We are proud to share that our researcher Dr. Yulia Belinskaya (research group media business) was selected for the highly competitive short-term research fellowship (3 months) awarded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The fellowship was made possible through an invitation by Prof. Shinji Oyama to the Graduate School of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. During her stay, Yulia also visited Joshibi University of Art and Design in Tokyo, strengthening our international research connections in the fields of art, media, and cultural studies.

Research Project: Graffiti and Urban Art in an Intercultural Comparison 

Her research project, titled “From Rebellion to Recognition: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Legitimisation of Graffiti and Urban Art”, explored how urban art scenes evolve under the influence of both local cultural dynamics and Western artistic trends. Through this project, it was aimed to bridge Eastern and Western perspectives on urban art and contribute to a deeper understanding of how urban expression and cultural narratives develop across different contexts.

Fieldwork Across Japan

The research involved intensive fieldwork across Japan, including Kyoto, Tokyo (and Hachioji), Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sapporo (and Akabira), Shirahama, and Naoshima. Yulia conducted over 25 formal interviews and numerous informal talks with artists, curators, organizers, and community members. The fieldwork included visits to mural festivals (Konohana, Yodokabe, Shirahama), art festivals (FaN Week Fukuoka, Yokogawa Festival), and exhibitions in galleries, museums, and hotels, as well as street art tours.

Methodological Approach

Methodologically, Yulia Belinskaya combined ethnographic approaches—interviews, participant observation, and visual data collection—to study both sanctioned and unsanctioned art forms. This perspective enabled her to analyze how institutional frameworks, commercial forces, and public perception shape the production and recognition of urban art in Japan.

Exchange and Networking

During the fellowship, she also contributed to research seminars for Master’s and PhD students, sharing insights on interdisciplinary methods suitable for studying unorthodox cultural phenomena. Representing USTP, Yulia took part in various networking activities to foster future collaborations and exchange opportunities between Austria and Japan.

This fellowship marks an important step in expanding our international research presence and strengthening USTP’s role in fostering global academic cooperation in the arts and humanities.