My name is Antonella Morgillo, and I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Comparative Culture and Language program in the School of International Letters and Cultures at Arizona State University. My research focuses on Japanese film and visual media, with particular attention to early ethnographic and documentary representations of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Japan. Drawing on postcolonial studies, visual anthropology, and media analysis, my dissertation examines how early cinematic portrayals of the Ainu circulated within Japan and abroad, what was at stake in their creation and reception, and how these representations shaped the lived realities and cultural identities of the Ainu people.
At the core of my research lies a commitment to giving visibility to an underrepresented community and to reexamining the visual narratives that have historically shaped its perception. My work extends beyond a purely scholarly inquiry, engaging with questions of ethics, representation, and cultural politics. By analyzing how the Ainu have been portrayed – and increasingly how they have reclaimed the power to represent themselves – I aim to highlight the intersections between visual culture, identity formation, and Indigenous agency. In this sense, my research functions not only as a contribution to academic discourse but also as a form of cultural activism that advocates for a more inclusive and equitable understanding of Japan’s diverse cultural landscape.
My academic journey has allowed me to engage with Japan on both an intellectual and deeply personal level. Experiencing a culture so different from my own challenged me to reflect on my background and values, helping me see my own culture with new eyes. This exchange of perspectives has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my research, enriching both my scholarship and personal growth. Throughout my Ph.D. program, I have been honored with several awards and fellowships that have allowed me to pursue this exploration in depth and to engage with Japan and Ainu culture in profoundly meaningful ways.
A defining chapter of this journey unfolded in 2024–2025, when I received a Doctoral Fellowship from the Japan Foundation, which allowed me to spend nearly a year in Japan conducting fieldwork and archival research. Although I had previously lived and traveled in Japan, this fellowship offered a deeper and more sustained engagement with the country and its people. During this time, I traveled extensively throughout Hokkaido, the heartland of Ainu culture, visiting key centers such as Kushiro, Lake Akan, Shiraoi, Asahikawa, and Nibutani, places that embody the vitality and creativity of Ainu heritage. I had the privilege of meeting members of the Ainu community who generously shared their stories, rituals, and perspectives. These encounters were profoundly moving and brought a human and emotional depth to my research, allowing me to connect my scholarly work with lived experience in meaningful ways.
The deepening of my connection with Japan and Ainu culture was made possible also thanks to the generous support of the Asia Center at ASU, which enabled me to explore Japanese culture in a truly immersive way. Through the Center’s guidance and encouragement, I was able to obtain a FLAS Fellowship, which gave me the invaluable opportunity to dedicate a full year entirely to my research. I was also honored to receive the Guilford A. Dudley Memorial Prize for Excellence in Asian Studies, a recognition that not only supported my work but deeply motivated me to continue pursuing my academic path with passion and perseverance. The encouragement I received through these honors strengthened my sense of purpose and enriched my understanding of Japan’s visual culture, its complexity, its beauty, and its power to shape narratives and identities across time.
Living, studying, and conducting research in and about Japan has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career and of my life as a whole. It has deepened my commitment to understanding and honoring Japan’s diverse cultural landscape and to fostering greater awareness of Indigenous histories and visual representations through film and media.
More broadly, engaging so closely with a culture different from my own has reshaped the way I see the world. It reminded me that while our histories and expressions may differ, the desire to be seen, understood, and represented with dignity is profoundly human, connecting us across cultures, borders, and time.