Researcher Database

（Last updated : 2020-10-01 10:34:30）

FRENCH Thomas W

Department / Course College of International Relations Department of International Relations

Graduate School of International Relations

The Kinugasa Research Organization Institute of International Relations and Area Studies

The Kinugasa Research Organization Center for East Asian Peace and Cooperation Studies

Job Associate Professor

Academic background
1.	2010/12 Degree Acquisition	University of Southampton Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2.	2005/09 Degree Acquisition	Durham University Master of Arts (MA)
3.	2004/09 Degree Acquisition	Royal Holloway, University of London Batchelor of Arts (BA Hons.)
4.	～2005/09	Durham University, International Relations, International Relations of East Asia Completed
5.	～2010/12	University of Southampton, History, History of occupied Japan Completed

Business career
1.	2012/04/01 ～	Associate Professor, Ritsumeikan University, College of International Relations
2.	2015/09/25 ～	Part Time Lecturer Doshisha University, Institute for Liberal Arts
3.	2011/04 ～ 2012/03	Visiting Lecturer Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
4.	2008/02 ～ 2010/02	Part Time Lecturer University of Winchester

Research activities
1.		Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.
2.		Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
3.		Member of the Association of Asian Studies.
4.		Member of the British Association of Japanese Studies.

Qualification and license
1.	2009	Fellow of UK Higher Eductaion Academy (PGCE equivalent).
2.	2009	Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Research Skills, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
3.	2002	Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cert TESOL).

Subject of research
1.	The Constabulary model: exploring the previous Constabularies in Asia and elsewhere and how they influenced the National Police Reserve.
2.	The character of the National Police Reserve: examining the actual character and nature of the force.
3.	The origins of the SDF: looking at the domestic and international influences on the force.

Research summary
I currently conduct research on the origins, history, character, role and evolution of Japan's Self Defense Forces, especially the National Police Reserve (1950-1952). My work to date has been an empirical study of the history of Japan's National Police Reserve from its creation in July 1950 to its end in October 1952. It is the first ever attempt at a comprehensive and exclusively focused history of the force. The work examines the domestic and international origins of the force, the American Constabulary model upon which it was based, the NPR's character, and its evolution into its successor forces, the National Safety Force and Ground Self-Defense Force. The study also seeks as its first aim, to demonstrate the Japanese influences on the creation of the force, which are a highly neglected area of the historiography. The second main aim of this study is to reveal the actual organizational character of the NPR. This is required in a field where there is much debate over the character of the force but hitherto little work based on primary sources. As the NPR has not yet been the exclusive subject of any academic monograph the study makes important contributions in a number of fields. Despite no detailed analysis having been done to date on the nature and organizational character of the force many assumptions are made about its character. By providing this analysis this study contributes significantly to clarifying many misconceptions currently held about the force. Alongside these major contributions the study also contains many original elements and approaches to specific historiographical issues and problems.

Present specialized field
Historical studies in general, Japanese history, History of the Orient, Politics, International relations (keyword：US-Japan Relations, National Police Reserve, Japan, United States, Security, International Relations, Self-Defense Forces, Douglas MacArthur, Yoshida Shigeru, Occupation Japan, 1945-1960, History, Politics.)

Books
1.	2017/08	The Economic and Business History of Occupied Japan: New Perspectives,pp.Introduction, Chapter five, editor of volume. (Co-authored)
2.	2014/07	National Police Reserve: The Origin of Japan’s Self Defense Forces (Sole-authored)
3.	2010/02	PHD THESIS: A History Of Japan's National Police Reserve 1950-1952: Army or Constabulary? (Sole-authored)
4.	2005/08	MA THESIS: ‘Resurgent Japanese Nationalism: Myth or Reality' (Sole-authored)

Papers
1.	2019/03	Colorized, digitally enhanced photos of postwar Japan bring their subjects to life (Review: "Sengo Nihon no Fuko no Kiroku, GHQ Kameraman Boria ga Totta Nihon no Fukei" (Records of the Reconstruction of Postwar Japan, Japanese Scenes Taken by The GHQ Cameraman Boria)) Japan Today (Sole-authored)
2.	2018	Review: Japanese Reflections on World War II and the American Occupation by Edgar A. Porter and Ran Ying Porter Canadian Journal of History 53 (1),pp.157-158 (Sole-authored)
3.	2016/08	Review: “Toward a More Amicable Asia-Pacific Region, Japan’s Roles.” Edited by Yoneyuki Sugita. Lanham: University Press of America. V+151 Japan Today (Sole-authored)
4.	2015/08	Using Geospatial Data to Study the Origins of Japan’s Post-Occupation Maritime Boundaries Asia Pacific Perspectives Vol VIII (02),pp.28-56 (Sole-authored)
5.	2014/08	The Cycle of Nationalism in North East Asia ETH / ISN Security Watch (Sole-authored)
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Academic conference presentation
1.	2020/06/25	Organiser: The Lion & The Sun: New Perpsectives on Anglo-Japanese Military Relations (Centre for Japanese Studies Seminar: The Lion & The Sun: New Perspectives on Anglo-Japanese Military Relations)
2.	2020/06/25	‘Silent Sentries’: Writing the British Garrison of Yokohama (1864-1875) back into the History of the Bakumatsu and Early Meiji Eras (Centre for Japanese Studies Seminar)
3.	2020/03/10	The Occupation of Japan (1945-1952?) and The Korean War (1950? – 1953) (Seminar “Japan’s First Modern Century, 1868-1968”)
4.	2019/09/05	An Unequal Structure? “Layering” the US – Japan Relationship (Joint East Asian Studies Conference 2019)
5.	2019/06/09	'National Liberation' in the Service of 'Hegemonism', the Japanese Communist Party’s ‘Military Policy’ of 1950-1956 (Asia-Pacific Studies Meeting Workshop)
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Other research achievements
1.	2012/12/01 ～ 2012/12/25	Television program (Raiders of the Lost Past - Episode 6 : The Lost Sword of the Samurai, World Media Rights, Dec 2012.)

Achievements of joint.Funded research
1.	2018/04 ～ 2022/03	Old Friends, New Partners: a History of Anglo Japanese Military Relations: 1864-Present Funded undertaking

Research exchange preferred theme
1.	Japanese / East Asian Security Occupation Studies Japanese Military Japanese Arms Industry / Procurement Occupation of Japan Technical consultation Commisioned research Joint research

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