Paul Johann Kramer, M.A.

Researcher at the CRC 1369 Cultures of Vigilance, Project B08

Japan Center

Office address:

Amalienstraße 17 / 101

80333 Munich

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www.paul-kramer.com

Postal address:

Sonderforschungsbereich 'Vigilanzkulturen', LMU Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1

80539 Munich

Publications
Further Information

Current Research

My research explores effective, solution-oriented, and democratic crisis management. At the center of this investigation is the case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, where the government largely refrained from implementing legally binding measures such as lockdowns or mandatory mask mandates. Nevertheless, Japan succeeded in keeping both the disruption to public life and excess mortality comparatively low. My analysis examines the interplay between democratic resilience, governance structures, and institutionalized forms of vigilance. In doing so, I contribute to the ongoing debate on how democracies navigate moments of crisis and transformation, seeking to expand this discussion through the lens of vigilance.

"How Democracies Weather Crises: Governance, Vigilance, and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan"

Research Interests

Crisis Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Governance, Resilience, Vigilance
Federalism in Japan and Rural Regions
Political Sociology

Curriculum Vitae

Year: Academic appointments and education
03/2025 – 04/2026: Guest at the German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ), Tokyo
03/2025 – 04/2026: Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Comparative Culture, Sophia University, Tokyo, with Prof. James Farrer
Since 08/2023: PhD Student / Researcher at the SFB 1369 Cultures of Vigilance, Project B08

08/2023 - 11/2024: Consultant at Exxeta AG, Munich
08/2022 - 07/2023: Assistant at SFB 1369 Cultures of Vigilance for preparing the project application
10/2021 - 07/2023: Master of Japanese Studies
10/2021 – 09/2024: Bachelor of Sociology / Political Science
10/2021 - 07/2023: Working Student for web development and business consulting at Exxeta AG, Munich
11/2020 - 09/2021: Working Student at Socialwave GmbH, München
10/2020 - 02/2021: Student Assistant at the Japan-Center, LMU
09/2019 - 09/2020: Study abroad at the Hokkaido University, Sapporo with a MEXT-scholarship
10/2017 - 09/2021: Bachelor of Japanese Studies / Computer Science

Research Projects

Vigilance in Japan’s neighborhoods during the COVID-19 pandemic (Pl: Gabriele Vogt)
- Research Associate
- SFB 1369 Cultures of Vigilance funded by the DFG
Bearing in Remembrance: Wartime Japan and Germany (Pl: Yumiko Murata, Gabriele Vogt- Student Assistant (09/2022)
- Student Assistant (09/2022)
- Funded by DAAD, in cooperation with Waseda University, Tokyo

Publications

Kramer, Paul J. (2022). „Geschlossene Grenzen: Alltagserfahrungen internationaler Studierender während der Covid-19 Pandemie und deren Implikationen für eine Integration in die japanische Gesellschaft“. in Japan 2022. Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, herausgegeben von D. Chiavacci und I. Wieczorek. München: IUDICUM.

Fuschlberger, Pia & Paul J. Kramer (2024). „Attenzione Pickpocket!“ Vigilante Appelle in Italien, Japan und der Frühen Neuzeit". In: Mitteilungen Vigilanzkulturen, 01/2024. DOI: 10.5282/ubm/epub.115662.

Kramer, Paul J. (2024). „World–Wide–Vigilance: Netizens Against Trans–Spatial Scams in the Digital Age“. In: Vigilanzkulturen, https://vigilanz.hypotheses.org/7398.

Kramer, Paul J. & Gabriele Vogt (2024). "Ein deutsch-japanischer Dialog über den Umgang mit der Covid-19-Pandemie". In: Mitteilungen Vigilanzkulturen, 01/2024. DOI: 10.5282/ubm/epub.115662.

Fuschlberger, Pia & Paul J. Kramer (12.12.2023). „Attenzione Pickpocket!“ Vigilante Appelle in Italien, Japan und der Frühen Neuzeit: Ein interdisziplinärer Dialog". In: Vigilanzkulturen, https://vigilanz.hypotheses.org/4478.

Kramer, Paul J. (2024). „Die Unumgänglichkeit der Normativität menschlichen Zusammenlebens? Sozialtheoretische Gedanken zur Hegemonie und Geltung von Normen im Spiegel des Politischen II “. Bachelor’s Thesis Sociology. LMU Munich.

Kramer, Paul J. (2023). „Neue Verhaltensmuster der Pandemiegesellschaft: Das Beispiel „jishuku“ im öffentlichen Raum Japans. Eine Untersuchung zur Konformität gegenüber unverbindlichen Regeln und Empfehlungen“. Master’s Thesis Japanology. LMU Munich.

Kramer, Paul J. (2021). „Japan, Migration und die Corona-Pandemie. Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie auf den Alltag universitärer internationaler Studierender und deren Implikationen für eine Integration in die japanische Gesellschaft“. Bachelor’s Thesis Japanology. LMU Munich.

Further Information

"Citizen Self–Restraint, Institutional Vigilance, and Neighborhood Resilience: Japan’s Non Legalistic Governance of the COVID–19 Pandemic“. Workshop: „FUB–LMU Doctoral Workshop on Japanese Politics“, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. (17.12.2024).

"COVID-19 and the Gastronomy Industry in Japan: Navigating Diverging Expectations". With Gabriele Vogt and James Farrer. Conference: "Societies at the Crossroads – Germany and Japan in Comparison", GJSSS & DIJ. Tokyo. (23. – 24.10.2024)

"Social Norms and Public Health: Japan’s Approach of 'self-restraint' to COVID-19". Conference: "Social Norms -Emergence, Stability, Social Change", Universität Leipzig & ETH Zürich. Monte Verità. (8.07.2024).

"Denunciation and the Mitigation of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan". Conference: "Denunciation – Creating a Culture of Fear", University of Tartu, Estonia. (8.6.2024)

"Vigilance in Japan’s neighborhoods during the COVID-19 pandemic". Workshop: "FUB-LMU Doctoral Workshop on Japanese Politics", Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. (18.12.2023).

"New and Old Manners on the Train in Times of the Pandemic" Workshop "Governance in Japan" at the Japan-Center LMU Munich, Germany. (13.06.2023).

Working Groups