Major Works in Recent Years (in English)
Now available Academia.edu
Researchgate for my papers and presentations
All single authored by Masato Fukushima unless stated otherwise.
(2021)
Minoru Nomata: the allure of polychromatic topology, COMPANION, London: White Cube, pp67-77. Access
(With Hiroyuki Morinaga) Fieldwork by proxy: An artistic experiment. (CD project Lijiang With/Out). Access.
(With Aiko Hibino) The shadow theater of dueling modalities: A note on pandemic simulation, EASST Review 40(1):16-21. Access
Noises in Landscape: Disputing the Visibility of Mundane Technological Objects, Journal of Material Culture.24(1):64-84. Access
(2020)
Changing concepts of design?:Myth and reality in design practices, Draft for a Keynote Speech for an International Design Conference, ITB, Bandung, Indonesia. Access
LABORATORIUM PHANTASMATUM: Laboratory of Specters, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Tsuyoshi Hisakado, SYNCHRONICITY MAM Project 025, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan. Access
The nano-aesthetics of everyday life, In Tsuyoshi Hisakado, Practice of Spiral. Tokyo: Torch Press. Access
Before Laboratory Life: Perry, Sullivan and the missed encounter between psychoanalysis and STS, BioSocieties,15(2):271–293. Access
The Technological Regime on Newness: Technology, Art, and Temporality, Lecture draft, Access
(With Aiko Hibino) Instrumental Matrix: Anatomy of the Struggle of Scanning Probe Microscopy in the Nano-Bio Field (draft) Access
(2019)
Regimes on newness: an essay of comparative physiognomy, Interface Critique 2: 105-122 DOI 10.11588/ic.2019.2.66986 Access
Multiple Personae in Contemporary Art, Art against Art, vol 6: 26-31 Access
A Future Far Away: Forecasting and Society (translation of an essay in Synodos) Access
Before Laboratory Life: Perry, Sullivan and the missed encounter between
psychoanalysis and STS, Biosocieties, DOI 10.1057/s41292-019-00157-5 Access
The Sociology of Forecasting: Simulation, Prediction, Society (Tomiko Yamaguchi, Masato Fukushima eds. The University of Tokyo Press, in Japanese)
(2018)
Scaling (interdisciplinary research methods) in C.Lury et al (eds) Routledge Handbook of Interdisciplinary Research Methods, Routledge, pp. 343-341 Access
LABORATORIUM PHANTASMATUM: Laboratory of Specters, to be published as part of the catalog of SYNCHRONICITY by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Tsuyoshi Hisakado, NAM 025 Project at Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan Access
(2017)
The Experimental Zone of Learning: Mapping the Dynamics of Everyday Experiment,
Mind, Culture and Activity, 24(4):311-323. Access
Sick Bodies and the Political Body: The Political Theology of Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Cemetery of Splendour, in Two or Three Tigers (Haus der Kulturen der Welt, HKW). Access
Enduring spell of tacit knowing?: Data science and its discontents in the managerial and policy landscape of Japan (conference paper) Access
(2016)
Constructing "Failure" in Big Biology: The Socio-technical Anatomy of the Protein 3000 Program in Japan, Social Studies of Science, 46(1): 7-33. Access
Resilience in Scientific Research: Understanding How Natural Product Research Rebounded in an Adverse Situation, Science as Culture, 25(2):167-192. Access
Blade Runner and Memory Devices: Reconsidering the Interrelations between the Body, Technology, and Enhancement, East Asian Science, Technology and Society, 10:73–91. Access
Value Oscillation in Knowledge Infrastructure: Observing its Dynamic in Japan’s Drug Discovery Pipeline, Science and Technology Studies, 29(2): 7-25. Access
(2015)
Corpus Mysticum Digitale?: On the Notion of Two Bodies in the Era of Digital Technology,
Mortality 20(4): 303-318. (Special issue: Death, memory, and the human in the Internet Era). Access
(2014)
Navigating the sea of drug discovery: From the practitioner's point of view (conference paper)
Access
(2013)
Between the Laboratory and Policy Process: Research, Scientific Community and Administration in Chemical Biology in Japan, East Asian Science, Technology and Society 7(1):7-33. Access
Unruly environments: Viewpoints based on the multiple theories and changing practices of a Japanese avant-garde architect (conference paper) Access
(2012)
Cosmos and taxis in Japanese architectural design thought (conference paper) Access
(2010)
Anima's Silent Repatriation: Reconsidering Animism in the Contemporary World. In: Anselm Frank ed. Animism. Kunsthal Antwerp: Sternberg Press/ Extra City. pp185-192. Access
(2007)
Risk Management in the Wild: Cultural Dynamism against the Unknown in the Ward Life of a Mental Hospital in Japan. Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies 12:5-28. Access
(2005)
On Small Devices of Thought: Concepts, Etymologies, and the Problem of Translation. In: Bruno Latour & Peter Weibel eds. Making Things Public: Atmospheres of Democracy,CambridgeMass.: MIT Press,pp 58-63. Access
(2002) Social memory reconsidered In: Charles Keyes & Shigeharu Tanabe eds. Cultural Crisis and Social Memory: Modernity and Identity in Thailand and Laos. Routledge. Access
PROJECT
Experimentability from Science to Art, Design and Film Making (2017~)
Comparing a variety of different sites for discovery (laboratory) and creativity (design office, art studio, film industry etc) for understanding the specific dynamics of their experimentability as the theoretical extension of the experimental zone of learning (EZL) theory.For my papers and presentations. Also emphasis is put on the transformative power of data practices upon the conventional practices of artists, not confined to so called media arts.
