Tamotsu Aoki

Director of the National Art Center, Tokyo. Cultural anthropologist. Received doctoral degree at Osaka University. Has served as professor at Osaka University, the University of Tokyo and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Was Commissioner for Cultural Affairs (April 2007-July 2009). Has been Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Visiting Professor at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in France, and the University of Konstanz in Germany. Since 1965 has been engaged in the study and research of cultural anthropology and cultural policies in Asia such as Thailand and Sri Lanka as well as in Europe and the United States. From 1972 to 1973, underwent training as a monk at a Buddhist monastery in Bangkok. Was president of the Japanese Society of Ethnology (currently the Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology) from 1994 to 1996. Made a keynote lecture at the Association for Asian Studies' annual conference in March 2013. Recipient of the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities, the Sakuzo Yoshino Prize, and Medal with Purple Ribbon. Recent books he has authored include "Bunkaryoku no jidai (The age for the power of culture)" published by Iwanami Shoten, "Sakka wa ido suru (The writer travels)" published by Shinshokan, "Bunka no honyaku (Translation of Cultures)"published by University of Tokyo Press. Became director of the National Art Center, Tokyo in April 2013. Currently writing about the American artist Edward Hopper in the bulletins published by the National Art Center, Tokyo.

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