Dr. Sebastian Balmes

(2022)
Narratologie und vormoderne japanische Literatur: Theoretische Grundlagen, Forschungskritik und sprachlich bedingte Charakteristika japanischer Erzähltexte des 10. bis 14. Jahrhunderts [Narratology and Premodern Japanese Literature: Theoretical Foundations, Critique of Research, and Linguistic Characteristics of Japanese Narratives from the Tenth to Fourteenth Century]. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter (Welten Ostasiens / Worlds of East Asia / Mondes de l’Extrême Orient 32) (DOI: 10.1515/9783110764420). Online

(2015)
Die rituelle Errettung Murasaki Shikibu: Buddhistische Genji-Zeremonien und ihre Spuren in der japanischen Kulturgeschichte [The Ritual Salvation of Murasaki Shikibu: Buddhist Genji Services and Their Traces in the Cultural History of Japan]. Bochum/Freiburg: projekt verlag (Münchner Schriftenreihe Japanforschung 1).

(2025)
With Judit Árokay and Carolin Fleischer-Heininger: Bunron—Studies in Japanese Literature 12 (2025) (DOI: 10.11588/br.2025.12). Online

(2025)
Author, Narrator, and Character in Japanese Literature to 1900 / Autor, Erzähler und Figur in der Literatur Japans bis 1900, special issue in Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques 79.3. Online

(2021)
With Raji C. Steineck and Simone Müller: Time in Premodern Japanese Literature / Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur, special issue in Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques 75.1. Online

(2020)
Narratological Perspectives on Premodern Japanese Literature. Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag (BmE Special Issue 7) (DOI: 10.25619/BmE_H202037). Online

In print
“Drachensee und Schlangenhügel: Zur Präsenz und Symbolik von Orten im Shintōshū” [Dragon Lake and Serpent Hill: On the Presence and Symbolism of Places in Shintōshū]. In: Heilige Orte und sakraler Raum in den Religionen Japans, edited by Michael Wachutka. München: iudicium [in print].

(2026)
“Naratorojī to chūsei Nihon bungaku kenkyū no kōsa no kanōsei: Shintōshū ‘Nawa Hachirō daimyōjin no koto’ o moto ni shita monogatari-ron no saikentō to honmon bunseki” ナラトロジーと中世日本文学研究の交差の可能性：『神道集』「那波八郎大明神事」を基にした物語論の再検討と本文分析 [On the Potential of Combining Narratology and the Study of Medieval Japanese Literature: Re-Examining Narrative Theory and Textual Analysis Based on the Shintōshū Chapter “On the Great Bright Deity Hachirō of Nawa”]. In: Waseda RILAS Journal 13: 320–308. Online

(2025)
“Genji hyōbyaku as a Prayer for Women’s Salvation: The Rekihaku Genji kuyō [no sōshi] and the Harvard Genji kōshiki.” In: Wege, Sehepunkte, Panoramen: Japanologische Festschrift für Klaus Vollmer anlässlich seines Ruhestandes, edited by Steffen Döll. Hamburg: Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens (MOAG 152): 71–121.

(2025)
“Inscribed Personalities: Thoughts on Author, Narrator, and Character as One Continuum in Premodern Japanese Literature.” In: Author, Narrator, and Character in Japanese Literature to 1900 / Autor, Erzähler und Figur in der Literatur Japans bis 1900, edited by Sebastian Balmes, special issue in Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques 79.3: 515–552 (DOI: 10.1515/asia-2025-0070). Online

(2025)
“Ekitai no keshiki, ryūdō-teki shutai: Hiratsuka Keiso shi no tekusuto no katei-sei ni tsuite 液体の景色、流動的主体：平塚ケイ素氏のテクストの過程性について” [Liquid Landscapes, Fluid Subject: On the Processuality of Keiso Hiratsuka’s Texts], translated by Miyuki Balmes バルメス美幸. In: Hiratsuka Keiso 平塚ケイ素: 景色の液体/ Flüssigkeit der Landschaft [The Liquid of Landscape]. Biel: Edition Haus am Gern: 85–90.

