My research interests primarily relate to Japan and fall into two areas. First, I am particularly interested in themes relating to memorialisation, identity and symbolism. Second, I am interested in issues relating to the railways and aviation in Japan.

Having become interested in Japan while I was at Concord College, I went on to study Japanese Studies and Business Studies at the School of East Asian Studies (University of Sheffield). Then, after a year on the JET Programme, I returned to Sheffield to do a PhD. From 2000 to 2025 I was at Cardiff University. I was initially appointed as the Director of the Cardiff Japanese Studies Centre before it became a part of the School of Modern Languages in 2014. From 1999 to 2009 I was also an Associate Fellow at Chatham House. I am a member of the British Association for Japanese Studies, and served as its President for six years (2016-2022). I have been the President of the Japanese Railway Society since 2025.

In 2016 I received a Certificate of Commendation from the Ambassador of Japan in the UK in recognition of distinguished service to contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and UK.

I am the author of five academic books; Education Reform in Japan: Nakasone’s Legacy, Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan, Dealing With Disaster in Japan: Responses to the Flight JL123 Crash, Osutaka: A Chronicle of Loss in the World’s Largest Single Plane Crash, and Japan: The Basics. I have edited two other titles; Doing Business with the Japanese (co-editor with Prof G. Bownas and D. Powers) and the 4 volume The Politics of Modern Japan. I have also written three novels, Hijacking Japan, Tokyo 20/20 Vision and FOUR.

Click here for more information about my research, here for details about selected research publications, here for a list of publications, here for a list of presentations that I have given, here for information about photographs in my research, and here for details about my media experience (both interviews with newspapers and also appearances in documentaries).