The National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) is a research center for ethnology and cultural anthropology.

Past Minpaku Seminars

Zafimaniry Life in the Mist Forest of Madagascar
S420
Zafimaniry Life in the Mist Forest of Madagascar
May 18, 2013
Zafimaniry Craftmaking in the Mist Forest of Madagascar
S419
Zafimaniry Craftmaking in the Mist Forest of Madagascar
April 20, 2013
Families Today: Looking at the Italian Case
S418
Families Today: Looking at the Italian Case
March 16, 2013
The Changing Face of the European Linguistic Map: Towards Multilingual Societies or Not?
S417
The Changing Face of the European Linguistic Map: Towards Multilingual Societies or Not?
February 16, 2013
Christianity and Fascism in Europe: The Case of Legionar in Romania
S416
Christianity and Fascism in Europe: The Case of Legionar in Romania
January 19, 2013
Making a Nanai Bark Boat: Reconstructing the Birch Bark Culture of Far East Russia
S415
Making a Nanai Bark Boat: Reconstructing the Birch Bark Culture of Far East Russia
December 15, 2012
Weaving and Clothing in Southeast Asia
S414
Weaving and Clothing in Southeast Asia
November 17, 2012
Raffia weaving among Bantu people
S413
Raffia weaving among Bantu people
October 20, 2012
Return to Handworks
S412
Return to Handworks
September 15, 2012
Info-activist Manifest: Role of Museums in Citizens’ Intellectual Exploration
S410
Info-activist Manifest: Role of Museums in Citizens’ Intellectual Exploration
July 21, 2012
Life goods analysis at the high economic growth period based on Kon Wajiro's "Modernologio"
S409
Life goods analysis at the high economic growth period based on Kon Wajiro's "Modernologio"
June 16, 2012
Exhibition "KonWajiro Retrospective" and the researches on daily life today
S408
Exhibition "KonWajiro Retrospective" and the researches on daily life today
May 19, 2012
Kimchi: The Life of Koreans in Sakhalin
S407
Kimchi: The Life of Koreans in Sakhalin
April 21, 2012
Culture and identity: The present of Burma / Myanmar
S406
Culture and identity: The present of Burma / Myanmar
March 17, 2012
Modern religions seen through calendars
S405
Modern religions seen through calendars
February 18, 2012
Native American jewelry: The past and the present
S404
Native American jewelry: The past and the present
January 21, 2012
Christians in the Middle East: Tough and flexible minority
S403
Christians in the Middle East: Tough and flexible minority
December 17, 2011
Aynu life in Japanese paintings
S402
Aynu life in Japanese paintings
November 19, 2011
Regionality of the Ainu Culture: Through comparison with the artifacts of neighboring ethnic groups
S401
Regionality of the Ainu Culture: Through comparison with the artifacts of neighboring ethnic groups
October 15, 2011
Migration in the Era of Globalization
S400
Migration in the Era of Globalization
September 17, 2011
Life-styles in Oceania: Distant voyaging tying islands together
S399
Life-styles in Oceania: Distant voyaging tying islands together
August 20, 2011
Human dispersal into Oceania: Living strategies in island environments
S398
Human dispersal into Oceania: Living strategies in island environments
July 16, 2011
Cloth, mankind, skills and environment
S397
Cloth, mankind, skills and environment
June 18, 2011
The knowledge foundation of the young Umesao Tadao
S396
The knowledge foundation of the young Umesao Tadao
May 21, 2011
Umesao's theory of civilization: From the viewpoint of primatology
S395
Umesao's theory of civilization: From the viewpoint of primatology
April 16, 2011
The Beginning of Minpaku
S394
The Beginning of Minpaku
March 19, 2011
Japanese Characters in the Writing Systems of the World
S393
Japanese Characters in the Writing Systems of the World
February 19, 2011
Minpaku Ethnologue
S392
Minpaku Ethnologue
January 15, 2011
Balkan Merchants and Sheepherders
S391
Balkan Merchants and Sheepherders
December 18, 2010
