Updated on 2026/03/07
Associate Professor of Gender, Media and Culture, specializing in media and communication studies from feminist, new materialist and posthumanist perspectives.
PhD in Sociology ( Ruhr-Universität Bochum )
media
digital technology
intimacy
gender
Humanities & social sciences / Gender studies
Humanities & social sciences / Sociology
Meiji University School of Information and Communication Associate Professor
2014.4
Utrecht University Visiting Researcher
2023
University of Amsterdam Visiting Researcher
2022 - 2023
Meiji University School of Information and Communication Assistant Professor
2011.4 - 2014.3
International Society for Gender Studies
International Sociological Association
The Japan Sociological Society
Japan Association for Media, Journalism and Communication Studies
International Communication Association
Japan Society for Sport and Gender Studies
Editorial Board member, International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure (Springer Nature)
2024.2
Editorial Board member, Book Series, Technology, Power & Society (De Gruyter Brill)
2023.2
Qian Huang, Jing Zeng, Hiromi Tanaka, Saif Shahin
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 31 ( 3 ) 715 - 727 2025.6
Platform capitalism and gender: Platformization and new cultural practices as labor
Tanaka, H.
Japan Journal of Media, Journalism and Communication Studies ( 106 ) 35 - 50 2025.1
Ho, M. H. S., & Tanaka, H.
Social Media + Society 2023.11
How Nissin represented Naomi Osaka: Race, gender, and sport in Japanese advertising Reviewed
H, M. H. S., & Tanaka, H
Communication & Sport 10 ( 4 ) 594 - 615 2022.8
The youth's social media use and gender Reviewed
Information and Communication Studies 20 95 - 110 2021.3
Gender representation in contemporary media: Changing images of women in a women's magazine, an an Reviewed
H. Tanaka, K. Koma
Memoirs of Institute of Cultural Sciences, Meiji University 87 2020.3
Gender issues in communication: Old and new challenges Invited
Hiromi Tanaka
Journal of Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 62 ( 2019.12-1 ) 12 - 15 2019.12
Towards a reconstruction of gender and media studies Invited Reviewed
Hiromi Tanaka
Japanese Journal of the International Society for Gender Studies 16 34 - 46 2018.12
Enjoying manga as fujoshi: Exploring its innovation and potential for social change from a gender perspective Reviewed
Co-authored
International Journal of Behavioral Science 10 ( 1 ) 77 - 85 2015.1
Parental well-being and the sexual division of household labor: A new look at gendered families in Japan Reviewed
Co-authored
Asiatische Studien/Etudes Asiatiques LXVII ( 2 ) 401 - 428 2013.6
Youth's manga reading and the reception of gender images: The case of readers of "SLAM DUNK" Reviewed
Journal of Information and Communication Studies ( 13 ) 1 - 15 2013.3
Individualization of marriage and work life choices: A study of never-married employed women in Hong Kong and Tokyo Reviewed
Co-authored
Asian Women 28 ( 1 ) 85 - 119 2012.3
Identifying and explaining ambiguities and ambivalences in middle adulthood: The life story of Ms K Invited
BIOGRAPHY AND SOCIETY: Newsletter of the RESEARCH COMMITTEE 38 OF THE ISA ( December 2010 ) 17 - 32 2010.12
International migration and the state: Nurse migration from Korea to Germany
Co-authored
Mathesis Universalis 12 ( 1 ) 87 - 119 2010.11
Stated desire versus actual practice: Reviewing the literature on low fertility rates in contemporary Japanese society Reviewed
Japanese Studies 29 ( 3 ) 415 - 430 2009
State feminism and female bureaucrats Reviewed
Japanese Journal of International Society for Gender Studies 6 149 - 162 2008.12
Conceiving and researching women's networks in globalisation Reviewed
Journal of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies: JIGS 8 ( 1/2 ) 18 - 37 2004.6
Equal employment in contemporary Japan: A structural approach Invited
PS 37 ( 1 ) 66 - 66 2004.1
Technology, Power & Society: Global Perspectives on the Digital Transformation
Ngyen, D., Zeng J., & Mutsvairo B. (eds.)（ Role： ContributorTanaka, H., & Ho, M. H. S. "Artificial intelligence's sexual politics: Three modes and the case of Japan", pp. 228-250）
Brill 2025.8
Negotiating Digital Visibility in Asia. A special issue of Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, Vol. 31, No. 3
Huang, Q., Zeng, J., Tanaka, H. & Shahin, S. (eds.)
