The Spread of Research Topics and Social Needs: Retrospect and Prospect of Pre-Modern Japanese History

This study examined the findings of research on pre-modern Japanese history presented in South Korea during the two-year period spanning 2022-2023, which encompasses the second half of the pandemic. The timing of the publication of such research coincided with the lifting of quarantine measures for the pandemic, resulting in a surge in academic conferences held in a hybrid format, with both online and offline events. The study covered a total of 248 findings, including presentations at major academic conferences held during this period: 27 volumes of monographs, and 221 academic journal papers.<br/> Along with the diversification of research aspects in accordance with the spread of research topics at their individual level, I would like to highlight a particular point. This may be applicable to all of the humanities, including Japanese history, but it seems that academics should not be separated from current social needs; there are social needs that current humanities research is expected to fulfill, narrowly from history, and even more narrowly from Japanese history research.<br/> A study topic that responds to social needs could be the study of disasters in history, which is necessary for living in a high-risk society, or research focused on population issues in history to cope with changes in population structure. Furthermore, to pursue Japanese studies from a Korean perspective, it would be essential to adopt a methodology that is distinct from that employed in Japan.