Harumi Befu, professor of anthropology, emeritus, was born in Los Angeles, but spent his childhood growing up in Japan. When he returned to the U.S. at age 17, he was astounded by the difference between the two countries, which sparked his interest in learning more about his heritage. Today, his primary professional focus is Japan, where he has carried out a number of research projects. Fieldwork in northern Japan led to his interest in the nature of integration of rural communities with the larger society, the subject of his dissertation. Later, he examined the feudal village community from the same perspective. Expanding into the comparative arena from this vantage point, he is examining nationalism in other parts of the world as a source of international interethnic confl ict. His current research is on the social and cultural aspects of Japan's globalization, both external and internal; his most recent project has been an analysis of Japan's national and cultural identity.

Permanent member of a symposium series on Japanese civilization held each year for 16 years at the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan

Leader of five previous Travel/Study trips

PhD, anthropology, University of Wisconsin

Joined Stanford's anthropology department in 1965

This book explores the social and cultural dimensions of Japan's global presence. From cameras and automobiles to judo, cuisine or animation, Japan's presence in the popular imagination is heavily influenced both by the country's historical past and its global present.