Metadata
Title
Rin Ushiyama
Category
undergraduate
UUID
396d2e020f6349bca6b590bef9d480e2
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T19:00:11+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Rin Ushiyama

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/anthropology-sociology-ba/

Rin Ushiyama, 2025

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56594987400)

# Rin Ushiyama

Dr

- Lecturer, [School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-social-sciences-education-and-social-work/)

[https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2703-0985](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2703-0985 "Orcid")

- Phone+44 (0)28 9097 3218
- Email[R.Ushiyama@qub.ac.uk](#)

- Room 02.002 - 2 College Park East

  United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

cultural sociology; war memory; memory and commemoration; atrocity denial; social movement studies; right-wing movements; East Asia; Japan

2014Research output 2014: 1Research output 2016: 1Research output 2019: 3Research output 2020: 1Research output 2021: 3Research output 2022: 4Research output 2024: 1Research output 2025: 1Research output 2026: 12026

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Interests

I am Lecturer in Sociology at the School of Social Science, Education, and Social Work.

I joined Queen's in 2021. I am also a Fellow of the Mitchell Institute (Legacy Thematic Group). Previously, I was a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge (2017-21) and a Research Fellow in Sociology at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge (2018-21). I hold a PhD in Sociology (2017) from the University of Cambridge.

I am a cultural sociologist of violence. My research straddles multiple areas including cultural sociology, political sociology, memory studies, sociology of religion, and social theory.

I’m interested in how individuals, groups, and institutions make sense of violent events including wars, terrorism, and colonialism through processes such as commemorative acts, art, media reports, and social activism. I research how actors engage in meaning-making processes through narratives and how different stakeholders construct multiple and conflicting accounts of the same event. 

For the past few years, I have been researching the Japanese far-right’s denial of atrocities committed under Japanese colonialism and during World War Two: a movement known as ‘historical revisionism’ which emerged in the 1990s. I also have a developing research project on the Myanmar government’s denial of the Rohingya Genocide.

My first monograph, [*Aum Shinrikyo and religious terrorism in Japanese collective memory*](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/aum-shinrikyo-and-religious-terrorism-in-japanese-collective-memory-9780197267370?cc=gb&lang=en&) (Oxford University Press, 2022), reconstructs the long-term consequences of Aum Shinrikyō’s crimes and terrorist attacks that culminated in the deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in March 1995. Described as 'a definitive account of a famous modern Japanese tragedy', this book explores how the Aum Affair developed as a 'cultural trauma' in Japanese collective memory following the Tokyo attack. Interrogating an array of sources including mass media reports and interviews with victims and ex-members, it reveals the multiple clashing narratives about the causes of Aum's violence, the efficacy of ‘brainwashing’ and ‘mind control’, and whether capital punishment is justified. The book shows that the entrenchment of binary codes like ‘good-evil’ and ‘victims-perpetrators’ in commemorative processes can ultimately hinder social repair and reconciliation. The book has been positively reviewed in journals including *Social Forces* and *Nova Religio*.

As a social theorist, I have peer-reviewed publications including work on ‘existence theory’ (with Patrick Baert and Marcus Morgan), power and domination, and postcolonial theory.

I originally started my research in sociology of religion and I maintain an active interest in topics including new religious movements, Japanese religions, and religious nationalism.

My publications have appeared innumerous peer-reviewed journals such as *The Sociological Review,* *The British Journal of Sociology*, *Theory and Society*, *American Journal of Cultural Sociology*, *Memory Studies*, *Journal of Classical Sociology*, and *International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society*.

I am currently Co-Editor of [*Cultural Sociology*](https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cus), and Editorial Board Member for the [*International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society*](https://www.springer.com/journal/10767).

Research Supervision

I welcome PhD applications, especially in areas of memory studies, cultural sociology of violence, and social theory.

### Teaching

I convene the following undergraduate modules:

- SOC1005 Digital Society (from AY2023/24)
- SOC3054 Cultural Politics of Memory in a Global Perspective

I convene the following master's module

- SOC9081 Power, Agency and Global Inequality

I also supervise undergraduate and master's dissertations on a range of subjects.

### Keywords

- HM Sociology
- cultural sociology
- memory
- culture
- political sociology
- colonialism
- war
- DS Asia
- Japan
- East Asia
- Japanese Empire
- HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
- atrocity denial
- historical revisionism
- terrorism
- war
- war memory

### Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

1. SDG 10
   Reduced Inequalities
2. SDG 16
   Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Rin Ushiyama is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- Theory
  Social Sciences
- Japanese
  Social Sciences
- Japan
  Social Sciences
- Cultural trauma
  Arts and Humanities
- Collective Memory
  Social Sciences
- Cultural Sociology
  Social Sciences
- Sociology
  Social Sciences
- Tokyo
  Arts and Humanities

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

# Dive into details

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Close

[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/network/)

## Research output

- [9](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle)
  Article
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fchapter)
  Chapter
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fbookanthology%2Fbook)
  Book
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fpeerreviewedchapter)
  Chapter (peer-reviewed)
- 3
  More

  - [**1** Book/Film/Article review](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fbook)
  - [**1** Comment/debate](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fcomment)
  - [**1** Editorial](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Feditorial)

