KIMURA, Junji Professor

We who live in Japan
The importance of studying Japanese thought

We conduct comprehensive research on Japanese thought from ancient times to the modern era, focusing on the themes of "love" and "romance." For those of us living in Japan, studying Japanese thought leads to self-exploration. When we realize that past history has influenced our own actions and thoughts, we are sure to feel motivated to pursue our own independent inquiry.

• Main research field: History of Japanese ethical thought
• Courses taught: Japanese thought and philosophy, Introduction to Buddhism, Eastern thought and philosophy, etc.

Research topic

This research provides a comprehensive historical study of Japanese ethical thought from ancient times to the modern era.

Research Topics

On "Love" in the History of Japanese Ethical Thought

Japanese thought is comprised of various intellectual domains, including Buddhism, Confucianism, and modern philosophy. Furthermore, the National Learning movement that developed during the Edo period was based on Japanese songs, stories, and myths, so literary works are also treated as subjects of intellectual history research. In my research activities to date, I have aimed to comprehensively understand Japanese songs, stories, Buddhism, Confucianism, and philosophy, with "love" and "romance" as the central themes of Japanese ethical thought. I believe that an intellectual history study of "love" is also necessary when considering how the Christian teaching of "love" was established in Japan.

As a thinker, my main research subjects include Tetsuro Watsuji, Norinaga Motoori, and Jinsai Ito.

Examples of graduation thesis titles from the Kimura Seminar

• The issue of self-identity and "diversity" in Kitaro Nishida's "A Study of Good"
• On Kenji Miyazawa's concept of "the sin of killing"—focusing on "The Bear of Nametoko Mountain"—
• Considering Shudo and BL from "The Great Mirror of Male Love"
• A Study of Sun Tzu's "Strategic Attack" Chapter: Through Yamaga Sokō's "Sun Tzu Proverbs and Commentary"
• The Evolution of the Fox Wife Tale: Considering its Relationship with Buddhism

Recent works

• “Fūryū: Japanese Virtue United with Natural Beauty”, Alternative Virtues: Japanese Perspectives on Christian and Confucian Traditions, Routledge Contemporary Japan Series, 2024, pp.11-27
• "The Humanities of Tetsuro Watsuji" (Nakanishiya Publishing, 2021): "Preface," "Afterword," Chapter 2
• "Shinobu Origuchi - A Heart Full of Indignation" (Kodansha Academic Paperback, 2016)
• Tetsuro Watsuji, *A History of Japanese Ethical Thought (Volumes 1-4)* (Iwanami Bunko, 2011-2012), Notes and Commentary

For more details, please see researchmap.