How are the African Kings Now?: Culture and Politics in the Igbo Society of Nigeria
S390
How are the African Kings Now?: Culture and Politics in the Igbo Society of Nigeria
November 20, 2010
Works of El Anatsui between art and Anthropology
S389
Works of El Anatsui between art and Anthropology
October 16, 2010
Between Museums & Art Galleries: Africa Seen from the Artworld
S388
Between Museums & Art Galleries: Africa Seen from the Artworld
September 18, 2010
The Drums Speak out: Music and Social Justice
S387
The Drums Speak out: Music and Social Justice
August 21, 2010
Gong Sekati: Gamelan Inherited from A Saint
S386
Gong Sekati: Gamelan Inherited from A Saint
July 17, 2010
Northern Thai Spirit Dance
S385
Northern Thai Spirit Dance
June 19, 2010
Languages in the World: THeir Types and GeneticRelationship
S384
Languages in the World: THeir Types and GeneticRelationship
May 15, 2010
Exhibiting Languages of the World, the World of Language
S383
Exhibiting Languages of the World, the World of Language
April 17, 2010
Democracy and Kingdom in Tonga
S382
Democracy and Kingdom in Tonga
March 20, 2010
Messages Conveyed through the Renovated African Gallery
S381
Messages Conveyed through the Renovated African Gallery
February 20, 2010
In the Footsteps of Alexander: An Interview with Photographer Omura Tsugisato
S380
In the Footsteps of Alexander: An Interview with Photographer Omura Tsugisato
January 16, 2010
Building New Bonds between Communities Stricken by Natural Disaster
S379
Building New Bonds between Communities Stricken by Natural Disaster
December 19, 2009
Metamorphosis and Transformation: The Philosophical Foundation of Inuit Art and Northwest Coast Indian Art
S378
Metamorphosis and Transformation: The Philosophical Foundation of Inuit Art and Northwest Coast Indian Art
November 21, 2009
The Development of Culture under Extreme Conditions: Studies on Ways People Live and Survive
S377
The Development of Culture under Extreme Conditions: Studies on Ways People Live and Survive
October 17, 2009
The World of Inuit Art: Messages from the Arctic
S376
The World of Inuit Art: Messages from the Arctic
September 19, 2009
Listening to a Modern History of East Asian Music: Nippon Columbia's Overseas Recordings
S375
Listening to a Modern History of East Asian Music: Nippon Columbia's Overseas Recordings
August 15, 2009
Weddings of the Han People under Glocalization
S374
Weddings of the Han People under Glocalization
July 18, 2009
Christian Art on the Frontier: Churches and Their Decorative Art in the Jesuit Missions of South America
S373
Christian Art on the Frontier: Churches and Their Decorative Art in the Jesuit Missions of South America
June 20, 2009
The Sen Families and Their Craftsmen
S372
The Sen Families and Their Craftsmen
May 16, 2009
Inheriting a Famous Family Name
S371
Inheriting a Famous Family Name
April 18, 2009
Chanoyu (the Japanese Tea Ceremony) Crafts as Art
S370
Chanoyu (the Japanese Tea Ceremony) Crafts as Art
March 21, 2009
Memories of the Miraculous: A Case Study of Village-based Economic Development Projects in Fiji
S369
Memories of the Miraculous: A Case Study of Village-based Economic Development Projects in Fiji
February 21, 2009
The Bon Religion of Tibet
S368
The Bon Religion of Tibet
January 17, 2009
Handicrafts of Pastoral People: Materials, Tools, Techniques
S367
Handicrafts of Pastoral People: Materials, Tools, Techniques
December 20, 2008
The Cultural Exchange of the Encounter: Interchange with Foreign Countries in the Tokugawa “Seclusion”
S366
The Cultural Exchange of the Encounter: Interchange with Foreign Countries in the Tokugawa “Seclusion”
November 15, 2008
To View and to be Viewed: How Asia and Europe have been Represented by Museums in the Modern Period
S365
To View and to be Viewed: How Asia and Europe have been Represented by Museums in the Modern Period
October 18, 2008
