Shoko Yoneyama

Associate Professor Shoko Yoneyama

Associate Prof/Reader

School of Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Shoko Yoneyama (PhD) is an Associate Professor of Asian Studies and a sociologist dedicated to empowering young people through her research and teaching, drawing upon her expertise in Japanese Studies. She leads interdisciplinary research teams focused on exploring the connection between ontological diversity and ecoanxiety among youth. Shoko is particularly interested in how visual art, anime, and manga, which depict animism as a non-anthropocentric worldview, can influence the well-being of young people worldwide. Her book, "Animism in Contemporary Japan: Voices for the Anthropocene from Post-Fukushima Japan", serves as a foundational work for her research in this area.
 
The research teams Shoko leads have hosted two international symposia: "Tasmanian Tiger Meets Hokkaido Wolf: Australia and Japan Beyond Ecoanxiety" (a DFAT Australia-Japan Foundation project in 2023) and "Reimagining Nature through Japanese Studies & Art: How to Think the Unthinkable Beyond Ecoanxiety" (in collaboration with the Art Gallery of South Australia, funded by The Japan Foundation and The Japanese Studies Association of Australia in 2025). These events successfully engaged the public with innovative approaches to reimagining sustainable futures. 
 
Shoko has also made significant contributions to the sociology of comparative education, particularly focusing on students' experiences with school bullying and non-attendance. She served on UNESCO's scientific committees aimed at preventing school bullying from 2020 to 2024, contributing to the development of UNESCO's new definition of school bullying. Her book, "The Japanese High Schools: Silence and Resistance", lays the groundwork for her research in this field.
 
With over 1,400 citations, Shoko Yoneyama is one of the most cited sociologists specialising in Japan in Australia. In recognition of her work, she received a Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2024. Inquiries regarding PhD and MPhil projects are welcome.

Associate Professor Shoko Yoneyama is interested in understanding how knowledge is created and how it can become the dominant discourse or method in a particular field. Her research critically examines established paradigms and foundations of knowledge, drawing on her Japanese background and incorporating comparative perspectives. She is particularly interested in empowering young people through her critical analysis of the dominant paradigm.  

Shoko has extensive experience in the sociology of comparative education. Her first book, "The Japanese High School: Silence & Resistance" (Routledge), offers a comparative and critical analysis of student alienation in Japan and Australia from the students' perspective. With over 380 citations, it is the second most cited book on Japanese education in English since 1990.

Another significant contribution is her article titled "Problems with the Paradigm: The School as a Factor in Understanding Bullying," published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education (2003). This pioneering work introduced a sociological perspective to the discourse on school bullying and has garnered over 320 citations. Shoko was a keynote speaker at the World Anti-Bullying Forum 2019 in Dublin. She has also served on UNESCO's scientific committee to prevent school bullying from 2020 to 2024, collaborating with the World Anti-Bullying Forum (WABF) in Sweden to revise the definition of school bullying to be more inclusive and sociologically informed.

Since the triple disaster in Japan in 2011 (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown), Shoko has explored the anthropocentric human-nature relationship and critiqued it through the lens of animism. Her second book, "Animism in Contemporary Japan: Voices for the Anthropocene from Post-Fukushima Japan" (Routledge), presents ‘postmodern animism’ as an effective approach to addressing issues of nature and spirituality, two blind spots in scientific knowledge. Shoko has been invited to serve as a keynote speaker at various international conferences. For more details, please refer to her professional activities.

2025        The Japan Foundation Mini Grant (External)

2025        Japanese Studies Association of Australia (JSAA) Grant (External)

2025        ABLE Advanced Engagement Grant, University of Adelaide

2025        School of Social Sciences Visitor Support Scheme, University of Adelaide

2023-25   FAME Sustainability Grant, University of Adelaide

2022-23   DFAT Australia-Japan Foundation Grant 2022-2023 (External, Category 2)

2022         ABLE, Internal Research Funding Scheme, the Interdisciplinary Grant

2020         University of Adelaide, Barbara Kidman Women’s Fellowship

2015         Australian Government, Asia Bound, Gateway Japan Study Tour

2014         Australian Government, New Colombo Plan, Gateway Japan Study Tour

2011         University of Adelaide, HUMSS FRAGS

2010         University of Adelaide, HUMSS Faculty Research Grants

Courses currently taught

Level 1: Introduction to Asian Cultures (selected lectures only)

Level 2: Asia: Cultures & Identities (Coordination, plus teaching in collaboration with a China specialist)

Level 2: Japanese 2B (Coordination and teaching)

Level 3: Beyond Asian Ecological Crises (Coordination and teaching)

 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Principal Supervisor Discourse of Japan's perception of nature post-World War I through the art and legacy of Yukawa Sanshu Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Yuexiu Shen
    2023 Co-Supervisor An examination of the Cool Japan outcome evaluation by the Japanese government in the Australian context: A study of public diplomacy evaluation through opinion polls Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Yuki Tanaka
    2023 Co-Supervisor Acclimatising to new futures: government paternalism and reimagining climate action as social change Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Amelia McFarlane

