National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU) Japan Minpaku, Osaka Spring 2015 Geoffrey Humble University of Birmingham

Minpaku? National Museum of Ethnology Expo ‘70 park, Suita, Osaka Anthropology, cultures, globalization Museum and research library 4 th floor research area – c.40 researchers and postgraduates Seminar series, visiting researchers Japanese competence not required

Application Thesis research – self-consciously ‘Chinese’ writing on ‘foreign’ Mongol rule Idea – Get help with approaching elements of ethnic identities via narrative Opportunity – consult Prof Yamanaka at Minpaku, improve Japanese reading skills (and visit Japan!) Made contact with Prof Yamanaka (Academia.edu page very useful for this)

Practicalities – flights and visa Extra grant paid for trip and allowed life to continue back home Flight cost c.£ day landing visa is very easily extended for UK subjects Museum and visa office staff extremely helpful Added stopover in Taiwan to see friends, network and buy Chinese books

Practicalities - accommodation Tiny but practical flat c.£1800 for 3 months (advance) English-language assistance All bills included, plus washing machine, hob, bedding, TV 100-yen-shop provided the rest!

Practicalities - transport 50-minute (pleasant) walk to the museum 35 minutes by train and monorail (c.£2) 35-minute cycle ride (bike kindly lent by a member of staff) 35 minutes by train to Osaka city centre 1-2 hours by train to Kyoto or Nara

Research Museum facilities: Shared office space (helpful colleagues) Library, printing, copying, scanning Seminars and contacts My contact provided: Advice, suggestions further contacts – seminars and discussions in Kyoto, Fukuoka and Tokyo

Legacy Paper presented at TUFS, Tokyo Contacts in Kyoto now involved in two panels submitted to major international conferences Third panel idea sparked by discussion in Fukuoka Paper presented this autumn developed due to book purchase Improved Japanese skills