Personal Life
- Born July 22, 1961 in Bloemfontein (South Africa)
- married, 3 children
Education
- 1981-1988: Major in Latin and History, University of Kiel (State examination, 1988); Minor in Japanology, University of Hamburg and Sophia University, Tôkyô
- 1992: Ph.D. in Asian History, University of Kiel (Dissertation thesis: „Die Ludowinger und die Takeda. Feudale Herrschaft in Thüringen und Kai no kuni“)
- 1997: Habilitation in Japanology, University of Trier (Habilitation thesis: „Japans Karneval der Krise. Êjanaika und die Meiji-Restauration“)
Professional Career
- 2.11.1990-30.9.1997: Lecturer, University of Düsseldorf, Department of Modern Japanese Studies
- 1.10.1997-31.3.1999: Professor of Economic and Social History of Modern Japan, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Department of Japanology
- 1.4.1999-31.3.2008: Professor of East Asian History, University of Erfurt, Chair of East Asian History
- 1.8.2003-30.6.2004: Toyota Visiting Professor, University of Michigan, U.S.A., Center for Japanese Studies
- 7.7.2005: Position offered as professor of Japanese studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Japanology (declined)
- 1.4.2008 until now: Professor of Japanese Studies, University of Bonn, Department of Japanese and Korean Studies
Research Interests
- Early modern and modern history of Japan, esp. social and cultural history
- East Asian history
- Japanese paleography and chronology
- Media and animation movie history