Sage 2025.6
Diversity and Creativity in a Digital Society
Tanaka, H., Koma, K., & Takamine, O. (eds.)（ Role： Joint editorBook chapter: "Digital technology and gender: towards an analysis of power in social media, data, and artificial intelligence"）
Meiji University Press 2023.2
The Future of Humans and Emotional Machines: Narratives from Japanese Culture in the 21st Century
Giannoulis, E.（ Role： Joint authorChow, P.-S., Barbero, J., Tanaka, H., & Ho. M. H. S. (2025) "Kawaii aesthetics in human-machine romance Reimagining gender, cuteness, and digital intimacy in A.I. Love You (2016)", pp. 107-119）
Routledge 2025.8
Gendered Cityscapes: Revisiting Questions of Gender Identity, Equity and Marginalization in Urban Asia
Joshi, D. U., Tanaka, H., & Perpoonwiwat, C. K. (eds.)（Book chapter: Gender and Sexualization in Urban Japan: Reflections in the Media）
Rawat 2022.1
Media Studies of Looking and Being-looked-at-ness
Koma, K., & Matsumoto, K.（ Role： ContributorBook chapter "Politics of looking and being-looked-at-ness: the gaze, surveillance and gender"）
Nakanishiya 2021.4
Critical Words: Media Theory
Kadobayashi, T, Masuda, N（ Role： ContributorBook chapter "Gender and Media"）
Film Art, Inc. 2021.2
International Encyclopedia of Gender, Media and Communication
Ross, K., et al (eds.)（ Role： Contributor"Japanese manga"）
Wiley-Blackwell 2020.7
Global Leisure and the Struggles for a Better World
Beniwal, A., Rashmi, J., & Spracklen, K. (eds.)（ Role： ContributorBook chapter: "Doing manga as leisure and its meaning and purpose", co-authored）
Palgrave Macmillan 2018.5
Body Studies
H. Tanaka, A. Kaneko, K. Saito, K. Takesaki, K. Hirano（ Role： Joint translator）
Kyoto: Koyo Shobo 2017.5
Equating Gender: Explorations in the Asia-Pacific
Joshi, D. U., & Permpoonwiwat, Ch. K. (eds.)（ Role： ContributorBook chapter: "Women's political participation in Japan: What stirs their political ambition and what promotes their candidacy"）
Rawat 2016.9
Parental Well-Being in Japan
B. Holthus, M. Huber, H. Tanaka（ Role： Joint author）
Tokyo: DIJ 2016.6
Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research
Edited by Alex, C. Michalos（ Role： ContributorWomen's empowerment, co-authored）
Dordrecht: Springer 2014.1
Frauenbilder/ Frauenkoerper: Inszenierungen des Weiblichen in den Gesellschaften Sued- und Ostasiens
Edited by, H. Moser, S. Koehn（ Role： ContributorJapanische Frauen als politische Akteure）
Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz 2013.3
Beyond a Standardized Life Course: Biographical Choices about Work, Family and Housing
（ Role： Joint editor）
Tokyo: Shin-yo-sha 2013.2
Introduction to Communication Studies
Suzuki, T（ Role： ContributorBook chapter: "Gender and Communication"）
Taishukan 2011.7
Japanische Geschlechterpolitik und Frauennetzwerke im Zeitalter der Globalisierung
（ Role： Sole author）
Munich: Iudicium 2009.4
Gender Dynamics and Globalisation: Perspectives on Japan Within Asia
Derichs, C., & Kreitz-Sandberg, S. (eds.)（ Role： ContributorBook chapter: "Dynamics of Global Gender Politics: A Comparative Analysis of the Implementation of CEDAW in Japan and South Korea", co-authored）
LIT 2007.12
Comparing romantic AI companions in Japan and China: Anime fantasy, gendered embodiment, and Asian posthumans
J. Leo-Liu, H. Tanaka, M. H. S. Ho
74th Annual ICA Conference Gold Coast, Australia 2024.6
Platformization and gender Invited
H. Tanaka
Annual Spring Meeting of the Japan Association for Media, Journalism and Communication Studies 2024.6
Affective politics of digital feminism: Complexities of feminism in Japan’s social media space
Tanaka, H., & Kato, H.