(2025)
“Flüssige Landschaften, unfestes Subjekt: Zur Prozessualität von Keiso Hiratsukas Texten” [Liquid Landscapes, Fluid Subject: On the Processuality of Keiso Hiratsuka’s Texts]. In: Hiratsuka Keiso 平塚ケイ素: 景色の液体/ Flüssigkeit der Landschaft [The Liquid of Landscape]. Biel: Edition Haus am Gern: 77–83.

(2024)
“Glühwürmchen und Feuervogel: Zum Nexus von japanischer Lyrik und Seele bei Ōe Kenzaburō” [Fireflies and Bird of Fire: On the Nexus of Japanese Poetry and Soul in Ōe Kenzaburō]. In: Bunron—Studies in Japanese Literature 11 (37 pp.) (DOI: 10.11588/br.2024.11.27215). Online

(2022)
“Gunki to katarimono no doitsugo kenkyū (ni)” 軍記と語り物のドイツ語研究 （二） [German-Language Research on [Japanese] War Tales and Narrative Recitation (2)]. In: Gunki to katarimono 軍記と語り物 58: 48–59 (DOI: 10.60342/gunkitokatarimono.58.0_48). Online

(2021)
“Auf der Suche nach der Zeit als narratologische Analysekategorie. Mit Beispielen aus der setsuwa-Literatur” [In Search of Time as Narratological Category of Analysis. With Examples from Setsuwa Literature]. In: Time in Premodern Japanese Literature / Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur, edited by Raji C. Steineck, Simone Müller, and Sebastian Balmes, special issue in Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques 75.1: 33–68 (DOI: 10.1515/asia-2021-0027). Online

(2021)
“Narrating Through Text and Image: Character and Sequence in Japanese Handscrolls.” In: Love, Fight, Feast: The Multifaceted World of Japanese Narrative Art [exh. cat. Museum Rietberg, Zurich], edited by Khanh Trinh. Zurich: Scheidegger & Spiess: 34–41.

(2021)
“Erzählen durch Text und Bild: Figur und Sequenz in japanischen Querrollen.” In: Liebe, Kriege, Festlichkeiten: Facetten der narrativen Kunst aus Japan [exh. cat. Museum Rietberg, Zurich], edited by Khanh Trinh. Zürich: Scheidegger & Spiess: 34–41.

(2021)
“Gunki to katarimono no doitsugo kenkyū (ichi)” 軍記と語り物のドイツ語研究（一） [German-Language Research on [Japanese] War Tales and Narrative Recitation (1)]. In: Gunki to katarimono 軍記と語り物 57: 11–23 (DOI: 10.60342/gunkitokatarimono.57.0_11). Online

(2020)
“Discourse, Character, and Time in Premodern Japanese Narrative: An Introduction.” In: Narratological Perspectives on Premodern Japanese Literature, edited by Sebastian Balmes. Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag (BmE Special Issue 7): 1–24 (DOI: 10.25619/BmE20203129). Online

(2020)
“Linguistic Characteristics of Premodern Japanese Narrative: Issues of Narrative Voice and Mood.” In: Narratological Perspectives on Premodern Japanese Literature, edited by Sebastian Balmes. Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag (BmE Special Issue 7): 59–112 (DOI: 10.25619/BmE20203122). Online

(2020)
With Olga Balci, Antonio Colares, Felicia Krammling, Niklas Mair, Eileen Sallinger, and Adina Wildner: “Fünf Erzählungen und ein Fragment aus dem Tsutsumi chūnagon monogatari” [Five Stories and a Fragment from the Tsutsumi chūnagon monogatari]. In: Weile, ohne zu wohnen: Festschrift für Peter Pörtner zu seinem 66. Geburtstag, edited by Steffen Döll and Marc Nürnberger. Hamburg: Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens (MOAG 150): 129–192.

(2019)
“Verschwindende Körper: Das Shintōshū-Kapitel zu den ‘Acht Emanationen’ (Hakka gongen) in der Provinz Kōzuke” [Disappearing Bodies: The Shintōshū Chapter on the “Eight Avatars” (Hakka gongen) in Kōzuke Province]. In: Transformationen: Dimensionen des Körpers im vormodernen Japan, edited by Eike Großmann. Hamburg: Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens (MOAG 149): 243–270.

