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Seiko Yasumoto

AA (Meiji University), BA (Pace University), MA (Columbia), MA (Macquarie University)
Room 544 Brennan MacCallum Building A18

+61 2 9351 4716

Seiko Yasumoto lectures and carries out research on Japanese media and cultural studies as well as language use in society. Her primary research is in broadcasting media within the domain of cultural globalization and popular culture. The scope includes transmission of content, copyright, adaptation theory, youth culture, audience analysis and trans-national media cultural flows in Japan and East Asia. She is currently the Japan and North, East Asia regional representative of the Asian Studies of Association of Australia and East Asia Popular Culture Board (East Asia regional) and an executive committee member of the Oriental Society of Australia.

Research areas

  • Media and cultural studies: media adaptation theories, media industries, copyright and authorship, popular culture, youth culture, media and cultural globalization.
  • Transnational media culture in Asia.
  • Language use in socio-cultural context.

Current projects

Seiko Yasumoto is working on two book projects with Japanese scholars and Asian scholars on media and cultural studies. One is on East Asia Media Flows in Transition and the other is Popular Culture Dialogues: Japan and East Asia. She recently completed a term of office as an invited editor of the special issue on global media, the scholarly journal, A Journal of Oriental Society of Australia. Besides her current research projects, Seiko Yasumoto is also developing ‘Anime’: an online multimedia project for teaching Japanese with M. Sata Khan. She is one of the collaborative researchers engaged in a comparative study on the motivations of learners of Japanese with colleagues from North Carolina University, USA and the University of New England, Australia.

Editor of publications

  • Yasumoto, S (2010) A Journal of Oriental Society of Australia (JOSA), Global Media .Vol.42
    The breadth of coverage of this special issue can be seen in the titles of the papers it contains: ‘Cultural economic geography and global media studies: The rise of Asian media capitals’ by Terry Flew, ‘Reclaiming China’s former soft power’ by Michael Keane, ‘Critical appraisal of media and cultural globalisation in East Asia’ by Koichi Iwabuchi, ‘New Worlds of Animation: Ulysses 31, The Mysterious Cities of Gold and the Cultural Convergence of Anime in the West’ by Jason Bainbridge, ‘Images of resistance in manga and anime’s improbable subjects’ by Craig Norris, ‘Seeds of power: Japanese media products as cultural commodity in the global domain’ by Seiko Yasumoto and ‘Market, Politics and Media Competition in China: Competing Discourses in TV Industries’ by Anthony Y.H. Fung and Xiaoxiao Zhang.
  • Yasumoto ,S (2006) Ilha Do Desterro: A Journal of English Language, Literatures in English and Cultural Studies :Expression, Identity and Society.Vol.50 Editora da UFSC.ISSN:0101-4846 Chief Editor, Meurer, J L.

