Laste Update: May 2026
Kazuyo Nishihara
Visiting Scholar
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Ph.D. course completed in Archaeology, Division of History,
Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University
nishihara.kazuyo.73u(at)kyoto-u.jp
PUBLICATIONS
Academic Papers
2023b Nishihara, Kazuyo. The Benefits of Stone Boiling: Insights from Ethnography and Archaeology on Cooking Methods in North America. The Archaeological Journal, 784: 9-13. New Science Co. Ltd. (In Japanese).
2023a Nishihara, Kazuyo. Landscape and Fire: Indigenous Cultural Burning for Long-term Plant Resource Management in California. In Advances of Study of Cultural Properties, 5, pp. 743-754. Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. (In Japanese).
2014 Nishihara, Kazuyo., and Yusuke Senoo. The Transition of Forms of Jomon Pottery Bottoms and the Interrelationships of Form Changes around the Kansai Area [Doki teibu no hensen to chiiki kan no kankei]. In Research Report of Ichijoji-Mukaihatasho Site, 2, Kyoto: Kyoto University (In Japanese).
Books/ Book chapters
2024 Shoda, Shinya., Nishihara, Kazuyo., and Natsuki Murakami. eds. The fascination of Japanese archaeology from overseas perspectives [Kaigai kara mita Nihon koukogaku no miryoku.] Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. (In Japanese) ISBN: 9784911002421
2023 Shoda, Shinya., Tripathi, Deepika., Uenaka, Hisako., Murakami, Natsuki., and Nishihara, Kazuyo. 2023. Archaeobotany: Microscopic and molecular techniques, In Reference Module in Social Sciences, Elsevier, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90799-6.00083-5
2020 Murakami, Yumiko, and Kazuyo Nishihara. What wooden artifacts tell us about subsistence in Hemudu and Liangzhu Culture [Mokuseihin ni miru seigyou-katsudou no shosou]. In Hemudu and Liangzhu Culture: Reconstructing the historial processes through which a rice-based civilization arose in the Yangtze Valley in the late Neolithic, Nakamura, Shin-ichi, and Bin Liu, ed., Tokyo: Yuzankaku
2016 Nishihara, Kazuyo. Baskets in Prehistoric Japan: Techniques of Basket Use and Basketry. In International Perspectives in East Asian Archaeology, Volume 2, Kyoto: Kyoto University.
Excavation & Research Reports
2024 Nishihara, Kazyo. Basketry Production and Landscape Practice in Torigoe, Ichinohe Town, Iwate Prefecture. In Agroecology, Sustainable Food Production and Landscape Conservation: International Collaborations between Japan and the Americas. Junko Habu ed. pp. 55-62. ISBN: 9784910834405
2024 Ura, Yoko., Kawasaki, Yuichiro., Tsurugi, Kosuke., Nishihara, Kazuyo., Murakami, Yumiko., Momoi, Hirokazu., Yamashita, Yusuke., Wang, Yonglei., and Guoping Sun. Wooden Artifacts of the Tianluoshan Site (2), Elucidating the Origin of Ancient Chinese Civilization through Animal, Plant, and Mineral Remains, Report of Japan-China Research collaboration Project, Vol.3, pp. 41-78. A New Archaeology Initiative to Elucidate the Formation Process of Chinese Civilization Project and Rokuichi Shobo. (In Japanese）
2023 Sugiyama, Hiroshi, Kazuyo Nishihara, and Shinya Shoda. Excavation of Western Prasat Top, Cambodia (Excavation No. 16).Bulletin of Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, 2023, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. (In Japanese).
2023 Tsurugi, Kosuke., Ura, Yoko., Kawasaki, Yuichiro., Nishihara, Kazuyo., Murakami, Yumiko., Yamashita, Yusuke., Wang, Yonglei., and Guonping Song. Wooden Artifacts of the Tianluoshan Site (1), Report of Japan-China Research collaboration Project, Vol.2, pp. 79-99. A New Archaeology Initiative to Elucidate the Formation Process of Chinese Civilization Project. (In Japanese）ISBN: 9784864451666
2021 Nishihara, Kazuyo., Kanai, Izuimi., Tazuru, Suyako., and Junji Sugiyama. Wood Identification Result of OZ18 Site. Excavation Report of Shirakawagaiku-Okazaki (OZ18) site, The Annual Report of the Center for Cultural Heritage Studies, 2019, Kyoto University. (In Japanese).
2018 Nishihara, Kazuyo, Maiko Okada, Kosuke Tsurugi, Asako Yanagihara, Yoko Ura, Yuka Sasaki, and Yumiko Murakami. The Simple Method for Water Flotation at Japanese Waterlogged Sites [Dojo suisen no houhou]. Excavation Report of Simomizushi Site, Series of Excavation Reports in Kyoto Prefecture, 173 (In Japanese).
(draft submitted) Nishihara, Kazuyo. The Feature of Bottom part of Jomon Pottery from Shokubutsuen Site and Analysis of Textile Imprints [Hon iseki shutudo no doki teibu ni tsuite]. Excavation Report of Shokubutsuen Site, Kyoto University (In Japanese).
