Have you ever heard the term, “jinbunchi communication,” meaning “liberal arts communication”?
In this talk I will explore the roles and responsibilities of a jinbunchi communicator (人文知コミュ
ニケーター) based on my experiences at two institutions in Japan: the National Institutes for the
Humanities (Ningen Bunka Kenkyû Kikô) and the National Museum of Japanese History (Rekihaku).
Partially due to the novel coronavirus crisis in Japan soon after I began my job in January 2020, it
has been challenging to define what is really expected of me as a jinbunchi communicator. This is
also due to the novel nature of the position itself. In this presentation I will briefly explain the
history of the position, how and why it was created. Then by discussing tasks assigned to me along
with the human networks I have cultivated during the past eleven months, I will shine light on what
I consider the most significant parts of the job and how I want to improve its efficacy in future.
Should there be time, I will also introduce a few of my day-to-day activities at Rekihaku.