Welcome to My Blog!
Hi, I’m Paul! I’m a social scientist with a focus on contemporary Japanese society and politics. My background is in political science and sociology, and I’m currently exploring how cooperation with Japan’s largely non-mandatory infection control measures (known as jishuku, or self-restraint) helped shape an effective social response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Presenting my research on cooperation with infection control measures in Japan’s gastronomy industry at the GJSSS held at the DIJ Tokyo (2024/10, together with Gabriele Vogt, LMU and James Farrer, Sophia University ).
So, Why This Blog?
I created this blog as an outlet to share my thoughts and insights directly with you! Here, you’ll find specially curated content from my ongoing research in Japan — material that doesn’t quite fit in formal academic publications but still offers valuable, lighter insights. Sometimes, a quick post on social media just isn’t enough! I love writing essays and constantly come across fascinating ideas in my research, so sharing them here feels like the best way to go.
Beyond academic publications and the many term papers and theses I’ve written over the years, I’ve also published on other blogs. One example is the blog of my current institute, the Japan Center at LMU Munich, where I wrote about our experience visiting the historical site of the Tokyo Trials as part of a research project on war remembrance. I’m also part of the editorial board at the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) “Cultures of Vigilance” Blog, where I continue to contribute regularly.
Creating content for an online audience is a lot of fun for me — especially since, yes, I’m young enough that I can’t even remember a world without the internet! Sharing knowledge online feels like second nature. My earliest experience was probably back in primary school when I started contributing information to the Wikipedia page of my favorite video game. (If you know me, you might just guess which game I’m talking about — or feel free to ask if we ever get the chance to meet!).
Moreover, as a trained and experienced programmer with an industry background in building and maintaining web applications, this blog is a great way to keep my technical skills sharp. I’m actually maintaining its infrastructure myself, which involves a lot of fidgeting — but that’s something I’ve always loved doing. So, as you can see, this project is something I truly enjoy, as it brings many of my passions together!
What content can you expect here?
I plan to post essays, commentary, and updates on topics related to my fieldwork in rural Japan. You can look forward to reading about rural revitalization initiatives, the unique aspects of local politics, and even the everyday charm of rural life. If this interests you, stick around! I aim to post at least once a month.
As this blog is called Ad-hoc Analysis, you can expect an analytical format where I’ll dissect contemporary societal issues, albeit with less academic rigor than I would apply to scientific publications. The essays are meant to be informative to read, but also fun! So I won’t just cover traditional “hard” politics — I’ll also explore interesting intersections between society, politics, and culture.
Here are just a few examples of what I’ve stumbled upon so far:
Expect some articles in the future about these highlights!
Feel free to connect with me on social media to discuss your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you!