Selected publications

  • Yasumoto, S. (2011). Impact of Soft Power on Cultural Mobility: Japan to East Asia, UCLA Journal for Cinema and Media Studies In Mediacape , Bryan Hikari Hartzheim, Michelle Ton( editors).
  • Yasumoto, S. (2011). Both Local and Global: A Case of International Distance Learning, Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice,Vol,11(4), Fall 2011(with co-author Mycak. S)
  • Yasumoto, S. (2011). A Study of Long-Term Educational Effects of Practice Teaching of Japanese overseas through Narrative of Participants, Kuawenhua Jiaoji Zhong de Riyu Jiaoyu Yanjiu, 353-354, Higher Education Press: Beijing (Co-author Sasagawa,Y)
  • Yasumoto, S. (2010). Media globalisation: The seeds of Power: Japanese Media Products as Cultural Commodity in the Global Domain, Journal of Oriental Society of Australia, Vol.42:115-132
  • Yasumoto, S. (2010). Divergence of Japanese media texts: To an evolving regional hybridism E. Morrell and M. Barr (Eds), The University of Adelaide, Australia. http://asaa.asn.au/ASAA2010/papers/Yasumoto-Seiko_.pdf
  • Yasumoto, S. (2009). Japan and Korea as a Source of Media Cultural Capital. The Sixth Biennial Korean Studies Association of Australia Conference, Global Korea: Old and New proceedings, 311-321
  • Yasumoto, S. (2008). Korean and Japanese television drama: Reflections on global and transnational influences. Journal of the Oriental Society of Australia, 39-40,540-561.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2008). From whence does popular culture emanate and how is it remade? Janguru Taitei or Lion King? In A.M. Vicziany & R.Cribb (Eds.), Melbourne, Australia: Monash University. http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/mai/asaa/proceedings.php#s/
  • Sasagawa, Y. and S. Yasumoto. (2008). Kyodokochikugata no Kaigai Nihongo Kyoiku Jissyuu Puroguramu (Corroborative overseas Japanese education program: Learning strategies). In T. Mito et.al., eds.: Japanese language education in the Asia-Pacific Region, 36, 317-325.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2007) ‘The Representation of Women in Japanese Written Media’. Ilha Do Desterro: Expression, Identity and Society, Vol.50, Editora da UFSC. ISSN:0101-4846.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2006) ‘The impact of the Korean Wave on Japan: A case study of the influence of trans-border electronic communication and the trans-national programming industry’. http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/biennial-conference/2006/proceedings.html#
  • Sasagawa, Y., Yasumoto, S. (2006). 共同構築型の海外日本語教育実習プログラムをめざして、神戸親和大学教育研究センター紀要 第２巻 (A Transnational Educational Practice Program for Japanese Student Trainee Teachers: A Collaborative Initiative by Kobe Shinwa Women’s University, Japan and The University of Sydney, Australia), Research Centre for Higher Education, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University Press, Vol.2, 33-50.
  • Aoyagi ,T.,Yasumoto, S., et al. (2006) モジュール交換方式を用いた国際遠隔授業の評 実践研究　第8巻岐阜大学 2006 (Assessment of International Distance Lectures through Module Exchange System), Gifu University Vol 8, 101-107.ISSN:1344-7718
  • Yasumoto, S. (2005) ‘Japanese Language Education and Japanese Studies in Australia in the 21st-Century’, International Conference on Education. Nanyang Technological University Singapore, CD ROM Proceedings.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2003) ‘Effective Approaches to Adult Language Teaching in the Multi-Cultural Australian Classroom: Cultural Issues’, ABAC Journal: 23.3, 3-17.ISSN:0858-0855
  • Yasumoto, S. (2000) ‘Teaching Japanese Language and Culture: An Interactive and Participatory Approach in Applied Linguistics’, Japanese Studies: Communities, Cultures, Critiques Vol.6, 15-22 Studies in Language and Linguistics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 2000. ISBN: 0732611954.
  • Yasumoto, S. (1999) ‘The Portrayal of Women in Japanese Popular Songs’, Radio Interview: Radio National ABC “Arts Today” September 29, 1999.

Areas of teaching and research supervision

  • ASNS 6905: Asian Popular Culture (2008-current)
  • ASNS 2670 Mass Media in East Asia 2011(guest lecturer 2011-)
  • ASNS 6097: Supervised Reading in Asian Studies (S2 2008)
  • GCST 6904: Asian Diasporic Cultural Studies (guest lecturer S2 2010)
  • JPNS 2672: Japanese Media, Culture and New Japan
  • JPNS 3632: Japanese 10
  • JPNS 3631: Japanese 9
  • JPNS 2622: Japanese 6
  • JPNS 2621: Japanese 5
  • JPNS 1612: Japanese 2
  • JPNS 1611: Japanese 1

Supervision

  • Media and cultural studies: media adaptation theories, media industries, copyright and authorship, popular culture, youth culture and television studies.
  • Transnational media culture in Asia.
  • Language use in socio-cultural context.

