You’ll find me wherever Japanese religions, digital technology, and media meet.
Dr. Kaitlyn Ugoretz (she/her)
About me! I’m an anthropologist of religion and the Associate Editor of publications at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, including the Japanese Journal of Religious Studies.
I specialize in contemporary Japanese religion, globalization, technology, and media. My digital ethnographic research focuses on the globalization of Shinto and the development of transnational online Shinto communities.
I received my BA/MA in Asian studies from the University of Pennsylvania and earned my PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
Watch me! I host the educational YouTube channel Eat Pray Anime, where I explore the history and culture behind Japanese popular media. I also wrote the popular Shinto introductory series for Religion For Breakfast.
Read me! My work has been published in The Bloomsbury Handbook of Japanese Religion, Critical Asian Studies, Asia-Pacific Perspectives, and The New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (forthcoming). Read my most recent article, “Do Kentucky Kami Drink Bourbon” I’ve also written for public venues, including the Washington Post, Religion News Service, and The Conversation.
Hire me! I work professionally as a writer, editor, social media manager, and subject matter consultant for projects including games, television, and cultural experiences. Contact me for inquiries and rates.
Work with me! I am the Japanese religions editor for The Database of Religious History (submit an entry!) and a founding organizer of GAMING+, an online interdisciplinary videogame studies hub.
Latest Publication
The Many Types of Torii in Japan
Article, Postcards from Japan (Mar 2024)
Latest Video
“Nerds at Work with TsundEri”
Video Podcast Interview (Mar 2024)
I STUDY SHINTO AND…
Globalization
Shinto is conventionally described as "the ancient, indigenous religion of Japan and the Japanese people." What does Shinto look like outside of Japan and as practiced by non-Japanese people? My work shifts our focus from the past and the boundaries of Japan to contemporary, transnational Shinto communities. I study how social networks are being created between Japan and other countries through digital media and how they construct a global Shinto which questions our fundamental assumptions about the religion.
The Internet
Shinto is not the only religion to 'go digital.' The evolution of the Internet and social media have enabled individuals at different times and places to communicate with others in new ways. Over time, these online interactions—which incorporate a variety of digital media—can give new life to existing religious communities and spark the formation of new ones. The possibilities and limitations of computer-mediated communication are challenging the way we think about what it means to "be religious" and "do religion."
Nature and the Environment
The globalization and digitization of Shinto raises interesting questions about the importance of space and nature in contemporary belief and practice. Shinto developed from highly localized kami cults centered around natural formations which the kami inhabit in the nearby environment, such as mountains and rivers. As belief and practice developed, Shinto came to revolve around human-like kami and shrines. I am exploring what Shinto's encounter with cyberspace means for contemporary conceptions of sacred space and human relationships with nature.
Popular Culture
The exportation of popular culture has been a crucial strategy for the Japanese government and various industries. People around the world are coming into contact with Japanese culture and religion through media including anime, manga, and video games. For example, Miyazaki Hayao's beloved animated films like Spirited Away are celebrated for their emphasis on respect for nature and depictions of kami. I incorporate media and fan studies into my research to understand how media producers and consumers envision Shinto, as well as how pop culture is used in online communities.