(2019)
Seikaku: “Gebet für eine Autorin” [Prayer for an Author = revised annotated translation of the Genji hyōbyaku 源氏表白 with introduction]. Neue Rundschau 130.2: 68–75.

(2018)
“Sprachliche Grundbedingungen der klassischen Tagebuchliteratur Japans und Probleme von Erzählstimme und Perspektive im ‘Tosa nikki’” [Basic Linguistic Conditions of Japanese Classical Diary Literature and Problems of Narrative Voice and Perspective in the Tosa nikki]. In: Narratologie und mittelalterliches Erzählen: Autor, Erzähler, Perspektive, Zeit und Raum, edited by Eva von Contzen and Florian Kragl. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter (Das Mittelalter: Perspektiven mediävistischer Forschung: Beihefte 7): 9–41 (DOI: 10.1515/9783110566536-002).

(2017)
“‘Verrückte Sprache und ausgeschmückte Worte’: Zum buddhistischen Diskurs über den Wert der Literatur im Rahmen der Genji-Rezeption des 12. Jahrhunderts” [“Wild Words and Fancy Phrases”: On the Buddhist Discourse on the Value of Literature in Regard to the Genji Reception of the Twelfth Century]. In: Bunron—Studies in Japanese Literature 4: 1–33 (DOI: 10.11588/br.2017.4.1241). Online

(2017)
“Tosa nikki no katarite to shiten: naratorojī no hōhō ni yoru kōsatsu”『土左日記』の語り手と視点：ナラトロジーの方法による考察 [Narrator and Perspective in the Tosa nikki: Thoughts Based on Narratological Methodology]. In: Kodai chūsei bungaku ronkō 古代中世文学論考 35: 97–123.

(2019)
“Japanologie” [Japanese Studies]. In: Handbuch Historische Narratologie [Handbook on Historical Narratology], edited by Eva von Contzen and Stefan Tilg. [Stuttgart]: J.B. Metzler: 319–322 (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-476-04714-4_32).

(2016)
9 entries in: Nihon koten bungaku hon’yaku jiten 2: Heian gaigo hen 日本古典文学翻訳事典２：平安外語編 (English title: Japanese Classical Literature: A Translation Encyclopedia vol. 2: Heian Literature in Foreign Languages Edition), edited by Itō Tetsuya 伊藤鉄也. Tōkyō: Kokubungaku Kenkyū Shiryōkan 国文学研究資料館: 61–67, 71–72, 74–79, 99–100, 102. Online

(2015)
Translation of the entry “Hoke-kyō 法華経.” In: Das Grosse Lexikon des Buddhismus [German translation of Sōgō bukkyō daijiten 総合佛教大辞典], edited by Aoyama Takao et al. Currently in online database.

(2023)
“Überlegungen zur Narrativität japanischer Querrollen” [Thoughts on the Narrativity of Japanese Handscrolls]. In: medioscope [blog of the Center for Historical Mediology, University of Zurich], November 24. Online

(2023)
Conference report on the symposium “Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives: A Diachronic Perspective” (University of Zurich, August 13–15, 2023). In: Medialität: Historische Perspektiven: Newsletter 27: 23–25. Online

(2021)
With Raji C. Steineck and Simone Müller: “Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur: Vorwort” (Time in Premodern Japanese Literature: Preface). In: Time in Premodern Japanese Literature / Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur, edited by Raji C. Steineck, Simone Müller, and Sebastian Balmes, special issue in Asiatische Studien / Études Asiatiques 75.1: 5–7 (DOI: 10.1515/asia-2021-0025). Online

(2025)
Hiratsuka Keiso 平塚ケイ素: Flüssigkeit der Landschaft 景色の液体 [The Liquid of Landscape]. Biel: Edition Haus am Gern.

(2017)
Ōe Kenzaburō: “Unter meinem Baum” (「自分の木」の下で; selection). In: Das Leuchten der Bäume: Die schönsten Geschichten und Gedichte, edited by Lucas Walter. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch (Fischer Klassik 90665): 77–82.