Comparative Regimes of the Space Sciences between Japan, the US and EU (2016~)
Internationally comparing different regimes of managing research on space sciences, especially between Japan(ISAS), the US(NASA) and EU (ESA) to observe the role of different approaches to the difficulty of implementing research projects in these regimes.
Forecasting and Society (2014~)
Comparing the different ways of forecasting and its effect on society, represented in such areas as seismology, population growth, economic trends and computerized pharmacology. The analysis of the role of expectation, as well as various means of knowledge infrastructure are given primary attention in the project.
Big Data and Life Sciences (2014~)
Observing the role of big data in various domains of life sciences, especially in terms of the complex chains of drug pipeline. Also interested in the growing influences of computerization in these areas.
Research on the Computational Infrastructure for Drug Discovery Pipeline
In parallel with the recent rise of concern on knowledge infrastructure, this research is concerned with the development of computer simulation for building more effective drug discovery pipeline. This topic is also closely related to the general issue of simulation in the wider context of scientific practices, as well as to the issue of prediction-related discourses, in terms of comparative act of prediction and foresight across disciplines.
Research on the Protein 3000 Program
This is one of the biggest science programs in postwar Japan that intended to analyze 3000 protein strctures. Defined as part of the international strcutural genomics, this program has brought about heated repercussions among various corners of society. This huge program also led to following life-science policies, which includes membrane protein research, chemical biology and renewed attempt to restructure the traditional drug discovery pipeline at present. This ongoing project is intended for illuminating the rather peculiar way of how Japanese science policy is made, and how scientists were involved there, in a rather different way from what is often described in the average description of it in the Western countries.
Other Publications
1) Research on Science, Technology, and Design
Book
2017 Factory of Truth. The University of Tokyo Press (in Japanese)
『真理の工場』東京大学出版会 2020
This book deals with the changing practice of post-genomic research in Japan, in terms of laboratory practice and policy making. Focusing upon chemical biology and protein science as emerging post-genomic research, as well as upon the institutional changes of public research institute like RIKEN, this book is literally the first attempt in Japan to reveal the details of everyday laboratory practice and policy making activity observed both in the field as well as in the documents.
2005 Masato Fukushima et al eds. The Praxis of Comtemporary Anthrpology: Perspectives to Understand the Techno-scientific Era. Tokyo: Yuhikaku (in Japanese). 福島真人他編『現代人類学のプラクシス-科学技術時代をみる視座』 有斐閣
Although initially intended as an anthropology textbook, it turned out to be a sort of edited volume of the anthropology of science and technology, first of this kind in Japan. Largely written by my own students, the topic includes technoscience at large, activities in emergency medical center and psychiatric wards, the problem of handicap, ethnographic study of ICT and so forth.
2) Research on Learning, Risk, and Organization
2010 Ecology of Learning: Experiment, Risk, High Reliability. The University of Tokyo Press (in Japanese)
『学習の生態学―実験、リスク、高信頼性』東京大学出版会
This book is a collection of essays that deals with the extended criticism of the theory of situated cognition, to develop a theory of experimental zone of learning, which tries to combine some of the elements of the laboratory studiies with high reliability organization theory. Case studies include ethnographic research on psychiatric wards and emergency medical center, as well as nuclear safety issues.