IAMCR Beijing 2022 2022.7
Digital technology and gender: Social media's new opportunities and risks
Hiromi Tanaka
Annual Meeting of the International Society for Gender Studies 2020 2020.9
Negotiating visibility through voice: Japanese digital feminism using podcasts
H. Kato, H. Tanaka
74th Annual ICA Conference Gold Coast, Australia 2024.6
Comparing romantic AI companions in Japan and China: Anime fantasy, gendered embodiment, and Asian posthumans
J. Leo-Liu, H. Tanaka, M. H. S. Ho
Research Conference and Workshop on Gender, Youth, and Media in Asia, The Gender and Sexuality Research Cluster, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore 2024.2
Azuma Hikari, My healing bride: Tracing gender and human-machine intimacies in contemporary Japan
Ho, M. H. S., & Tanaka, H.
73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference 2023.5
Digital intimacy in human–machine relationships: Gendered representations in fiction and beyond
H. Tanaka, M. H. S. Ho
EMTECH Conference 2022: Narrating Emotional Closeness between Humans and Machines in Japanese (Popular) Culture and Literature 2022.10
Romancing AI: New digital intimacies in contemporary Japan Invited
Tanaka, H.
Invited talk, Department of Media and Communication Research, University of Zurich 2022.10
Connectivity and division, and what?: Social Media, social Change and new possibilities Invited
Tanaka, H.
Japanese Association of Media, Journalism and Communication Studies, Symposium: Everyday Lives of Social Media 2022.6
Romancing AI: Gender and new digital intimacies in contemporary Japan
Tanaka, H., & Ho, M. H. S.
Conference: Artificial Intelligence and the Human?: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Science and Fiction, Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), Japanese-German Center Berlin (JDZB) 2022.5
Gender and new digital intimacies in contemporary Japan Invited
Hiromi Tanaka, Michelle Ho
CNM Research Talk, Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore 2022.3
Changing situation concerning media and gender: A research perspective Invited
Tanaka, H.
Symposium: Gender and Media in Change 2020.10
Gender representation in contemporary media, co-authored
Research Workshop, Section Media and Gender, International Society for Gender Studies 2020.6
The construction and representation of the body: For a discussion about the body, sport, and diversity Invited
The 18th annual conference of Japan Society for Sport and Gender Studies, Public Symposium 2019.6
Gender and the media in the digital age: Old and new issues Invited International conference
Special Session: Gender and Information in the Digital Age, The 12th Srinakharinwirot University Research Conference 2019.3
Gender and media in contemporary Japan Invited
Guest Lecture, Department of Communications and New Media, National University of Singapore 2019.2
The portrayals of women in a Japanese women's lifestyle magazine, an an Invited
Guest Lecture, Department of Taiwanese Languages and Culture, National Taiwan Normal University 2018.11
Gender representation and the portrayals of women in Japanese media: A changing pattern Invited
Guest Lecture, Department of Sociology, National Taipei University 2018.11
The relationship between the self, the body and the society: On the consideration of the body Invited
Gender Equality Seminar, KIta-Ward, Tokyo 2018.9
Towards a reconstruction of gender and media studies
Annual Meeting of the International Society for Gender Studies 2018, Roundtable 2: Gender and media in an era of social media 2018.9
The sexualization of Japanese women in a global postfeminist era International conference
The 22nd Biennial Conference of The Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) 2018 2018.7
Reorganization of the public/private divide: the sexualization of men and women in Japanese women’s popular media International conference
International Conference: Urban Spaces and Gender ? Exploring Gender, Marginalization and Equity in Urban Spaces in the Asia-Pacific 2017.11
Redefinition of femininities and rigidity of gender norms: Discussant's comment International conference
The 15th International Conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies 2017.8
Gender and the media reconsidered
Annual Conerence of the International Society for Gender Studies 2016.9
The meaning and purpose of leisure activities of manga/anime fans Called fujoshi: Contradictions and ambivalences in a Japanese women's fan community International conference
The Third ISA Forum of Sociology 2016.7 International Sociological Association (ISA)
A commentary: On the use of the category of men and how researchers can speak within and outside their academic communities
Annual Meeting of the International Society of Gender Studies 2015.9
Enjoying manga as fujoshi: Exploring its innovation and potential for social change from a gender perspective International conference
International Interdisciplinary Symposium "Knowledge Construction through the Lens of Social and Cultural Diversity" 2014.11
Sexual stratification in a digital age International conference
International Interdisciplinary Symposium "Knowledge Construction through the Lens of Social and Cultural Diversity" 2014.11