Exchanging Expressions: An Introduction to the Special Exhibition “Self and Others: Portraits from Asia and Europe”
S364
Exchanging Expressions: An Introduction to the Special Exhibition “Self and Others: Portraits from Asia and Europe”
September 20, 2008
Women in Mexico: What They Have Learned from a Rural Development Project
S363
Women in Mexico: What They Have Learned from a Rural Development Project
August 16, 2008
Korean Society before Democratization was Reflected in Movies
S362
Korean Society before Democratization was Reflected in Movies
July 19, 2008
Creating a New Life through Persimmon Leaves: Living more than a ‘Normal’ Life
S361
Creating a New Life through Persimmon Leaves: Living more than a ‘Normal’ Life
June 21, 2008
Ethnic Albums: How Minorities Were Viewed in Traditional China
S360
Ethnic Albums: How Minorities Were Viewed in Traditional China
May 17, 2008
Village Tourism and Ethnic Culture in Xishuangbanna: Cases from Fieldwork among the Dai
S359
Village Tourism and Ethnic Culture in Xishuangbanna: Cases from Fieldwork among the Dai
April 19, 2008
Lifestyles in the Stilt Houses of the Zhuang People: An Introduction to the Special Exhibition “The Profound Earth: Life and Porcelain in a Minority Area in South China”
S358
Lifestyles in the Stilt Houses of the Zhuang People: An Introduction to the Special Exhibition “The Profound Earth: Life and Porcelain in a Minority Area in South China”
March 15, 2008
Dormant Japanese Handicrafts in Europe: A Report of Japanese Collections Overseas
S357
Dormant Japanese Handicrafts in Europe: A Report of Japanese Collections Overseas
February 16, 2008
50 Years of Archaeological Investigations by Japanese Researchers in the Andes
S356
50 Years of Archaeological Investigations by Japanese Researchers in the Andes
January 19, 2008
Connecting Exhibitions to Visitors: Museum Communication at MINPAKU
S355
Connecting Exhibitions to Visitors: Museum Communication at MINPAKU
December 15, 2007
Island Life Today: From Easter Island to Madagascar
S354
Island Life Today: From Easter Island to Madagascar
October 20, 2007
Flying Canoes and Sinking Ships: Introducing "Vaka Moana and Island Life Today"
S353
Flying Canoes and Sinking Ships: Introducing "Vaka Moana and Island Life Today"
September 15, 2007
Transportation in Australia: How Distance in the Outback Has Been Overcome
S352
Transportation in Australia: How Distance in the Outback Has Been Overcome
August 18, 2007
Development Aid and Anthropology: Why Does Good Will Not Ensure Good Deeds ?
S351
Development Aid and Anthropology: Why Does Good Will Not Ensure Good Deeds ?
July 21, 2007
International Health Cooperation and Cultural Anthropology
S350
International Health Cooperation and Cultural Anthropology
June 16, 2007
Pilgrimage Talk
S349
Pilgrimage Talk
May 19, 2007
Pilgrimages to Sacred Places
S348
Pilgrimages to Sacred Places
April 21, 2007
Shooting Pilgrimages and Sacred Places with Camera
S347
Shooting Pilgrimages and Sacred Places with Camera
March 17, 2007
The Culture of Insanity? A Culture-bound Syndrome in Malaysia
S346
The Culture of Insanity? A Culture-bound Syndrome in Malaysia
February 17, 2007
Looking into Social Change in India after the 1990’s: Comparison of Lives in Cities and Villages
S345
Looking into Social Change in India after the 1990’s: Comparison of Lives in Cities and Villages
January 20, 2007
Ainu Customs Represented in Ainu-e
S344
Ainu Customs Represented in Ainu-e
December 16, 2006
The Influence of Java Sarasa 'Javanese batik' as Seen in the Printed Cloth of West Africa
S343
The Influence of Java Sarasa 'Javanese batik' as Seen in the Printed Cloth of West Africa
November 18, 2006
Arabesque of Batik Designs and Techniques: From the World and to the World
S342
Arabesque of Batik Designs and Techniques: From the World and to the World
October 21, 2006
What is Going on Backstage at Minpaku?
S341
What is Going on Backstage at Minpaku?