Conference activity

  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Television Drama: Hana yori Dango Created Cultural Citizenship in East Asia’, East Asian Popular Culture Inaugural Conference (EAPCA), at the Howard International House, Taipei, Taiwan, September 1 – 4, 2011
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Manga excites, Nodame Kantabire in perspective’, POPCAANZ Second Annual International Conference, the Langham Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, June 29-July1, 2011
  • Yasumoto, S. & Mycak,S. ‘Teaching and learning in the digital era: an example of international distance learning in the Asia-Pacific region’, Asia-Pacific Symposium Literature and Culture in the Era of the Digital Revolution, Hosted by the Westerly Centre, The University of Western, Australia, December 4-7, 2011
  • Yasumoto, S., & Sasagawa,Y. ‘A Study of Long-Term Educational Effects of Practice Teaching of Japanese overseas through Narrative of Participants’, International Conference on Japanese Language Education for Cross Cultural Communications. Kuawenhua Jiaoji zhong de Riyu Jiaoyu Yanjiu, Tentsu University of Foreign Studies, China, August 19-21, 2011
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Impact of Soft Power on Cultural Mobility: Japan to East Asia’, The Society for Cinema and Media Studies Conference, The Westin Bonaventure, Los Angeles March 17 -21, 2010
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘International distance learning within the Asia-Pacific region: An example of an Australian-Japanese partnership’, APAIE 2010, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Conference and Exhibition , April 14-16, 2010
    Yasumoto, S. ‘Japanese media strategy’, Panel: Globalization and Consumer Society in East Asia, The Fourteenth Asian Studies Conference Japan (ASCJ), Waseda University, Tokyo, June 19-20, 2010
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘From Supermario to Superheroes: The Changing Significance of the Japanese Media Contents Industry in the Twenty-First Century’, Popular Culture Association of Australia and New Zealand Inaugural Conference (Pop CAANZ), Sydney 30 June– 1 July, 2010
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Remaking, Cultural Citizenship and Youth Culture in East Asia’, ACS Cross Road Conference Hong Kong, June 17-21, 2010
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Divergence of Japanese media texts: To an evolving regional hybridism’, Panel: Hybrid Media in a Globalised World: Creating New Opportunities for Cultural Arbitration and Understanding through Japanese Popular Media Texts. Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) 18th Biannual Conference, The University of Adelaide, July 5- 8, 2010
  • Yasumoto, S. Panel Chair: Adaptation in Japanese TV, Film and Novel: Three Examples of Cultural Transformation. 'Media mix: Adaptation of television program format and remaking in Japan.' JSAA Conference, 2009, UNSW, Sydney July 13-16, 2009.
  • Yasumoto, S. Panel Chair: Adapting and remaking Japanese popular culture texts. 'Television drama in East Asia: Cultural hybridisation and citizenship.' ANZCA 09: Communication, Creativity and Global Citizenship Conference, QUT, Brisbane, July 8-10, 2009.
  • Yasumoto, S. 'The Japanese media cultural highway: Re-make of Japanese media popular cultural products in Asia.' Inter-Asia Cultural Typhoon 2009 Cultural Studies and Asia; Past, Present and Future, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo July 3-5, 2009.
  • Yasumoto, S. Panel Chair: Television distribution and global media culture. 'Representation of Shojo: Hana yori Dango.' The Society for Cinema and Media Studies Conference, Josai International University, Tokyo 21st-24th May 2009.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Impact of cultural mobility on soft power: Japan to East Asia.’ International Conference on Popular Culture and Education, Asia Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong , 11th –13th December 2008.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘The Remaking of Japanese media popular culture products: From television to film.’ The XIVth Biennial Conference of the Film and History Association of Australia and New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, 27–30th November 2008.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘From whence does popular culture emanate and how is it remade? Janguru Taitei or Lion King?’ The 17th Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, Melbourne, 1–3rd July 2008.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Cultural interaction in the 1990’s: Japanese ‘trendy’ TV drama.’ Japanese Studies Associations of Australia 15th Biennial Conference 2007, Australian National University, Canberra 1–4 July 2007.
  • Yasumoto, S and M. Khan. ‘Anime online project for teaching Japanese.’Japanese Studies Associations of Australia 15th Biennial Conference 2007, The Australian National University, Canberra 1–4 July 2007.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Japan and Korea as a source of media capital: the growing media highway,’ SYNLAC Workshop 2007: Language and Culture. Media, Cultures and Social Networks, The University of Sydney, December 6–7 2007.
  • Yasumoto, S. Representation of women in Korean and Japanese television drama: Reflection of global and trans-border influences. Presented at the 50 Anniversary of the Oriental Society of Australia International Conference, World Without Walls: East and West 21st Century Perspectives. The University of Sydney, 3-7 December, 2006.
  • Yasumoto, S. The Impact of the Korean Wave on Japan. Presented at the School of Languages and Cultures’ Research Day. The University of Sydney, 3 November, 2006.
  • 安本,笹川.共同構築型の海外日本語教育実習プログラムにおける学習ストラテジー・トレイニングの効果について.第７回国際日本研究・日本語教育シンポジウム：アジア太平洋地域における日本研究と日本語教育の変容と課題、香港中文大学2006年10月29－3日
    (Yasumoto, S. and Sasagawa.Y. Transnational Educational Practice Program for Japanese Trainee Teachers: Learning Strategies. Presented at The Seventh International Symposium on Japanese Studies and Japanese Language Education: Transformation and Challenges of Japanese Studies and Japanese Language Education in the Asia-Pacific Region. The University of Hong Kong, 29-30 October, 2006)
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Applying New Methods to the Three-Week Japanese Intensive Course’. Presented at the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia (ALAA) 2006 conference: Language and Languages Global and Local Tensions, Queensland University, July 5-8, 2006.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Messages in Japanese print and television media about Korea: reflection of popular culture’. Presented at the 16th Biennial conference of the Asia Studies Association of Australia (ASAA), The University of Wollongong, 26-20 June 2006.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Teaching Japanese grammar using Website animation’. Presented at the Media and Technology Forum and Workshop, The University of Sydney, March 1st, 2006.
    Joint with Khan, M.　
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Intensive Language Learning: How we can all learn from this?’ Presented at the “Brief Encounter: Intensive Learning Summer and Winter School Symposium, The University of Sydney, December 12th 2005.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Impact of Korean Television Drama in Japan-A Reflection of Global and Trans-border Influences and Japanese and Korean Cultural Proximity’. Presented at the Fourteenth Biennial Association of Australia Conference, 3-6 July, 2005, University of Adelaide. Panel Theme – ‘Japan’s Potential to Participate in a Global Information Market: does Japan’s media serve the people?’
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Japanese Language Education and Japanese Studies in Australia in the 21st Century’. Presented at the International Conference on Education. 30 May - 1st June, 2005, Nanyang Technological University. Conference Theme – ‘Redesigning Pedagogy: Research, Policy and Practice’.
  • Yasumoto, S. ‘Winter Sonata in Japan: The “Korean Wave”, global and trans-border influences on Japanese popular culture’. presented at the SYNLAC workshop. 3-4 February, 2005. The University of Sydney. Workshop Theme: Global Expectation and Local Reality.