- ### [Expanding the ‘Third Space’ between Western and non-Western knowledge: Nakane Chie’s Japanese Society as anti-Eurocentric theory](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/expanding-the-third-space-between-western-and-non-western-knowled/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/), 01 Jan 2026, In: [The Sociological Review.](#) 74, 1, p. 42-61

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Third space
  - Dichotomy
  - Eurocentric
  - Scholars
  - theorists

  [2](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85214107912#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

  234
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [The ‘laughing chorus’ of ordinary actors: Mikhail Bakhtin’s sociology of critical capacity](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/the-laughing-chorus-of-ordinary-actors-mikhail-bakhtins-sociology/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/), 02 Sept 2025, In: [Journal of Political Power.](#) 18, 3, p. 380-398 19 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Bahktin

  10
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Existence theory and contemporary culture](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/existence-theory-and-contemporary-culture/)

  Baert, P., Morgan, M. & [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/), 18 Apr 2024, *Routledge handbook of contemporary existentialism.* Aho, K., Altman, M. & Pedersen, H. (eds.). [Routledge](#), p. 71-80 (Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy).

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  Open Access

  File

  - Contemporary Culture
  - Social Inequality
  - Rigidity
  - existentialist
  - Sociological Theorizing

  [1](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85190216446#tab=citedBy)
  Citation
  (Scopus)

  3
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Aum Shinrikyo and religious terrorism in Japanese collective memory](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/aum-shinrikyo-and-religious-terrorism-in-japanese-collective-memo/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/), 08 Dec 2022, Oxford: [Oxford University Press](#). 228 p. (British Academy Monographs)

  Research output: Book/Report › Book

  Open Access

  File

  - Books
  - Binaries
  - Tokyo
  - Cultural trauma
  - Aum Shinrikyo

  2021
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Editorial Statement: Visions for Cultural Sociology in Uncertain Times](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/editorial-statement-visions-for-cultural-sociology-in-uncertain-t/)

  Jaworsky, B. N., Lo, M.-C. M., Morgan, M., Thorpe, C. & [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/), Sept 2022, In: [Cultural Sociology.](#) 16, 3, p. 305-317 13 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial

  Open Access

  - Time
  - Continuity
  - Cultural Sociology
  - Vision Statement
  - State

  [3](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85132874722#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

[View all 16 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/publications/)

## Prizes

- ### [British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/british-academy-postdoctoral-fellowship-3/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Recipient), 2017

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively

  - Reproductive Medicine
- ### [Early Career Research Fellowship in Sociology](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/prizes/early-career-research-fellowship-in-sociology/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Recipient), 2018

  Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively

## Activities

- [11](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Foral_presentation)
  Oral presentation
- [7](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Fpublicationpeerreview)
  Publication peer-review
- [6](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Feditorialwork%2Feditorial)
  Editorial activity
- [5](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  Invited talk
- 10
  More

  - [**4** Public lecture/debate/seminar](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Fpublic_lecture_debate_seminar)
  - [**3** Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_or_keynote_talk_at_national_or_international_conference)
  - [**1** Participation in conference](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fattendance%2Fconferenceparticipation)
  - [**1** Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fcontribution_to_the_work_of_national_or_international_committees_and_working_groups)
  - [**1** Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fwork_on_advisory_panel_to_industry_or_government_or_non_government_organisation_)

- ### [Expert Consultant](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/expert-consultant/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Advisor)

  Nov 2025 → …

  Activity: Consultancy types › Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
- ### [Race and Education under the Second Trump Administration](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/race-and-education-under-the-second-trump-administration/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Organiser)

  Apr 2025

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
- ### ['Taboo’ and ‘Feeling Rules’ in Atrocity Denial: Transnational Remembrance of the Rohingya Genocide as Resistant Memory](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/taboo-and-feeling-rules-in-atrocity-denial-transnational-remembra/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Presenter)

  Nov 2024

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [RELIER: Revue interdisciplinaire d’études religieuses (Journal)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/relier-revue-interdisciplinaire-d%C3%A9tudes-religieuses-journal/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Peer reviewer)

  2024

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
- ### [Journal Of Gender Studies (Journal)](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/journal-of-gender-studies-journal-3/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/) (Peer reviewer)

  2024

  Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review

[View all 39 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/activities/)

## Press/Media

- ### [Japan’s ruling party secures historic election victory – but challenges lie ahead](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/japans-ruling-party-secures-historic-election-victory-but-challen/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/)

  09/02/2026

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
- ### [Life sentence for man who killed Japan's ex-PM Shinzo Abe](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/life-sentence-for-man-who-killed-japans-ex-pm-shinzo-abe/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/)

  20/01/2026

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [What a popular murderer reveals about Japan](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/what-a-popular-murderer-reveals-about-japan/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/)

  30/10/2025

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### ["Por que a direita radical está crescendo no Japão" - Why the Radical Right is Growing in Japan](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/por-que-a-direita-radical-est%C3%A1-crescendo-no-jap%C3%A3o-why-the-radical/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/)

  20/08/2025

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Expert Comment
- ### [Rightwing populist Sanseitō party shakes Japan with election surge](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/clippings/rightwing-populist-sanseit%C5%8D-party-shakes-japan-with-election-surg/)

  [Ushiyama, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/)

  21/07/2025

  1 Media contribution

  Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities

[View all 7 press/media](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/rin-ushiyama/clippings/)