Bio
I have lived in Japan for over ten years, indulging my love of Japanese art here in the worlds of art, history, museums, and religious sites. Please see my academic background here. I have studied and worked on Japanese art and history in museums in Japan (Nara National Museum) and the United States (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) and taught Buddhist Studies and Japanese art history at the University of California for 5 years. I have extensive experience in Japanese-English translation and interpretation, research and publish scholarly papers on Japanese art and Buddhist cultural history in Japan, and have given numerous presentations on these topics in both Japanese and English (you can find some of these papers and talks here). I also curate and assist with tailor-made tours and FAM trips in Japan. I live in Kyoto City.
What I do
I provide curators, researchers, collectors, journalists, and other art / history enthusiasts with information, interpretation, and guiding in English about (and at) museum/gallery exhibitions and related events in Japan. Area-wise, I focus in particular on Nara, Kyoto, and Wakayama – regions rich in Buddhist culture, a subject in which I specialise – but can give assistance regarding other places as well.
For clients outside Japan I source and translate specialist information (exhibition materials, reviews, scholarly papers etc.), and can write tailored material. For those visiting or in Japan, in addition to these services I curate and guide individual/group tours based on permanent and special exhibitions or around research subjects, provide interpretation for talks/interviews, and facilitate exchanges with art specialists. I also speak with museums and schools, and publish monthly listings here on this website of exhibitions and special viewings in Nara, along with exhibition reviews. I’m passionate about art and enjoy being able to assist others in deepening their knowledge too.
Please contact me with your requests at the email address below. My assistance ranges from single guided tours to interpretation/translation to more extensive, specialised, and creative research projects and tours. I’d be happy to help you!
ART & RITUAL JAPAN 