Author's Profile: Patrick W. Galbraith

Patrick W. Galbraith is a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo. His research focus is the impact of material conditions on fantasy, specifically how shifts in modes of capitalism and consumption impact otaku culture in Japan. His primary ethnographic field site is Akihabara in eastern Tokyo. He has worked as a freelance journalist specializing in Japanese popular culture since 2004, which culminated in writing "The Otaku Encyclopedia" and co-founding Otaku2.com. He contributes to "Metropolis" and "Otaku USA."


Patrick W. Galbraith's Resume (ガルバレス・パトリック・ウィリアムの履歴書)


Education and honors:

Graduated from the University of Montana in winter 2005 with a B.A. in Japanese and a B.A. in Journalism (print)
Inducted into Mortar Board, Golden Key International, Phi Kappa Phi, National Dean List
Graduated from Sophia University (Tokyo) in spring 2008 with an M.A. in Japanese Studies; advisor David Slater
JASSO, Freeman-ASIA and Dentsu Ikueikai scholarship recipient
Completed the intensive 10-month program at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in June 2009
Currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo; advisor Yoshimi Shunya


Employment:

Freelance journalist (present)
Akihabara tour guide for H.I.S. Experience Japan (present)
Lecturer for Japanese pop culture and literature at GTC cram school in Chiba from 2006 to 2007
Teaching assistant to Anne Allison in summer 2007
Co-founded and launched Akibanana.com Akihabara portal site (2007, as "Gaigokujin"; retired in spring 2008)
“Akihabara and otaku as commodities,” guest lecture and tour, Keio Business School (2008/1)
“日米におけるやおいの比較分析,” guest lecture, Yokohama National University (2008/4)
“Otaku culture from the 1990s to now,” guest lecture and tour, NanoJapan Program of Rice University, held in Tokyo Institute of Technology (2008/5)
Planned, organized and implemented Akihabara tour and conference with Digital Hollywood University and Akiba Keizai Shibum for CIEE (2008/6) and Sophia University (2008/5)
“Moe: Moythology in Akihabara maid cafes,” guest lecture, Temple University, Japan (2008/6)
Co-founded and launched Otaku2.com otaku portal site (2008)
Sophia University faculty research assistant in fall 2008
“Akihabara and the globalization of otaku,” guest lecture, Temple University, Japan (2008/11)
"Ethnography of Maid Cafes," guest lecture at Yokohama City University (2009/4)
"秋葉原とオタク文化," presentation at Yokohama International Student Hall (2009/6)
"Otaku and Akihabara: From Private to Public Space," guest lecture at Temple University, Japan (2009/6)
"Policing Youth in Japan," guest lecture with David Slater at Temple University, Japan (2009/11)


Academic publications:

“Moe: Exploring Virtual Potential in Post-Millennial Japan,” the "Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies" (2009/10)
“Akihabara: Conditioning a public otaku image,” upcoming publication in "Mechademia 5" (2010)
"Otakuology, a dialogue," upcoming publication with Thomas LaMarre in "Mechademia 5" (2010)
“Maid cafes and the structure of intimacy in neoliberal Japan,” under consideration at "Japan Forum"
“Fujoshi: 'Moe' fantasy and imagined intimacy among female fans,” under consideration at "Signs."
“Dolls and fantasy recreation of connection,” unpublished manuscript
“’Media ‘matsuri’ and mob mentality among Japanese otaku,” unpublished manuscript
“Mediated Masculinities in Neoliberal Japan,” co-authored (emphasis on otaku and digital masculinity) with David Slater, unpublished manuscript


Conference and workshop presentations:

“Maid in Japan: Ethnography of Akihabara maid cafes and imaginary home,” conference titled “Anthropology of Japan in Japan,” Temple University, Japan (2007/11)
“Akihabara: Play, politics and power in popular space,” conference titled “Urban Image and the Re-Writing of the Japanese Metropolis,” Sophia University (2008/1)
“Maid in Japan: Ethnography of Akihabara maid cafes and imaginary home,” International Graduate Student Conference, University of Hawaii, Manoa (2008/2)
“Nico Nico Douga: Modern mythology and digital ritual,” conference titled “Digital Youth,” Sophia University (2008/6)
“Moe: Modern mythology in Akihabara maid cafes,” conference titled “Imaginary Japan,” University of Helsinki (2008/9)
"Akihabara and the Future," panel member in discussion with Morikawa Kaichiro held by Shinnihonmiraigakkai in Akihabara (2008/11)
“Maid Cafes and alternative intimacy,” paper presented at “Bodies and Borders: Exploring Issues of Intimacy,” a symposium (co-planned by myself) held at Sophia University (2009/1)
"Fujoshi: From "Ladies" to "Rotten Girls," Transgressive Play and Intimacy among young Japanese female Yaoi Fans," Thirteenth Asian Studies Conference Japan, Sophia University (6/2009)
"Maid Cafes: Individualism and the death of 'corporate' intimacy,” conference titled "Youth and Work in Contemporary Japan," Temple University, Japan (2009/6)
"Maid Cafes and Imagined Intimacy," conference titled "Cultural Typhoon," Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (2009/7)
"Nico Nico Douga: The Politics of Play in the Digital Field," conference titled "Language in the (New) Media: Technologies and Ideologies," University of Washington (2009/9)
"Maid Cafes: Ethnography of Affective Labor," conference titled "Mapping the Spaces of Media Culture in Asia: Information, Communication and Politics," University of Tokyo (2009/10)
"Moe, Otaku Culture and Japanese Contents" (and a dialogue with Thomas LaMarre), conference titled "Otakuology," University of Ottawa (2010/1)


Popular publications:

“Akiba on the run,” feature story on international Akihabara and otaku for Metropolis (2008/2)
“All Dolled Up,” cover story on doll users and industries for Metropolis (2008/5)
“Dressed to Thrill,” cover story on globalization of cosplay for Metropolis (2008/6)
Regular biweekly column for Metropolis begins fall 2008
“Screen Dreams,” feature story on keitai novels for Metropolis (2009/1)　
"New university library puts focus on the fans," feature story on Yoshihiro Yonezawa Memorial Library of Manga and Subcultures for The Japan Times (2009/6/14)
"The Otaku Encyclopedia," published by Kodansha International (2009/6)
"A little bit enka, a little bit lolicon: Introducing Sakura Maya" and "Real Virtual Idols You Can’t Touch: Meet Techno-Trio Perfume," stories for Rokkyuu.com (2009/7)
Regular contributions to Otaku USA magazine begin (8/2009), including "Nakano Fujoshi Sisters," "Otaku out for Blood" and "Interview with Nagashimi Yuichiro."
"Akihabara Tour," audio tour and photo album to be released by White Rabbit Press in summer 2009/11
"Akibizarre," "Tokyo's Best Maid Cafes" and "Idol English to help with your idle English," stories for CNN Go (2009/10-11)