2017 Nishihara, Kazuyo, and Kosuke Tsurugi. Wooden Tools and Artifacts [Mokuseihin]. Excavation Report of Minamishiga Site, Series of Excavation Reports in Otsu City, Volume 108. (In Japanese).
2015 Nishihara, Kazuyo. Identification and Analysis of Silk Fiber Remains [Kinu seihin no bunseki]. Research Report of Seishozuka Kofun Site, Ch. 5-2, Kyoto: Kyoto University (In Japanese).
Misc
2024 Barns, L. Gina. 選択の一つひとつ [Sentaku no hitotsu hitotsu]. In The fascination of Japanese archaeology from overseas perspectives [Kaigai kara mita Nihon koukogaku no miryoku.] Shoda, Sinya., Nishihara, Kazuyo., and Natsuki Murakami eds., pp. 285-311. Nara National Research Institute for
Cultural Properties. ISBN: 9784911002421. Translation
2023 Neilsen, Anna., and Kazuyo Nishihara. Cave Towers Site and Mule Canyon, Utah, United States. Quarterly of Archaeological Studies. 70(1). pp. 115-117.
2023 Nishihara, Kazuyo. Baskets Changed and Unchanged: A Note on Cambodian Excavation Tools [Tokoro kawareba Mi mo kawaru? Cambodia no hakkutsu dougu]. NABUNKEN Blog.
https://www.nabunken.go.jp/nabunkenblog/2023/03/20230306.html. March 6, 2023, Contributor (In Japanese).
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
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2024 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Weaving with the Seasons: A Case study of Jomon Baskets and Resource Management in Neolithic Japan,” presented at the Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, United States.
2023b Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Basketry Production and Landscape Practice in Northern Iwate,” presented at the Project Meeting: Agroecology, Sustainable Food Production and Landscape Conservation: International Collaborations between Japan and the Americas., Kyoto, Japan.
2023a Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Preliminary Interview about Basket Production in the Neighboring Area of the Angkor Complex, Cambodia in 2023 Spring,” presented at the 8th meeting of Winnowing Baskets Study Group, Tokyo, Japan. (In Japanese).
2021 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “The complementarity between pottery and basketry in the ethnography of the Northwest coast of North America,” presented at the 36th Japanese Association of Historical Botany Conference, Yamanashi, Japan. (In Japanese).
2019 Murakami, Yumiko., Mitsuo Suzuki, Yuichiro Kawasaki, Kosuke Tsurugi, Kazuyo
Nishihara, Yusuke Yamashita, Guoping Sun, Shin-ichi Nakamura. “浙江省田螺山
遺跡における木製品の用材傾向―クワ属の多用とその利用法― [Sekkousho Denrasan iseki ni okeru Mokuseihin no youzai keikou]”, presented at the 34th Japanese Association of Historical Botany Conference, Toyohashi, Japan. (In Japanese).
2019 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Re-examining Fishing Traps from Jomon to Yayoi Period,” presented at the 64th Society of Archaeological Studies Conference, Poster session, Okayama, Japan (In Japanese).
2018 Nishihara, Kazuyo, Guoping Sun, Yonglei Wang, and Shinichi Nakamura. “Shifts in the Style of ‘Butterfly-Shaped Ornaments’ of the Tianluoshan Site and Their Social Background, ” presented at the 8th Worldwide Southeast Asian Archaeology Conference, Nanjing, China.
2017 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Current Status of the Study of Prehistoric Basketry in Japan and the Lineage of Basketry Techniques,” presented at Tianloushan Camp, Renovation of Integrated Studies of Rice-based Civilizations Project, Yuyou, China.
2016 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “Baskets in Prehistoric Japan: Techniques of Basket Use and Basketry,” presented at the 8th World Archaeological Congress, Poster Session, Kyoto, Japan.
2015 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “An Attempt for Archaeological Studies of Woven Baskets in Japan,” presented at the Oumi Shell Mound Study Group, Kusatsu, Japan (In Japanese).
2014 Nishihara, Kazuyo. “The Areal Features of Jomon Pottery Bottom Form in the Late Jomon Period,” presented at the Jomon Culture Study Group, Kyoto, Japan. (In Japanese).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research/ Field Experience
2023-24 Organizing and Administration work for “Expert Exchange Project for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Ukraine War-Affected Areas during 2023,” directed by by Dr. Shinya Shoda, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Associate Fellow.
2023-24 Translation (Ch. 12) and Editorial work of The fascination of Japanese archaeology from overseas perspectives [Kaigai kara mita Nihon koukogaku no miryoku]. Shoda etal eds., Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Associate Fellow.
2023-24 Archaeological Survey of West Prasat Top site, Angkor Wat Heritage Complex, Cambodia, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Associate Fellow.
2023 Ethnobotanical Research of Basketry and crop use in Cambodia, directed by by Dr. Shinya Shoda, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Research Collaborator.
2021-24 Archaeobotanical Research of Exchange and Transforms in Rice, Millet and Wheat Food Culture, directed by Dr. Shinya Shoda, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties. Research Collaborator.