A biographical analysis of women's political participation: The importance of politicization in women legislators' biographies International conference
XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology 2014.7 International Sociological Association
Studying manga and gender Invited
Guest Lecture, University of Southern Denmark, Faculty of Humanities 2014.3 University of Southern Denmark, Faculty of Humanities, Graduate School
Sportmanga und Geschlecht Invited
Guest Lecture, University of Heidelberg, Center for East Asian Studies, Institute for Japanology 2014.2 University of Heidelberg, Center for East Asian Studies, Institute for Japanology
Gender, manga and social change Invited
International Conference "Women's Movements and Complex (Gender) Relations in International Perspective 2014.2 Ruhr University, Bochum, Faculty for Social Science
Women's political participation in Japan: What stirs their political ambition and what promotes their candidacy International conference
Asia-Pacific Gender Studies Conference "Gender Equity: Issues of Theory, Practice and Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region" 2013.3 UGC-Academic Staff College, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
Japanese sports manga and gender
Special Lecture, Department of Comparative Literature/Women's Studies Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong 2013.1 Department of Comparative Literature/Women's Studies Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Parental well-being: A new look at gendered families in Japan International conference
Holthus, B., & Tanaka, H.
15. Deutschsprachiger Japanologentag 2012.8 Gesellschaft f?r Japanforschung, Universit?t Z?rich
Fathers and well-being: Comparing Germany and Japan International conference
With B. Holthus, H. Bertram, S. Olbrich
Fathers & Fathering in Contemporary Contexts 2012.5 National Center for Family & Marriage Research, Bowling Green State University, Natcher Conference Center, Balcony B, USA
Elterliches Wohlbefinden: Japan und Deutschland im Vergleich International conference
With B. Holthus
Jahrestagung der Vereinigung f?r sozialwissenschaftliche Japanforschung 2010 2010.11 Goethe-Universit?t Frankfurt am Main
Single working women in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul: Their desires and choices on marriage and work
Tanaka, H., Ng, W. C., & Hirata, Y.
International Conference: Life Courses in Flux - New Opportunities and New Constraints 2010.10 Meiji University, The Shikonkan Hall
Unmarried working women in Tokyo: Social change or continuity? International conference
British Association of Japanese Studies (BAJS) Triennial Conference 2010.9 School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS), London, UK
Family effects on women's decision to run for office: Women candidates in the 2009 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election International conference
Tanaka, H., Ogai, T., & Shima, N.
The 6th Japan-America Women Political Scientists' Symposium (JAWS) "Gender, Politics and Policy: Post Elections 2010.8 Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland
Identifying and explaining ambiguities in Middle adulthood: A life story interview with Ms. K International conference
XVII World Congress of Sociology, Gothenburg, Sweden 2010.7 International Sociological Association
Single working women in Hong Kong and Tokyo: Cases of normal deviance? International conference
Tanaka, H., & Ng, C. W.
XVII World Congress of Sociology, Gothenburg, Sweden 2010.7 International Sociological Association
The pursuit of happiness across borders? Internationalization of Japanese women's movements in an age of globalization International conference
The Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies 2010.3 Philadelphia, USA
Global norm diffusion and the rise of networks: The case of gender norm and Japanese women's networks International conference
The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) 5th General Conference 2009.9 University of Potsdam, Germany
Single working women in Tokyo: Their wishes and choices on marriage and work International conference
The Thirteenth Asian Studies Conference Japan 2009.6 Sophia University, Japan
Geburtenrueckgang und Kinderwunsch in Japan: Eine Gender-Analyse International conference
Gender-Workshop, Jahrestagung der Vereinigung fuer sozialwissenschaftliche Japanforschung 2008.11 Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin
A gap between the declining birth rate and the continued wish to have children and emergent social inequalities in contemporary Japanese society International conference
Women's Worlds 2008: The 10th Interdisciplinary Congress on Women 2008.7 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
When bureaucrats become femocrats
Annual Meeting of the Japanese Political Science Association 2007.10 Meiji Gakuin University
When female bureaucrats become femocrats: A qualitative analysis of gender-equality property of Japanese female bureaucrats International conference
The Fourth Japan-America Women Political Scientists Symposium 2007.8 Macalester College, St. Paul, USA
Women, the nation, and migration: The case of migration of Korean nurses to Germany International conference
Tanaka, H., & Hirata, Y.