September 16, 2006
Counting Exhibits at Minpaku
S340
Counting Exhibits at Minpaku
August 19, 2006
Shishimai “Japanese Lion Dance”
S339
Shishimai “Japanese Lion Dance”
July 15, 2006
The Meaning of “Truth” in the Mass-Media Era and the “Discovery” of the Tasaday
S338
The Meaning of “Truth” in the Mass-Media Era and the “Discovery” of the Tasaday
June 17, 2006
From West Africa to the World: The Itinerary of African merchants
S337
From West Africa to the World: The Itinerary of African merchants
May 20, 2006
Touch and Grow Rich: Our Five Senses Will Open up a New Field in Anthropology
S336
Touch and Grow Rich: Our Five Senses Will Open up a New Field in Anthropology
April 15, 2006
Children, Community and Museum
S335
Children, Community and Museum
March 18, 2006
Tracing the Legend of Alexander the Great: From Pseudo-Callisthenes to Oliver Stone
S334
Tracing the Legend of Alexander the Great: From Pseudo-Callisthenes to Oliver Stone
February 18, 2006
Uzbekistan and Islam: Seeking for Harmony between Securalism and Islamic Revival
S333
Uzbekistan and Islam: Seeking for Harmony between Securalism and Islamic Revival
January 21, 2006
Merry Christmas! Changing Ways of Celebrating Christmas in Germany
S332
Merry Christmas! Changing Ways of Celebrating Christmas in Germany
December 17, 2005
The History of Corn: From Ritual to Industrial Use
S331
The History of Corn: From Ritual to Industrial Use
November 19, 2005
Saris that are Not Termed Sari: A Case in Nepal
S330
Saris that are Not Termed Sari: A Case in Nepal
October 15, 2005
Imagining the Sari
S329
Imagining the Sari
September 17, 2005
Madagascar: Crossroads in the Indian Ocean
S328
Madagascar: Crossroads in the Indian Ocean
August 20, 2005
Ethnic Groups in Border Areas of China and Vietnam: Focusing on the Mutual
S327
Ethnic Groups in Border Areas of China and Vietnam: Focusing on the Mutual
July 16, 2005
Confucian Culture and the Potential Power of Chinese Society
S326
Confucian Culture and the Potential Power of Chinese Society
June 18, 2005
The 10-face Module as a View of the Buddha: The Proportion of Tibetan Buddhist
S325
The 10-face Module as a View of the Buddha: The Proportion of Tibetan Buddhist
May 21, 2005
It Was Caused by a Love Letter: Takamine Tadasu’s Common Sense
S324
It Was Caused by a Love Letter: Takamine Tadasu’s Common Sense
April 16, 2005
Strange Shaped Woven Textiles of Peruvian Andes.
S323
Strange Shaped Woven Textiles of Peruvian Andes.
March 19, 2005
Comparative Studies of Wrestling: Japanese sumo and Mongolian bukh
S322
Comparative Studies of Wrestling: Japanese sumo and Mongolian bukh
February 19, 2005
Power of Image & Sound
S321
Power of Image & Sound
January 15, 2005
Art and History: Blackfella’s Oral Tradition
S320
Art and History: Blackfella’s Oral Tradition
December 18, 2004
Arabian Nights with Sounds and Images: Orientalism in Western classical music
S319
Arabian Nights with Sounds and Images: Orientalism in Western classical music
November 20, 2004
A West African Civilization Based on Rice and Fish
S318
A West African Civilization Based on Rice and Fish
October 16, 2004
Globalization of the traditional Arabian bellydance
S317
Globalization of the traditional Arabian bellydance
September 18, 2004
ISTR as a multiethnic NGO
S316
ISTR as a multiethnic NGO
August 21, 2004
What is Food Security? Lessons from the Book of Taro
S315
What is Food Security? Lessons from the Book of Taro
July 17, 2004
Transformation of Family in the Contemporary India
S314
Transformation of Family in the Contemporary India
June 19, 2004
Brazilian immigrants and their entertainments
S313
Brazilian immigrants and their entertainments
May 15, 2004
Chinese Lion Dance and Multiethnic Japan
S312
Chinese Lion Dance and Multiethnic Japan
April 17, 2004
Current and planned Minpaku Seminars