(2015)
Ōe Kenzaburō: “Der Tag, an dem eine neue Izumi Shikibu geboren wurde” (もうひとり和泉式部が生れた日). Neue Rundschau 126.3: 51–71.

(2012)
Abe Kazushige: “Ride on Time.” Neue Rundschau 123.1: 44–49.

(2012)
Ōe Kenzaburō: “Darüber hinaus erinnert sich (meine Seele): Lesen, Lernen und Erfahrung” (読むこと学ぶこと、そして経験：しかも（私の魂）は記憶する). Neue Rundschau 123.1: 141–158.

(2012)
Ōe Kenzaburō: “Der Tag, an dem ein Mensch weggeschwemmt wurde” (人の流れる日). Neue Rundschau 123.1: 13–19.

(2012)
Shibasaki Tomoka: “Hier, hier” (ここで、ここで). Neue Rundschau 123.1: 50–69.

Conference Presentations

(2025)

Zum narrativen Potenzial von Zeit und Emotion in den engi des Shintōshū [On the Narrative Potential of Time and Emotion in the engi of Shintōshū]. 19th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, section Premodern Literature, Goethe University Frankfurt, August 22.

(2024)

The Spatiotemporal Structure of Medieval Tales of Origin in Shintōshū. “Japan: Pre-modern, Modern and Contemporary” (11th international conference), Bucharest University of Economic Studies, September 4 (online).

Lokale Kulte und literarische Topographie im Shintōshū [Local Cults and Literary Topography in Shintōshū]. Jubilee symposium of the research group Japanese Religions: “Religions in Japan: Local, National, Global,” University of Tübingen, May 11.

Eine Augenöffnungszeremonie für die sechsunddreißig Unsterblichen der Dichtung [An Eye-Opening Ceremony for the Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry]. 23th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Art, Work of Art, and Theory of Art,” Goethe University Frankfurt, February 15.

( 2023)

Shintōshū no monogatari-teki engi ni okeru sakuchū jinbutsu no zōkei to kyōkai 『神道集』の物語的縁起における作中人物の造形と境界 [Characterization and Boundaries of Characters in the Narrative Origin Tales of Shintōshū]. 2023nendo Bukkyō bungakukai taikai 2023年度 仏教文学会 大会 [2023 Conference of the Association for the Study of Buddhist Literature], Doshisha University 同志社大学, Kyoto, September 3.

Mediality and Genre in the Transmission of Engi in Kōzuke Province. EAJS2023 (17th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies), section Pre-modern Literature, Ghent University, August 18.

Demarcating Medieval Characters: On the Role of Characters and Their Boundaries in Shintōshū. Symposium “Kyarachters: On the Other Side of Narrative,” University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), April 29.

Towards a Fictional Grammar of Early and Late Middle Japanese. DGfS 2023 (45th annual conference of the German Linguistic Society), Workshop 5: “Linguistic aspects of fictionality,” University of Cologne, March 10.

(2022)

Heian Period Prose and Theories of Uniqueness. The 16th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw, International Conference “Cultural and literary tradition of Japan—forms, images, language,” University of Warsaw, October 18 (online).

Autor – Person – Figur: Einführung in das Thema der Sektion [Author, Person, Narrator: Introduction to the Section’s Topic]. 18th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, section Premodern Literature: “Author, Person, Character: The Human in Literature,” University of Düsseldorf, August 25 (online).

(2021)

“Now is the Past”: Time as Narratological Category and Its Realizations in Setsuwa Literature. EAJS2021 (16th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies), section Pre-modern Literature, Ghent University, August 26 (online).

(2020)

Auf der Suche nach der Zeit als narratologische Analysekategorie in setsuwa-Erzählungen [In Search of Time as a Narratological Category in Setsuwa Tales]. 20th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Time in Premodern Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, September 2.

(2019)

Konfigurationen der Trauer in der frühen Literatur Japans [Configurations of Grief in Early Japanese Literature]. 19th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Kokoro in Premodern Japanese Literature,” EKŌ-Haus, Düsseldorf, June 29.

