-2019)

Asia Pacific Journal of Sport Studies, Editorial Board (since 2012)

Contemporary Japan (DIJ Tokyo), Editorial Advisory Board (since 2010)

Leisure Studies,Editorial Advisory Board (2008-2015)

Japan Jahrbuch (VSJF), Editorial Board Member (2007-2010)

Japan Aktuell – Journal of Contemporary Japanese Affairs (GIGA Institute for Asian Affairs, Hamburg) Advisory Board Member (2004-2008)

Minikomi – Informationen des Akademischen Arbeitskreis Japan (AAJ), General Editor (1994-2001)

International Sociology Association (ISA, since 2008; board member of the ISA Research Committee RC27 2008-2015)

International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA, since 2006; member of the international advisory board 2008-2015)

European Association of Japanese Studies (EAJS, since 1996; convenor of sociology & anthropology section 2011-2014)

Japan Anthropology Workshop (JAWS, since 1995)

German Association of Social Science Research on Japan (VSJF, since 1995; board member 2000-2009; General Secretary 2000-2006; Acting President 2006-2009)

Austrian Japan-Society for Science and Art (since 1994)

"All for the good life - anthropologiocal and sociological perspectives on happiness in Japan". Anthropology and Sociology Section (5a) at the 14th EAJS conference, 27.-30.8.2014

"Deciphering the Social DNA of Happiness in Japan". International conference, University of Vienna, Vienna, (Austria) 25.-27.4.2014

"Migration and Development". Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna and University of Salzburg, Salzburg (Austria), winter term 2013/14

"Cultures of cheating in sports". Double panel at the ISSA World Congress, Palacio de Convenciones de La Habana, Havana (Cuba), 12-16.07.2011

"Traditional Martial Arts from Japan". Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), winter term 2010/11

"Sport: Power and Movement". Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), winter term 2008/09 and 2009/10

"Football - on the phenomenology of a spectacle". Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), summer term 2008

"Social Sciences Matters". Annual VSJF Conference 2006, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Hamburg (Germany), 10.-12.11.2006

“Hosting Major International Sports Events: Comparing Asia and Europe”. International Asia-Europe Workshop, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh (UK), 11-12.3.2005

"Geld Macht Krise". Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), summer term 2003, winter term 2005/06

"Japan and the Football World Championships 2002". Panel at the 12th Deutschsprachiger Japanologentag, University of Bonn, Bonn (Germany), 30.9.-3.10.2002

"Soccer Nations and Football Cultures in East Asia”. International conference, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), 21.-23.3.2002

Global Players. Culture, business and politics of football. Interdisciplinary lecture series, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria), summer term 2002, 2006

"Sporting Cultures and Nation Cultures in Asia". Double panel at International Convention of Asia Scholars 2, Free University of Berlin, Berlin (Germany), 9.-12.8.2001