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Un/forgetting Agent Orange: Towards a Reimagining of Vietnamese Forests Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Laura Tran
    2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor From Christians in China to Chinese Christians: Identity & Religion Under the Communist Party of China Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Zhengying Shen
    2014 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Ecocriticism by Ishimure Michiko: ‘Spiritual Medicine’ for Modernity in the Anthropocene Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Maki Sugimoto
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Engaging the Angst of Unemployed Youth in Post-Industrial Japan: A Narrative Self-Help Approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Rie Kido
    2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Melancholic Things Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Katherine Tamiko Arguile
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Public participation in Japan's nuclear energy policy-forming process Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Philip Christopher White
    2011 - 2015 Principal Supervisor A Future to Pine for: Transmodernist Movement in Japan Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Steven Michael Attwood
    2003 - 2006 Co-Supervisor Corporate Warriors or Company Animals?: An Investigation of Japanese Salaryman Masculinities Across Three Generations Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Tomoko Hidaka
    2003 - 2011 Principal Supervisor The Unexpected Transformations of Chinese International Students in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Glen Stafford
    2002 - 2008 Principal Supervisor Reframing Futoko (School Non-Attendance) in Japan - A Social Movement Perspective Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss So Wong

  • Board Memberships
    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2015 - 2016 Council Asian Studies Association of Australia - Australia

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2023 - 2023 Member Working Group on Revising the Definition of Bullying and Cyberbullying in preparation for the WABF2023 UNESCO & World Anti-Bullying Forum (WABF) France
    2021 - 2021 Member Working Group to Propose a Revised Definition of School Bullying UNESCO & World Anti-Bullying Forum (WABF) France
    2020 - 2021 Member Scientific Committee of World Anti-Bullying Forum 2021 World Anti-Bullying Forum (WABF) Sweden
    2020 - 2020 Member Scientific Committee on the Prevention and Addressing School Bullying and Cyberbullying UNESCO France

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2020 - 2023 Representative Australian Network for Japanese as Community Langauge Australia

  • Community Engagement
    Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
    2025 - 2025 Reimagining Nature through Japanese Studies & Art: How to Think the Unthinkable beyond Ecoanxiety Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide in collaboration with the Art Gallery of South Australia Australia
    2025 - 2025 Mirai: Futures with Japan Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide and JLTASA Australia
    2023 - 2023 Tasmanian Tiger Meets Hokkado Wolf: Australia & Japan Beyond Eco-Anxiety (@ AnimeGO!) Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide in collaboration with JAFA Japan Australia Friendship Association Australia
    2023 - 2023 Tasmanian Tiger Meets Hokkaido Wolf: Australia & Japan Beyond Eco-Anxiety - International Symposium Public Community Engagement University of Adelaide Australia
    2022 - 2022 INVITED SPEAKER: Can Anime Save the World: Lessons from Hayao Miyazaki & Makoto Shinkai Public Community Engagement The National Federation for Australia-Japan Societies Biennial Conference: New Frontiers Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2002 - 2012 Editor Japanese Studies - Australia

  • Industry Partnerships
    Date Engagement Type Partner Name
    2025 - 2025 Collaboration The Art Gallery of South Australia

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2022 - 2022 INVITED: Miyazaki Anime and Postmodern Animism for Translocal Alliances in the Anthropocene The Korea-China-Japan Peace Foundation Symposium Peace Foundation Korea, Republic of
    2022 - 2022 INVITED: Whole Education Approach to Ending Violence in Schools 2nd Asia Pacific Regional Education Minister's Conference (APREMC II) Side Event: Recovering Learning and Addressing the Learning Crisis by Promoting Well-being and Addressing Violence in Asia and Pacific UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, UN Women, UNFPA, Safe to Learn Thailand
    2019 - 2019 KEYNOTE presentation at the 2019 World Anti-Bullying Forum in Dublin. Title: Connecting the Dots: Insights on School Bullying from Sociology and Cross-cultural Perspectives Dublin City University UNESCO, FRIENDS (Sweden), Dublin City University Ireland
    2016 - 2016 KEYNOTE presentation, Title: A Mysterious Connection between Totoro and Post-3.11 Japan Japanese Language Teachers’ Association of South Australia (JLTASA) Annual Conference Japanese Language Teachers’ Association of South Australia (JLTASA) Australia
    2016 - 2016 PANEL ORGANISER: Post-3.11 Japan: Exploring a New Narrative, Presenters: Tessa Morris-Suzuki, Adam Broinowski, and Shoko Yoneyama: ‘Animism: A Grassroots Response to Socio-Environmental Crisis in Contemporary Japan’; Discussant: Kent Anderson Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) Conference ANU Australia
    2015 - 2015 KEYNOTE presentation: Animism: A grassroots Response to Socio-Environmental Crisis in Contemporary Japan Survival Politics in East Asia: Socio-Environmental Crises and Grassroots Responses, ANU Australian National University Australia
    2014 - 2014 INVITED presentation: Civil Society Discourses on Life, Soul, and Nature: Re-thinking the Social Sciences for the Post-Fukushima Era JAPAN UPDATE. A flagship international conference for Australia-Japan Research Centre, ANU Japan Institute, Australian National University Australia
    2013 - 2013 INVITED presentation: Animism for Modernity: Lessons from Minamata for the Post-Fukushima World 183rd Nichibunken Evening Seminar on Japanese Studies, Nichibunken International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), Kyoto Japan
    2012 - 2012 INVITED presentation: Re-imagining Social Sciences for a New Modernity in Post-3/11 Japan Research School of Asia-Pacific Symposium, ANU: Experiencing Asia and the Pacific: New Visions of Region across Disciplinary Boundaries Australian National University (ANU) Australia
    2011 - 2011 INVITED presentation at the keynote session (with Professor Roger Goodman, Dean of Social Sciences, Oxford University). ‘Japan’s Education Revolution: Local and Global Dimensions': Title: Knowledge Crisis and a Search for Hybrid Experts for Post-3.11 Japan Japanese Studies Association of Australia (JSAA) The University of Melbourne Australia
  • Position: Associate Prof/Reader
  • Phone: 83135187
  • Email: shoko.yoneyama@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83133772
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Kenneth Wills, floor 6
  • Org Unit: School of Social Sciences
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