(2018)

Vokalität und Geschichte: Überlegungen zum Zusammenhang von Erzählstimme und Pragmatik mittelalterlicher und frühneuzeitlicher engi-Texte [Vocality and History: Thoughts on the Interdependency of Narrative Voice and Pragmatics of Medieval and Early Modern Engi Texts]. 17th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, section Premodern Literature: “Reading, Writing, Reciting,” FU Berlin, August 31.

Leib und Welt: Status und Bedingungen des göttlichen Leibes (shinmei no mi) in den Legendenerzählungen des Shintōshū [Body and World: Status and Conditions of the Divine Body (shinmei no mi) in the Legends of Shintōshū]. 18th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “The Body as Boundary and World,” LMU Munich, June 30.

(2017)

Narration Between Setsuwa and Monogatari: Defining the ‘Shintōshū’ in the Context of Japanese Literary History. EAJS2017 (15th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies), section Pre-modern Literature, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, September 2.

Erfahrung und Figurenkörperlichkeit in der Literatur der Heian-Zeit: Probleme und Chancen der Narratologie in Japan [Experience and Characters’ Corporeality in Heian-Period Literature: Problems and Prospects of Narratology in Japan]. 17th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Perception, Performativity, Emotionality: Dimensions of the Body in Premodern Japan,” University of Hamburg, June 30.

(2016)

Erzählte Grenzen: Zur Wahrnehmung fiktionalen Raumes im Shintōshū [Narrated Boundaries: On the Perception of Fictional Space in Shintōshū]. 16th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Boundaries, Gaps, and Transitional Spaces in Japanese Literature,” Heidelberg University, June 25.

(2015)

Drachensee und Schlangenhügel: Zur Konzeption und Symbolik von Räumen im Shintōshū [Dragon Lake and Serpent Hill: On the Conception and Symbolism of Spaces in Shintōshū]. 16th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, section Religion: “Holy Places and Sacred Space in the Religions of Japan,” LMU Munich, August 27.

(2015)

Berge und Seen: Räume der Imagination im Shintōshū [Mountains and Lakes: Spaces of Imagination in Shintōshū]. 15th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Imagined Places—Spaces of Imagination,” University of Trier, June 27.

(2014)

Genji kuyō: Ein Ritual zur Rettung von Murasaki Shikibu [Genji kuyō: A Ritual for the Salvation of Murasaki Shikibu]. 14th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature: “Literature and Ritual,” University of Göttingen, June 27.

Invited Talks

(2025)

Nihon koten bungaku no johō: katari no kyori to kakujitsusei o chūshin ni 日本古典文学の〈叙法〉：語りの〈距離〉と〈確実性〉を中心に [‘Mood’ in Premodern Japanese Literature: On Narrative ‘Distance’ and ‘Determinacy’]. International Symposium “Theorizing Japanese Literature: Modality, Adaptation, and Gender,” Sofia University, August 27 (online).

The Narrative Potential of Time and Emotion in the Engi of Shintōshū. International Workshop “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, August 26.

(2024)

Naratorojī to Nihon chūsei bungaku: monogatari-ron no shomondai to Shintōshū no monogatari-teki engi o chūshin ni ナラトロジーと日本中世文学：物語論の諸問題と『神道集』の「物語的縁起」を中心に (Narratology and Medieval Japanese Literature: Issues in Narrative Theory and the ‘Narrative Engi’ of Shintōshū). With commentary by Tokuda Kazuo 徳田和夫. Ryusaku Tsunoda Center of Japanese Culture 角田柳作記念国際日本学研究所, Waseda University 早稲田大学, Tokyo, July 30. Report by Jinno Hidenori 陣野英則: https://www.waseda.jp/flas/rilas/news/2024/08/05/13386/ (Japanese); https://www.waseda.jp/flas/gjs/news-en/4601 (English).

Medieval Myth. KU-UZH Joint Workshop “Myth in Theory and Practice: Philosophical vs. Historical Perspectives,” Kyoto University, January 11.

(2023)

Wissenstradierung in illustrierten Querrollen des japanischen Mittelalters am Beispiel des Saru no sōshi [Passing Down Knowledge Through Illustrated Handscrolls in Medieval Japan: The Saru no sōshi]. 17th Annual Conference of Zurich Medieval Studies: “Formulas, Forms, and Formats: Media of Medieval Organization of Knowledge,” University of Zurich, November 18.

