Tag Archives: kyoto

久しぶり~ Back in Japan.

Being a grad student is never boring.

Tiring? Yes. Stressful and soul-draining at times? Absolutely. But not boring. In the time since my last post (2 years… ^_^;;; ), I ended up switching from an MFA track to an MA and PhD track program in Asian Theatre with a Japan Focus, and have progressed to the dissertational research phase of my degree.

It’s been nearly two months but my field research year as part of my doctoral dissertation has begun~ It’s hard to believe that I am back in Japan again, this time in Kyoto, even if for just a short year. My apartment is small but it’s perfect for just me and I have an air con so I can stay warm in these winter months. I’ve only gotten sick once so far which I believe may be a personal record for me.

The past two months have gone by so fast and also painfully slowly. I don’t have a lot of confidence as this is the first time I have ever done something like this before, but I’m doing what I can by taking each day and the progress I manage to achieve in that day as an accomplishment in of itself.

My primary focus is of course on my research, but I also hope to make progress in other creative pursuits, especially writing.

Here’s to a better year.

PAPER: Through the Eyes of the Fox

Written in May 2009  I wrote this paper based on my research on Shinto (sp. Inari) and East Asian folklore regarding the fox. I was fascinated by Fushimi Inari Taisha, and I was familiar with the kitsune as well as Shinto, so I started researching Inari and fox lore in more detail.

Through the Eyes of the Fox: Japan’s Connections with Korea through Inari Worship and the Plausible Influence on Shinto Religion

As the sunlight fades and dusk creeps in, an air of eerie tranquility settles on the shrine complex.  Passing underneath thousands of vermillion torii gates, it seems like a tunnel leading to another world. And everywhere one looks there is the expectation for a slender, lithe vulpine creature with a luxurious tail to suddenly appear and lope through the trees. Such is the atmosphere at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of Inari, one of Shinto’s most diverse and popular kami. One of the most unique aspects of Inari worship that is often overlooked is its strong connections to the Korean peninsula, which are most distinctly seen in its origins and the central symbol of Inari, the fox. Given how prominent Inari worship is, how the Korean impact on it may have influenced Shinto beliefs in general is also worth examining. Continue reading PAPER: Through the Eyes of the Fox