2020-2021 Archaeobotanical Analysis of Goshono Site in Iwate, Japan, directed by Prof. Junko Habu, University of California, Berkeley. Research Assistant.
2019-2021 Archaeological Research, Center for Japanese Studies, in Berkeley, United States, supervised by Prof. Junko Habu, University of California, Berkeley. Visiting Scholar.
2018-2019 Archaeobotanical Analysis of Okazaki Site in Kyoto, Japan, supervised by Prof. Junji Sugiyama, Kyoto University. Office Assistant.
2017-2019 Archaeological Analysis of Tianluoshan Site in Zhejiang, China. Renovation oßf Integrated Studies of Rice-based Civilizations Project, directed by Prof. Shin-ichi Nakamura, Kanazawa University. Research Assistant.
2015-2017 Archaeological Survey of Shokubutsuen Site in Kyoto, Japan, conducted by the Center for Cultural Heritage Studies, Kyoto University. Research Assistant.
2015-2016 Archaeological Analysis of Minamishiga Site in Shiga, Japan, conducted by Otsu city Education Board. Research Assistant.
2015-2016 Archaeological Analysis of Seishouzuka Kofun Site in Osaka, Japan, supervised by Prof. Fumio Okada, Kyoto University of the Arts. Research Assistant.
2013-2014 Archaeological Analysis of Ichijoji-Mukaihata Site in Kyoto, Japan, conducted by Center for Cultural Heritage Studies of Kyoto University. Research Assistant.
2012-2013 Archaeological Survey of Nakayama Site in Akita, Japan, directed by Prof. Tatsuhiko Sekine, Hirosaki University. Field Assistant.
2012-2013 Excavation of Heiankyuseki Jurakudai Site in Kyoto, Japan conducted by Kyoto Prefecture of Archaeological Properties. Field Assistant.
2013 Archaeological Survey of Seishouzuka Kofun Site in Oasaka, Japan, directed by Prof. Hideo Yoshii, Kyoto University. Field Assistant.
2012 Preliminary Survey of Seishouzuka Kofun Site in Osaka, Japan, directed by Prof. Hideo Yoshii, Kyoto University. Field Assistant.
2011 Excavation of Yawata-minoyama Haiji Site in Kyoto, Japan, conducted by Kyoto Prefecture of Archaeological Properties. Field Assistant.
Teaching Experience
2025-present Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) , University of California, Berkeley, East Asian Archaeology Laboratory Instructor
2024-25 Introductory Seminar of History Ⅱ&Ⅲ (Undergraduate Lecture), Kyoto University, Adjunct Lecturer.
2023 Anthro 135B (Undergraduate Lecture), University of California, Berkeley,
Undergraduate Class, Guest Lecturer.
2020-21 Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) , University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Student Supervisor.
2019 Formation of Historical Viewpoint (Lecture), Ritsumeikan University, Guest Lecturer.
2018-19 Archaeology (Special Lectures), Kyoto University, Teaching Assistant, Professor of Record: Prof. Hideo Yoshii
2016-17 Archaeology (Seminar). Kyoto University, Teaching Assistant, Professor of Record: Prof. Hideo Yoshii
Outreach Activity
2021 “Basketry and Plant Use in Prehistoric Japan: Continuity and Change in the Production and Use of Rural Japanese Baskets,” presented at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum Exhibition Talk Series, Berkeley, CA. (Online.) Co-sponsored by Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology;Center for Japanese Studies, University of California. Speaker.
*Event Page/ YouTube Link
2019 Hieidaira Elementary School Community Expert Lecture Series, Otsu, Hieidaira Elementary School. Guest Lecturer.
2019 Jomon Pottery Making Workshop, Otsu, Community Center of Hieidaira, Hieidaira Satoyama Club, Organizer.
2017 The Study Group of Organic Remains, Kyoto, Workshop and Lecture Series 1st-13th, August 2015- November 2017. Co-Founder and Facilitator.
EDUCATION
PhD course completed Kyoto University, Graduate School of Letters, Division of History, 2022
MA Kyoto University, History, 2016
BA Kyoto University, History, 2014
GRANTS and SCHOLARSHIPS
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C). Japan Society for Promotion of Science, Apr 2024- Mar 2026.
International Conference Travel Aid, Japanese Association of Historical Botany, Apr 2024.
Tobitate! Study Abroad Initiative Scholarship, Tobitate Young Ambassador Program. September 2019-June 2021.
The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship, The Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund, US-Japan Counsil. September 2019- June 2020.
Japanese Society for Promotion of Science Research Grant for Young Researchers, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science. April 2016-March 2019.
The Sasagawa Scientific Research Grant, The Japan Science Society. April 2015-February 2016.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
37th Japanese Association of Historical Botany Conference, 2022, Executive Committee Member.
The Society of Historical Research, 2016- 2019, General Affairs Committee Student Member.
33th Japanese Association of Historical Botany Conference, 2018, Executive Committee Member.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Society of Archaeological Studies (Koukogaku Kenkyukai)
Japanese Association of Historical Botany
Society for American Archaeology
@Nishiharakaz 