With Léo Messerschmid, Professor Simone Müller, Dr. Nathalie Phillips, Dr. Carina Roth, and Nahoko Suzuki: Overview of Case Studies and Methods in the SNSF-Project “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature.” Methods Workshop of the SNSF Project “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, August 15.

The Mediality of Medieval Myths: Transmission and Development of Tales from Shintōshū. International Symposium “Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives—A Diachronic Perspective,” University of Zurich, August 13.

Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives—Introduction. International Symposium “Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives—A Diachronic Perspective,” University of Zurich, August 13.

Sprachliche Markierungen von Narrativität und Fiktionalität in vormodernen japanischen Texten [Linguistic Markers of Narrativity and Fictionality in Premodern Japanese Texts]. Ruhr University Bochum, June 28 (online).

Shintōshū no monogatari-teki engi ni okeru sakuchū jinbutsu no zōkei to kyōkai 『神道集』の物語的縁起における作中人物の造形と境界 [Characterization and Boundaries of Characters in the Narrative Origin Tales of Shintōshū]. Kayōken 火曜研 (online research colloquium of Saeki Shin’ichi 佐伯真一), May 16 (online).

(2021)

With Dr. Pia Selmayr: Dynamiken des Sehens in der Literatur des deutschen und japanischen Mittelalters [Visual Dynamics in German and Japanese Medieval Literature]. Lecture Series “Senses in the Middle Ages: Diversity, Hierarchies, Reflections,”, University of Zurich, November 30 (online).

(2018)

Linguistic Characteristics of Premodern Japanese Narrative. Workshop “Japanese Literature and Historical Narratology 日本文学と歴史的ナラトロジー,” LMU Munich, May 3.

(2017)

Das Shintōshū (14. Jh.) im Kontext der japanischen Literaturgeschichte aus erzähltheoretischer Perspektive [Shintōshū in the Context of Japanese Literary History Seen from the Perspective of Narrative Theory]. Japan Center, LMU Munich, October 19.

Tosa nikki no katari-te to shiten: naratorojī no hōhō ni yoru ichi kōsatsu 『土左日記』の語り手と視点：ナラトロジーの方法による一考察 [Narrator and Perspective in Tosa nikki: A Consideration Based on Narratological Methodology]. Workshop: “Nihon no bungaku riron ‒ Nihon bungaku o riron suru 日本の文学理論・日本文学を理論する” [Japanese Literary Theory ‒ Theorizing Japanese Literature], Heidelberg University, February 20.

(2015)

Der Roman vom strahlenden Prinzen: Sein Nachleben in Wort und Bild [The Novel of the Shining Prince: Its Afterlife in Word and Image]. Intensive course in Japanese, LMU Munich, March 20.

(2014)

Imaginäres und Fiktionalität in der Literatur des japanischen Mittelalters: Die Ursprungserzählungen des Shintōshū [The Imaginary and Fictionality in Medieval Japanese Literature: The Origin Narratives of Shintōshū]. Japan Center, LMU Munich, November 27.

Participations in Panel Discussions

(2025)

Übersetzen als wissenschaftliche Praxis – Themenfelder und Thesen [Translation as Scholarly Practice: Issues and Thoughts] (with own input presentation). 19th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, section Premodern Literature: “Translation as Challenge,” Goethe University Frankfurt, August 22.

Roundtable “Basic Categories” (with own input presentation), conference “Common Grounds: Towards a Medieval Comparative Literature,” University of Würzburg, January 16.

(2022)

“‘In diesem Halblicht.’ Zur Übersetzung von Richard Wrights HAIKU und dem japanischen Haiku” [“In this half light.” On the Translation of Richard Wright’s HAIKU and the Japanese Haiku]. Part of the dialogue series “Weltlyrik übersetzen: Theorie und Praxis” [Translating World Poetry: Theory and Practice], Goethe University Frankfurt, November 23.

Invited Discussion and Moderation

(2025)

Discussant in panel “Origin Tales,” International Workshop “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, August 26.