Women's Worlds 2005: The Ninth Interdisciplinary Congress on Women 2005.6 Ewha Womans University, Seoul
Women's networks in disrupted national spaces: The case of transnational women's networks between Japan and Korea International conference
Women's Worlds 2005: The Nineth Interdisciplinary Congress on Women 2005.6 Ewha Womans University, Seoul
Globalization of gender politics in East Asia International conference
Tanaka, H., & Hong, M.
Annual Meeting of the German Association of Social Science Research on Japan (VSJF) 2004.11 Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin
Equal employment in contemporary Japan International conference
The Third Japan-American Women Political Scientists' Symposium 2003.8 University of Delaware, USA
Die Entwicklung von japanischen Frauennetzwerken und Frauenpolitik vor dem Hintergrund der UN-Dekade der Frau International conference
Jahrestagung der Vereinigung fuer sozialwissenschaftlicher Japanforschung 2001.12 Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin
Asiatisierung von japanischen Frauennetzwerken: Gegen sexuelle, oekonomische und (post-) koloniale Machtverhaeltnisse im Sued/Ostasien
Gender-Workshop, Jahrestagung der Vereinigung fuer sozialwissenschaftliche Japanforschung 2001.12 Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin
Encouragement Award, Encouragement Program for Promoting Gender and Low Fertility Research, Hodogaya Foundation
2011.12
Best Paper Award, International Interdisciplinary Symposium, Knowledge Construction through the Lens of Social and Cultural Diversity
2014.11 Srinakharinwirot University
Heinrich Boell Foundation Doctoral Research Fellowship/Scholarship (3 years)
2001.4
Technology-facilitated sexual harms
2024.4 - 2026.3
Meiji University Institute for Humanities individual Research Grant
Authorship：Principal investigator
Emotional AI in Cities: Cross Cultural Lessons from UK and Japan on Designing for An Ethical Life
2020.1 - 2023.9
UKRI-ESRC and JST-RISTEX Joint Call on Artificial Intelligence and Society
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Competitive
The rise of social media and the construction of Gender and Sexuality Norms
Grant number：19K12616 2019.4 - 2024.3
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Authorship：Principal investigator
Grant amount：\4420000 （ Direct Cost: \3400000 、 Indirect Cost：\1020000 ）
The Construction of Gender Norms in National and Transnational Digital Media Spaces
Grant number：21K12512 2021.4 - 2024.3
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
Grant amount：\4030000 （ Direct Cost: \3100000 、 Indirect Cost：\930000 ）
Gender representation in a Japanese women's magazine, an an
2017.4 - 2019.3
Meiji University, Institute for Humanities Joint Research Grant
Authorship：Principal investigator Grant type：Competitive
Women's political participation and policy change
2012.4 - 2014.3
JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Competitive
International German-Japanese Symposium: Life Course in Flux
2010.10
German Research Foundation (DFG) International Conference Organization Grant
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Competitive
Empirical research on family factors that promote women's political participation
2010.4 - 2011.3
Tokai Gender Institute Joint-Research Grant
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Competitive
Fieldwork on transnational women's networks
2002.3 - 2002.8
Heinrich B?ll Foundation Research travel grant
Authorship：Principal investigator Grant type：Competitive
Japanese women's networks in a global era
2001.4 - 2004.3
Heinrich B?ll Foundation Doctoral Research Scholarship/Fellowship
Authorship：Principal investigator Grant type：Competitive
Reviewers (European Journal of Cultural Studies, Social Media + Society, Communication and Sport, Convergence, Contemporary Japan, etc.)
Role(s)： Peer review
2010
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