Media Interviews

  • Yasumoto, S. ( 2010) “ Trend on Japanese Language Education and Japanese Studies in Australia” Interviewed by, Mari Mukai NHK Sydney Bureau September 14 2010.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2008) “Portrayal of women in contemporary Japan: Media popular culture” Press interview by Margarete Bluemel, Germany wide radio station" Deutschland funk February 11 2008.
  • Yasumoto, S (2008) “Media: Japanese views and reactions on whaling”
    Press Interview by Ashai Newspaper, Sugi Aki. February 24th 2008.
  • Yasumoto, S. (2007) “How important/prominent Anime is in Japan” Press Interview by Sun Herald. February 2, 2007.
  • Yasumoto, S. (1999) ‘The Portrayal of Women in Japanese Popular Songs’, Radio Interview: Radio National ABC “Arts Today” September 29, 1999.

Other professional contributions

  • Editorial Committee member, Journal of Oriental Society of Australia (JOSA),
    2003-current
  • Board member, East Asian Popular Culture Associations (EAPCA), Taiwan, 2011-
    Japan, North East regional representative, Asian studies Association of Australia (ASAA) 2009-current
  • Honorary secretary, The Oriental Society of Australia 2005-current
    Editorial Board member, Journalism and Mass Communication Editorial Board. To be appointed 2012.
  • Research Director, Curriculum Development and Language Acquisition Research for Japanese, under a Grant from DEET Priority Reserve Fund for Asian Languages 1990-1993 (National).
  • Member, JSAA: Japanese Studies of Associations of Australia 2000-current
  • Member, ASAA: Asian Studies Associations of Australia 2003-current
  • Member, ASAJ: Asian Studies Associations of Japan 2009-current
  • Member, POPCAANZ: Popular Culture Associations of Australia and New Zealand 2011-
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