(2023)

Discussant at mini-conference “How to Think about the End: The Demise and Transformation of Religions,” University of Zurich, December 5 (hybrid).

(2022)

Discussant in panel “Heian Literature,” EAJS Publication Workshop 2022, University of Zurich, October 6.

(2021)

Moderation of panel “2nd happyō awase,” symposium “Storytelling in Japan: On the occasion of the special exhibition ‘Love, Fight, Feast—the World of Japanese Narrative Art,’” Museum Rietberg, Zurich, October 23.

Organization

(2025)

With Simone Müller, Léo Messerschmid, Nathalie Phillips, and Berfu Şengün: International Workshop “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, August 25–26, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (project funding), the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences), the Hochschulstiftung foundation (University of Zurich), and UZH Alumni.

(2024)

With Simone Müller and Raji C. Steineck: Conference “Natur: Macht und Gefühl” [Nature: Power and Emotion], 24th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature, University of Zurich, November 29–30, funded by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences), the Hochschulstiftung foundation (University of Zurich), and UZH Alumni.

Guest lecture by R. Keller Kimbrough (University of Colorado Boulder): “Exploring Buddhism in Medieval Japanese Fiction,” Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, University of Zurich, November 28.

(2023)

Panel “Mediality and the Development of Narratives in Medieval and Early Modern Japan,” EAJS2023 (17th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies), section Pre-modern Literature, Ghent University, August 18.

With Simone Müller, Léo Messerschmid, Nathalie Phillips, and Carina Roth: Methods Workshop of the SNSF Project “Time and Emotion in Medieval Japanese Literature,” University of Zurich, August 15–16, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (project funding).

With Sarah Rebecca Schmid: International Symposium “Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives: A Diachronic Perspective,” University of Zurich, August 13–15, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Graduate Campus (GRC) and the Center for Historical Mediology (University of Zurich), and UZH Alumni.

(2022)

Section Premodern Literature: “Autor – Person – Figur: Der Mensch in der Literatur” [Author, Person, Character: The Human in Literature], 18th German-Speaking Japanese Studies Conference, University of Düsseldorf, August 25–26 (online).

(2021)

With Pia Selmayr: Lecture Series “Sinne im Mittelalter: Vielfalt – Hierarchien – Reflexionen” [Senses in the Middle Ages: Diversity, Hierarchies, Reflections], University of Zurich, Fall Semester (online).

Panel “The Past and the Present: Medieval Japanese Narrative and Time,” EAJS2021 (16th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies), section Pre-modern Literature, Ghent University, August 26 (online).

(2020)

With Raji C. Steineck and Simone Müller: Conference “Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur” [Time in Premodern Japanese Literature], 20th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature, University of Zurich, September 2–4, funded by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Hochschulstiftung foundation (University of Zurich).

(2018)

With Peter Pörtner and Marc Nürnberger: Conference “Körper als Grenze und Welt” [The Body as Boundary and World], 18th symposium of the research group Premodern Japanese Literature, LMU Munich, June 29 – July 1, funded by the Department of Asian Studies.

International Workshop “Japanese Literature and Historical Narratology 日本文学と歴史的ナラトロジー,” LMU Munich, May 3–4, funded by “Global Cultures—Connecting Worlds” (GCCW), part of the funding program IPID4all of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

• Co-editor of the open access journal Bunron—Studies in Japanese Literature
• Member of the editorial board of the open access book series Advances in Historical Linguistics (Berlin: Language Science Press)

• Arbeitskreis Vormoderne japanische Literatur [Research Group Premodern Japanese Literature]
• Bukkyō Bungakukai 仏教文学会 (The Association for the Study of Buddhist Literature)
• European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS)
• European Narratology Network (ENN)
• Gesellschaft für Japanforschung e.V. (GJF) [German-Speaking Association for Japanese Studies]
• Gunki Katarimono Kenkyūkai 軍記・語り物研究会 [Association for the Study of [Japanese] War Tales and Narrative Recitation]
• Mediävistikverband e.V. (Association of Medieval Studies)
• Swiss Asia Society