One of its chapters has been translated into English:
2007 Risk Management in the Wild: Cultural Dynamism against the Unknown in the Ward Life of a Mental Hospital in Japan. Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies 12:5-28
3) Research on Cognition, Body, and Tacit Knowledge
2001 The Anatomy of Tacit Knowledge: Interface between Cognition and Society. Tokyo: Kaneko Shobo (in Japanese)
『暗黙知の解剖―認知と社会のインターフェイス』 金子書房
This book, despite its title, is a systematic criticism on the theory of situated cognition, in academic currency at the time of the publication in Japan. Targeting at the limited scope of what situation means in terms of time and space, this book tries to put it in the historical and organizational perspective, to redefine situatedness in the wider macrosociological context. Certain part of the argument is available in English as follows:
2002 Social memory reconsidered, in: S.Tanabe & C.F.Keyes eds., Cultural Crisis and Social Memory: Modernity and Identity in Thailand and Laos,London: Routledge Curzon, pp.287-299
1995 Masato Fukushima ed. Constructing Body Socially: The Technique of Body as a Social Learning Process, Tokyo: Hituzi Shobo
(in Japanese). 福島真人編 『身体の構築学―社会的学習過程としての身体技法』ひつじ書房
This book is an outcome of a collaboration among anthropologists, students of fork performance, and cognitive psychologists. Taking up a variety of performative arts, both traditional and contemporary, this book tries to analyze the learning process of bodily practices as part of the complex interface among individuals, tools and forms of organization, in terms of situated learning and Vygotskian and activity theoretic perspective.
4) Research on Religion and Society
2002 Religion and Society in Java: Ethnographic Memoir of Suharto's Indonesia. Tokyo: HItuzi Shobo (in Japanese)
『ジャワの宗教と社会―スハルト体制下インドネシアの民族誌的メモワール』ひつじ書房
Chronologically speaking, this bool should have been published in 80's when my two years' field research was conducted in Java, Indonesia (1983-85) at the time of Suharto's Orde Baru regime. This book deals with the relation between the state policy of Indonesian government and its local reactions in three different fields: conservative Muslims, traditional mystics (kebatinan), and decendants of peasant revolt, called the Samin movement. From three different perspectives, this book tries to formulate the emergent relations between the state policy of religion and the way the locals adopted to appropriate and even deconstruct it. My ealier concern about the parallel development in the state policy and local reaction has echoes in my recent concern about the policy of life-science in Japan.
Part of the discussion of this enigmatic peasant movement is now available in English as an article:
2010 Anima's silent repatriation: Reconsidering animism in the contemporary world. (PDF) Anselm Frank ed. Animism.Kunsthal Antwerp: Sternberg Press/ Extra City.
My research in Thai Buddhism in 1988 has produced various articles, one of which is available in English:
1999 Another Meaning of Meditation: The Santi Asoke Movement in Thailand、in Tai Culture: International Review on Tai Cultural Studies,4(1):131-152
CURRICULUM VITAE
2021~ Professor of Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
2005~ Professor
2003 Visiting scholar to Centre de la sociologie de l'innovation(CSI), Ecole des Mine, Paris
1998~ Associate professor of Social Anthropology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo
1993~ Associate professor, the International University of Japan
1990~92 Visiting scholar to London School of Economics, London
1988~ Assistant Professor, Institute of Oriental Culture, the University of Tokyo
1985~ Graduate school of cultural anthropology (Doctor's course), the University of Tokyo
1981~ Graduate school of cultural anthropology (Master's course), the University of Tokyo
1977~ Undergraduate, the University of Tokyo
FIeld Research
2006~ Antibiotic Laboratory in RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Studies), Tokyo
(including structural genomics, kei-supercomputer and computational drug discovery)
2003 Center of Emergency Medicine, Tokyo
2001 Committee of Nuclear Safety Culture, Government Office
1994~ Psychiatric wards, in a private hospital, Tokyo
1988 Reformist new Buddhism in Thailand (Bangkok, Chiengmai)
1983~85 Religion and politics (conservative Islam, kebatinan mysticism, Saminism) in Java, Indonesia
other professinal activities (recent)
2017~ International board member of Big Data and Society
2014~ International board member of The Sociological Review
2014~ International board of Omics journal
2014 Japanese Society of STS
2013 Asia Pacific Science, Technology and Society Network
JOURNAL REVIEW ACTIVITIES
Science, Technology and Human Values; Science as Culture; East Asian Science, Technology and Society; CSCW
SOCIETIES
2014~ International board member of The Sociological Review
2014~ International board of Omics journal
2014 Japanese Society of STS
2013 Asia Pacific Science, Technology and Society Network
JOURNAL REVIEW ACTIVITIES
Science, Technology and Human Values; Science as Culture; East Asian Science, Technology and Society; CSCW
SOCIETIES
4S, EASST, APSTSN, JSSTS, Japanese Society of Organizational Science, Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology