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New Approaches to Theories and Methods of Historical Document and Artifact Analysis New Approaches to Theories and Methods of Historical Document and Artifact Analysis

Purpose of the Division

Among the fields of the humanities and social sciences at Kumamoto University, the field of history has produced highly evaluated research and gained wide international recognition. It is vital to disseminate such outstanding academic works to the world and return them to society.

In this division, we aim for the establishment of a new document and artifact analysis as well as a new historical theory on “agriculture, agricultural history, and agricultural social history” as it concerns East Asia, which could not be sufficiently elucidated by conventional historical methods.

Purpose of research

“The establishment of East Asian agriculture, agricultural history,
and agricultural social history by new document and artifact analysis”

Members of the Division

OBATA, Hiroki.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor (director of the division)
Areas of Specialization
Archaeology (Paleoethnobotany in East Asia)
Research Interests
The reexamination of East Asian agricultural history, and plant-use history in the Jomon period based on the indentation method.
ITOH, Masahiko.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor
Areas of Specialization
Socioeconomic History of Ming and Qing Dynasties
Research Interests
The elucidation on the rural society of Jiangnan, China, and the development process of township from the Northern Song dynasty to the Ming dynasty.
INABA, Tsuguharu.
Eisei Bunko Research Center, Professor
Areas of Specialization
History of Medieval and Early Modern Japan
Research Interests
The reconsideration of the formation of early modern Japanese society from medieval peasant society.
IMAMURA, Naoki.
Eisei Bunko Research Center, Associate Professor
Areas of Specialization
History of Early Modern and Modern Japan
Research Interests
The reconsideration of the Meiji Restoration from the perspective of rural communities.